Expert Digital Forensics for Modern Litigation Lawyers

DFI Forensics provides expert digital forensics services for businesses and litigation lawyers as well as cyber attack victims with offices in Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary and Toronto. Founded in 2018 by former litigation lawyer, Tyler Hatch, certified digital forensics examiner.

Lawyers and Law Firms

DFI Forensics provides expert digital forensics services to lawyers and law firms across Canada and the United States with offices in Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary and Toronto.

We believe in being a valuable partner to lawyers and law firms who will benefit from receiving the best evidence possible to assist their clients. We conduct investigations into digital devices to determine key facts like who, what, where, when and how.

Our services are often called upon by lawyers and law firms in cases involving:  criminal law; intellectual property theft by an employee of a business;  employment and labour disputes; workplace investigations; family law litigation; and in many other litigation matters.

In many other contexts, it is helpful for lawyers to have a trained, qualified and independent expert extract important evidence from a computer or mobile device so that it can be relied upon in court. For example, communication between relevant parties by way of email, text messages or communication apps like Facebook Messenger, WeChat, WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal and others as well as call logs can be vital evidence in certain cases.

DFI Forensics

Our Expertise

Criminal Law

Criminal law cases often involve differing versions of the same event told by two or more people.

In order to resolve this issue, we can examine the evidence found on digital devices to assist in determining which version of events is more accurate. In many criminal cases, the charge itself will involve some allegation of the use of technology, social media or the internet, and it will be obvious that you should consult with us regarding the particular aspects your case.

In other cases, it will be important to have the assistance of a trained digital forensics examiner to assist counsel in preparing for cross-examination of Crown experts who are presenting the digital evidence relied upon to establish the charge against the accused.

People are working on computers.

Employment Law

Employees use technology, computers and cell phones in the workplace to a greater degree than ever before.

There are also a number of workplace policies that govern the use of technology and the internet in the workplace.

When employees contravene, or are alleged to have contravened, one of those policies, it is important to know the facts involved so that appropriate discipline or dismissal decisions can be made in a way that will stand up under possible future scrutiny.

Discipline or dismissal, discrimination and harassment, human rights and theft of intellectual property in the workplace are common reasons to engage our services.

Estate Litigation

Family members often have access to personal and confidential devices and accounts of loved ones in the final moments of their life.

For some, the temptation to manipulate documents and data from computers and cell phones of the deceased in the hopes of financial gain is too powerful to resist. Suspicions of this kind should be carefully and thoroughly investigated to ensure the true wishes of the deceased are effected.

Further, many deceased persons leave behind password-protected devices containing important or sentimental information.  We can assist in getting it for you and in many cases can bypass the password of the device.

Human Resources

Employees use technology, computers and cell phones in the workplace to a greater degree than ever before. There are also a number of workplace policies that govern the use of technology and the internet in the workplace.

When employees contravene, or are alleged to have contravened, one of those policies, it is important to know the facts involved so that appropriate discipline or dismissal decisions can be made in a way that will stand up under possible future scrutiny.

DFI Forensics is a proud supporter of the human resources community. We are a registered CPHR Industry Partner, have a profile on Canadian HR Reporter and sponsored the HR Masterclass event held in Vancouver, B.C., in February, 2019.

Family Law

The breakdown of a committed relationship is an emotionally challenging situation to endure for the parties.

Communication between former partners tends to shift from verbal to digital, through text messages, social media, email and communication apps.

Often times, things are said in conversations that need to be put in front of the Court when determining important issues in these proceedings, particularly child custody and access issues.

Often times, former partners are the subject of digital spying, harassment and cyber bullying, all of which can be determined and remediated if appropriate investigation and security services are requested.

Intellectual Property

Intellectual property theft by the most trusted asset of a business – its employees – is a common problem that can result in significant financial losses to the employer.

Common targets of this kind of theft or unauthorized reproduction are, not only traditional intellectual properties like patents, trademarks and copywrited works, but also confidential information like proprietary business processes, pricing structure and customer lists.

If someone has stolen this kind of data, there is a great deal that we can tell you about what happened so that you can determine your next steps.

Additionally, we offer custom solutions to businesses to protect and monitor their key data so that theft is difficult in the first place.

DFI Forensics

Anton Piller Orders

In an increasing number of cases, litigants are heading to Court seeking a civil search and seizure order known as an Anton Piller Order or “APO.” Anton Piller Orders are obtained on an ex parte basis and executed with little or no advance notice to the subject of the Order.

Obviously, the goal is to prevent the loss or intentional destruction of key digital evidence. While not all Anton Piller Orders involve search and seizure of electronic evidence, many do.  Often times evidence is seized from servers, computers, laptops, tablets, smartphones and digital storage media.  Devices themselves are often taken into custody.

You only get one chance to execute an Anton Piller Order and it has to go smoothly.  If not, important evidence may be lost forever. You need an experienced and well-equipped team to work efficiently in order to acquire digital evidence in the field where there is no time for mistakes.

DFI Forensics has even assisted in the drafting of the portions of the Order referring to the electronic evidence or cloud accounts being targeted, which is important for the proper execution of the Order itself. We will assist you in formulating an overall cost-effective and well planned strategy to get the evidence you need.

Why Choose DFI Forensics?

DFI Forensics has a reputation for uniquely understanding the needs of the legal community and providing the best advice with cost-effective and thorough analysis.

Our team combines a wide variety of training, experience, skill and knowledge with the best digital forensics and incident response tools to provide expert level results in every case.

Expertise means we get it done right for you.

Digital Forensics

Our team will uncover the truth and facts of a suspicious or unlawful act, even when the suspect has tried to cover their tracks.

IT Forensics

Forensic examination of cell phones, computers, IT networks and any other source of electronic evidence.

Litigation Support

We work with litigation lawyers to help them build a stronger case with digital evidence and expert testimony.

eDiscovery

We help lawyers search through very large amounts of information to identify the most relevant evidence and easily produce electronic evidence for use in Court.

Cyber Attack Response

Rapid response to cyber attacks on businesses such as data breaches, ransomware attacks and email fraud.

Cybersecurity

Minimize the risk to your organization through robust, customized cybersecurity solutions.