This section keeps you up-to-date on the latest news and upcoming public appearances of Lavery professionals.
News
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Michel Blouin and René Branchaud of Lavery recognized as mining law leaders in the 2015 Guide to the Leading US/Canada Cross-Border Corporate Lawyers in Canada
Mr. Michel Blouin and Mr. René Branchaud, Business Law partners at Lavery, have been recognized as mining law leaders in Leading Canadian Lawyers in Global Mining, in the 2015 issue of Lexpert’s directory, Guide to the Leading US/Canada Cross-Border Corporate Lawyers in Canada. This prestigious recognition is the result of extensive peer surveys conducted not only in Canada but also worldwide. The expertise of Mr. Blouin and Mr. Branchaud in the area of mining law is therefore recognized internationally. To consult this Lexpert publication, click here.
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Bernard Larocque and Jonathan Lacoste-Jobin represent Pro Bono Québec before the Supreme Court of Canada
On June 19, 2015, the Supreme Court of Canada confirmed that, in cases of abuse of process, one cannot relieve one party of its obligation to pay the other party extrajudicial fees (lawyers fees) solely on the grounds that the other party is represented by pro bono counsel. Bernard Larocque, a partner, and Jonathan Lacoste-Jobin, a lawyer, both members of Lavery’s litigation group, represented Pro Bono Québec in this case between Réjean Hinse and the Attorney General of Canada. Mr. Larocque stated that he was "happy with this judgment which recognizes the volunteer work of Quebec lawyers in files involving abuse of process."
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Sylvain Provencher and Claude Villeneuve of Lavery Appointed to the Superior Court of Québec
Lavery is pleased and proud to announce that Sylvain Provencher and Claude Villeneuve have been appointed to the Superior Court of Québec as judges for the district of Bedford. Their nominations took effect June 19, 2015. Sylvain Provencher A native of Coaticook, Mr. Sylvain Provencher obtained a degree in Law from Université Laval in 1990 and has been a member of the Barreau du Québec since 1991; he joined Lavery in 2014. He practiced in insurance law and banking law, as well as in civil and commercial litigation. Mr. Provencher also has extensive experience in municipal and administrative law. He pled before all Quebec tribunals and counselled many companies regarding the legal aspect of their corporate activities. In addition, he gave numerous conferences and training seminars to companies. Mr. Provencher is regularly invited by many private and public institutions to speak on various legal topics of current interest. He has also given numerous conferences and training seminars geared to insurance company and financial institution managers. Moreover, he has published several insurance law and banking law newsletters. In 2006 and 2007, Mr. Provencher was a lecturer at Université de Sherbrooke in Insurance Law. For several years running, he also taught the civil and professional liability course at the École du Barreau du Québec. From 1998 to 2002, he was a director of the Association des experts en sinistres de l’Estrie. As well, he is a member of the Board of Directors of Fondation du Cégep de Sherbrooke and was a member of the Association des anciens diplômés du Cégep de Sherbrooke. Claude Villeneuve Before joining Lavery in 2014, Mr. Claude Villeneuve previously worked for almost 15 years at other private law firms in Sherbrooke and for more than seven years at the legal department of the City of Sherbrooke, including three years as head of the litigation department. Mr. Villeneuve focused his practice primarily on litigation and labour law. During his years of practice, Mr. Villeneuve acted as prosecutor and legal advisor to organizations and businesses from the private, public and para-public sectors in the areas of labour law, litigation, municipal law, penal and criminal law, and civil law. Mr. Villeneuve was frequently called upon to plead before all levels of court in Quebec. He advised businesses and insurance companies with respect to their operations and strategic decision-making. He also represented insurers in professional liability matters. Mr. Villeneuve has taught at the École du Barreau du Québec and was very involved in the legal community. At the time of his nomination, he was president of the Barreau de Saint-François for a second year running, sat on the extended board of the Association des avocats de province (AAP), and on the sectional council of the Barreau du Québec. These appointments are part of the firm’s historical continuity, since numerous Lavery lawyers have been appointed to the bench over the years. “We are very proud of Sylvain Provencher and Claude Villeneuve new appointments. We regret the loss of two excellent jurists, but we are delighted that they will be able to bring their respective skills and experience to bear on the Superior Court of Québec,” stated Don McCarty, Managing Director of Lavery.
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Karine Pelletier of Lavery meets the Board of directors of the Forum des jeunes de la fonction publique québécoise
On June 19, 2015, Karine Pelletier, a lawyer in Lavery’s Quebec office business law group, gave a seminar on the roles and responsibilities of directors specifically aimed at the board members of the Forum des jeunes de la fonction publique québécoise. The Forum provides a unique networking space and discussion forum for young public officials and is a key player on the larger issues of public service.
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Julie Cousineau and Laurence Bich-Carrière, speakers at the CAP Annual Convention
On June 19, 2015, Julie Cousineau and Laurence Bich-Carrière, respectively partner and associate in Lavery’s Litigation Group, were speakers at the Annual Canadian Association of Paralegals Convention, which took place at Montreal’s Palais des Congrès. Their conference, entitled « Les grands aspects de la réforme de la procédure civile québécoise » (The key aspects of the Quebec civil procedure reform), discussed both theoretical and practical concerns regarding the coming into force of the new Civil code of procedure, S.Q. 2014. c. 1. The global trends relating to access to justice, participatory justice and alternative dispute resolution methods were addressed, as well as concrete illustrations of the new legislative strategies in case management, discovery, expertise and legal fees.
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18 Lavery partners ranked in the 2015 edition of The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory
Lavery is pleased to announce that 18 partners of the firm are ranked among the leading practitioners in Canada in their respective practice areas in the 2015 edition of Thomson Reuters’s Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory. The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory is the most comprehensive publication to legal talent in the country. It is a reference guide for Canadian and foreign corporate counsel and law firms in need of specialized legal services in Canada. The 2015 edition of The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory identifies the leading practitioners in more than 40 practice areas based on the results of a thorough annual peer-review survey completed by more than a thousand respected legal professionals and a wide range of well-informed clients. Lavery lawyers are recommended in a vast array of fields, including banking, asset finance, mining law, mergers and acquisitions, technology transactions, employment law and labour relations, pensions, class actions, construction law, family law, and commercial insurance litigation. "In the 2015 edition of this legal directory, 18 Lavery partners were recognized for their first-rate expertise. I congratulate our 18 colleagues for this recognition and for their continued commitment to serving the needs of our clients", said Don McCarty, Lavery’s Managing Partner. The following Lavery partners are listed in the 2015 edition of The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory : Michel Blouin | Mining René Branchaud | Mining Louis Charette | Aviation; Litigation – Product Liability *Magali Cournoyer-Proulx | Employment (Management) Pierre Denis | Asset Equipment Finance/Leasing Josée Dumoulin | Pensions (Management) Nicolas Gagnon | Construction *David Benjamin Gross | Asset Equipment Finance/Leasing Jean Hébert | Litigation – Commercial Insurance Guy Lavoie | Labour (Management) Guy Lemay | Class Actions Robert W. Mason | Litigation – Commercial Insurance François Parent | Pensions (Management) Louis Payette, Ad. E. | Banking Élisabeth Pinard | Family Jean Saint-Onge, Ad. E. | Class Actions; Litigation – Product Liability André Vautour | Technology Transactions Sébastien Vézina | Mining *New posting For more information, please visit Lexpert’s website at: http://lexpert.ca/directory.
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Launch of the Lavery GO inc. Program in Quebec City!
Legal services designed specifically for start-upsLavery is pleased to announce the launch of the Lavery GO inc. Program today in Quebec City. The goal of this program is to assist young entrepreneurs and provide eligible start-ups with high-quality legal services at a price that fits their means. The Lavery GO inc. Program provides each selected start-up with personalized support over a wide range of legal services needed during the start-up process, including incorporation, trademark and domain registration, service agreements and various internal company policies. “The economy of Quebec City’s metropolitan region has been experiencing sustained growth over the last several years. In fact, the region’s economy is considered to be one of the most dynamic in the country. Emerging entrepreneurs play a key role in supporting economic development and diversification in the National Capital and Chaudière-Appalaches regions. The Lavery GO inc. Program is ideally suited to the present context because it allows us to lend a hand to start-ups and help them develop, while also reinforcing our ties with the business world”, stated Daniel Bouchard, Managing Partner of Lavery’s Quebec City office. Each start-up selected for the Lavery GO inc. Program will be supported and mentored by Lavery lawyers who have both the experience and expertise required within the scope of this program, including Karine Pelletier, Étienne Brassard and many others. Moreover, selected start-ups will benefit from several hours of legal advice. Legal services will be provided at a fixed rate, taking into account these start-ups’ ability to pay. For more information about the Lavery GO inc. Program, please visit our web site: www.laverygoinc.ca.
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Michèle Gamache, over a decade serving in the CBA-Quebec Communications Committee
Ms. Michèle Gamache, a Business lawyer at Lavery, was interviewed by Stéphanie Parent for an article published on June 15, 2015, in the weekly review of the Canadian Bar Association, Quebec branch, where she discussed her recent departure from the CBA-Quebec Communications Committee after having been involved with it for over a decade. To read this article, click here (in French only).
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Gerald Stotland and Élisabeth Pinard, speakers at the IAML
During the Annual International Academy of Matrimonial LawyersConvention (IAML) (an international association comprised of 700 family law lawyers) which took place in Quebec City, from June 9 to June 12, 2015, Lavery hosted a dinner organized at the Laurie Raphaël Restaurant by Ms. Élisabeth Pinard and Mr. Gerald Stotland, both IAML Fellows, which gathered 20 lawyers specialized in family law from Europe, the U.S. and Canada. The event was a great success.
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Marie Cossette, honorary president at the 4th International Arson Investigators Conference
Marie Cossette, a partner at Lavery, whose litigation practice focuses on public, administrative and disciplinary law, and who is responsible for the cabinet’s integrity practice, was honorary president during the 4thInternational Arson Investigators Conference which took place on June 11 and June 12, 2015, at Lévis. This non-profit association offers information relating to arson investigation through seminars, conferences and training programs which allows participants to maintain a high degree of knowledge in that field. Ms. Cossette was invited as such following her participation in the Coroner and Commissionner of inquiry’s investigation of the Résidence du Hâvre tragedy, at L’Isle-Verte.
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Four Lavery lawyers speak at Effects Mtl 2015
On June 10, 2015, at the Mont-Royal Centre, took place Effects Mtl 2015, an international business convention which aims to showcase the province of Quebec and support the VFX and animation sector. Nicolas Joubert, Nadine Landry, Catherine Maheu and Norman A. Dionne, partners at Lavery, gave a conference to over 100 participants entitled “Pitfalls to avoid in recruitment of foreign talent”, which discussed the best practices to avoid bad surprises, delays and reduce costs, as well as the important distinctions between contracts of employment and contracts for services, and the most efficient means to protect intellectual property. The main issues related to recruitment of foreign talents in the visual effects industry in Québec and in Canada were also discussed. Nicolas Joubert Nadine Landry Catherine Maheu Norman A. Dionne
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Gerald Stotland and Awatif Lakhdar present a conference on marriage contracts
On June 3, 2015, Gerald Stotland and Awatif Lakhdarrespectively partner and lawyer in Family Law at Lavery, gave a conference entitled “Validity and weight granted by other jurisdictions to marriage contracts made in the province of Quebec”, prepared in collaboration with Ms. Sylvie Demers. Organized jointly by D’Amico Family Wealth Management and RBC Dominion Securities Inc., over 40 participants gathered at this conference which discussed the various legislative measures used to address injustices arising from the application of marriage contracts, as well as the conditions governing the validity and the enforceability of Quebec marriage contracts abroad. Gerald Stotland Awatif Lakhdar Sylvie Demers -->