This section keeps you up-to-date on the latest news and upcoming public appearances of Lavery professionals.
News
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Evelyne Verrier presents a review of the jurisprudence in Insurance Law
From May 12th to May 14th, Evelyne Verrier participated in a conference for our client, AXA. She gave a speech on the jurisprudence in Insurance Law in 2009.
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Raymond Doray - Speaker at the Professional Liability Underwriting Society
Montreal, May 10, 2010 - The Professional Liability Underwriting Society invited Raymond Doray to speak at a conference on “Privacy Liabilities Exposed” last Tuesday, May 4, 2010 at the Centre Mont-Royal in Montréal. The Speakers : Gave an overview of Canadian and Quebec legislative framework Presented on de-mystifying Privacy Liabilities Spoke about the recent headlines of Privacy Breaches and their ramifications; and Provided information on insurance responses.
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Richard Burgos and Catherine Rioux to offer training for start-up companies to AQT members
On June 2, 2010, as part of a one-day training session organized by the Quebec Technology Association (AQT), Mr. Richard Burgos and Ms. Catherine Rioux, lawyers practicing business law at Lavery, will offer training for AQT members on the subject of good negotiating practices for start-up companies. AQT is a non-profit organization that represents ICT companies and regroups their management in order to support them in the attainment of their growth objectives and facilitate access to best business practices. Lavery supports AQT and is actively involved with the organization, particularly by means of the seat it holds on the AQT Start-up Committee. Lavery also publishes its own newsletter, Lavery Technology, which is of particular interest to AQT members and other ICT firms.
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Lavery Congratulates Alexandre Despatie for his Success at the Canada Cup
Sponsor of the Quebec native champion, Lavery would like to congratulate Alexandre Despatie’s victory at the Canada Cup diving competition held on May 1st and 2nd in Montreal at the Olympic Stadium. Alexandre claimed the gold medal with his partner Ruben Ross for the 3-metre synchro event on Saturday as well as the gold medal for the three-metre springboard on Sunday.This was Alexandre’s first win in Montreal since 2007, as well as his first win with his partner, Ruben Ross. Lavery is proud to support Alexandre’s efforts and congratulates him for his success!
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Lavery welcomes a new business law partner
Montreal, April 28, 2010 – Lavery is pleased to announce that Mr. Benjamin David Gross has been admitted to the firm’s partnership. Mr. Gross practices as a member of the Business Law group, with particular emphasis on banking and security on property, real estate law, consumer protection law and mining law at our offices in Montreal.Mr. Gross’ professional activities have included providing counsel to (i) asset based lenders, factoring companies and lessors in respect of drafting and negotiating documents for vendor programs as well as financing of heavy equipment and aircraft; (ii) financial institutions, lending syndicates, and borrowers, in respect of traditional and non-traditional commercial financing arrangements for companies operating in a wide range of industries including manufacturing, mining, film, medical care and sanitation, real estate investment and management and professional sport; and (iii) financial institutions, financing companies and major retail stores and franchises in respect of consumer financing, credit card programs and advertising.Mr. Gross has also contributed one chapter to the book Manuel de droit de la concurrence, entitled “Recours collectifs en vertu de la Loi sur la concurrence,” (laws, analysis and comments) by Lavery.Admitted to the Quebec Bar in 2001 after completing a law degree (B.C.L. and LL.B) at McGill University and a year at the Faculty of Commerce of the same university, Mr. Gross joined Lavery in 2001.
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Gerald Stotland, Partnet at Lavery, to Arbitrate Family Law Disputes in Ontario
Montreal, April 27, 2010 - Gerald Stotland, a partner at Lavery, has been accredited to arbitrate family law matters in the province of Ontario. He is one of the few bilingual lawyers who is member of both the Quebec Bar and the Law Society of Upper Canada to receive this certification.Arbitration in family law can be advantageous for certain parties who seek an alternative to Court. According to Mr. Stotland, “access to the courts can often result in long delays and consequently prove to be unduly expensive. In many instances, arbitration allows the parties to have immediate access to an expert well-versed in family law who will render a decision which will, once registered, have the same effect as a Court Order”.Benefits of arbitration are speed and expertise. Parties may still resort to courts should they decide to appeal the arbitrator’s decision. Parties should seek an arbitrator in family law that has in-depth knowledge and experience. Mr. Stotland brings with him years of legal experience as a recognized expert in the field.Mr. Stotland’s expertise has long been established throughout Canada. Fluent in English and French, he has been representing clients in Quebec and Ontario for over 35 years. He also counsels other lawyers as well as accountants, addressing family law aspects arising in the context of business and personal financial planning. Mr. Stotland is the former President of both the International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (Canada) and the Canadian Bar Association Family Law Section for the Quebec region. He is recognized by his peers as a leading practitioner in Family Law in both The Canadian Legal LEXPERT® Directory and Best Lawyers in Canada.
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Lavery now has a tenth lawyer named Advocatus Emeritus (Ad. E.)
Montreal, April 27, 2010 – Lavery is pleased to announce that Jean Martel has been named Advocatus Emeritus (Ad.E.) by decision of the General Council of the Bar of Quebec. This title was created in 2007 to recognize the exceptional contribution of certain lawyers to the advancement of the profession or the work of the Bar. Mr Martel will therefore join the group of 158 lawyers currently holding this distinction among the 23 000 members of the Québec Bar. Jean Martel’s practice is focused both on a national and international level on securities, financial institutions, financial services and corporations. In these fields, he advises regulators and industry groups of the securities and financial services sectors, institutional investors and leading participants of the Canadian capital markets, and business corporations both private and public. As Assistant Deputy Minister of Finance for Québec and Deputy Minister responsible for the Financial Sector, from 1988 to 1994, he was in charge of the public policy and law-making process with regards to financial institutions, securities, financial services and labor-sponsored investment funds. From 1995 to 1999, he chaired the Commission des valeurs mobilières du Québec (CVMQ). He is notably a member of the Board of Directors of the TMX Group Inc., the public corporation that operates the Toronto Stock Exchange (the senior stock market of Canada), the Montreal Exchange (the Canadian market for standardized derivatives) and the TSX Ventures Exchange (the Canadian Market for small and medium size companies), and of the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC). The name of Jean Martel will now be added to the nine other Lavery lawyers who have previously received the same honour: Ann Bigué, Pierre Bourque, Jules Brière, Raymond Doray, J. Vincent O’Donnell, Odette Jobin-Laberge, Louis Payette, Jean Saint-Onge and Michel Yergeau.
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Lavery highlights Alexandre Despatie’s victories in Mexico
As sponsor of the Quebec athlete, Lavery wishes to salute Alexandre Despatie’s victories in the three-metre springboard event at the recent competitions in Veracruz, Mexico during the FINA Diving World Series. By winning a gold medal on April 16 and a silver medal on April 20, Alexandre has once again shown the talent and perseverance that make him a genuine champion. The last time that Alexandre climbed onto the first step of the podium was at the Pan American Games in 2007 in the international 3-metre springboard event.
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Lavery welcomes Spiridoula Vassilopoulos specializing in business and financial law
Montreal, April 14, 2010 – Lavery is pleased to welcome Ms. Spiridoula Vassilopoulos as a member of the Financing and Financial Services group at our offices in Montreal, where she represents both lenders and borrowers in the negotiation and preparation of their financing and security documentation. Admitted to the Ontario Bar in 2003 after receiving her law degree from the University of Ottawa, then to the Quebec Bar in 2005, Ms. Vassilopoulos also holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from McGill University. Before joining Lavery, she practiced with other law firms in Ontario and Quebec.
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Lavery highlights Alexandre Despatie’s return to competition
As sponsor of Quebec champion Alexandre Despatie, Lavery wishes to highlight the perseverance and courage shown by this young athlete who, after having recovered from a number of injuries over the last few seasons, was rewarded with a sixth place finish in the men’s three-metre springboard event during the first leg of the FINA Diving World Series held in Qingdao, China on March 27, 2010.
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The Lavery Conference on “La gestion de risques en matière immobilière” is a great success
On March 18, Lavery hosted a number of corporate lawyers at a seminar on “La gestion de risques en matière immobilière” at Fairmont’s The Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal.Following up on the success of its previous seminar, Lavery was pleased to repeat the performance on March 18, with 175 corporate lawyers attending this latest event.Here is a brief summary of the day’s activities:13 experienced speakers2 large group sessions, entitled: Some notions related to building ownership and real rights Purchase options and renewal options in commercial leasesA choice of 3 workshops on themes of great interest: Insurance and non-liability clauses in leasing contracts Hidden public law costs liable to affect buildings Legal constraints in carrying out construction work by owner/builders1 reliable source of information, recognized and free of cost*3 hours of training as per the Quebec Bar by-law respecting the professional training of advocates, for all participants registered for the whole seminar**1 excellent occasion for exchanging with one’s peersOur lawyers also write articles on a variety of subjects of great interest, which are regularly posted on our lavery.ca website.************************** Lavery seminars are recognized by the Quebec Bar as part of its mandatory continuing education program.** Since April 1, 2009, Quebec lawyers are obliged to undertake 30 hours of professional training in every 24-month period.
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Lavery represents the syndicate of underwriters in the $86.25 million bought deal financing of convertible unsecured subordinated debentures of Cominar Real Estate Investment Trust
Montreal, February 25, 2010 – On January 12, 2010, Cominar Real Estate Investment Trust closed a public offering of $86.25 million aggregate principal amount of Series E 5.75% Convertible Unsecured Subordinated Debentures.The Debentures were sold to a syndicate of underwriters led by National Bank Financial Inc. and BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc., including RBC Dominion Securities Inc., Desjardins Securities Inc., CIBC World Markets Inc., Scotia Capital Inc., Canaccord Financial Ltd., CI Capital Markets Inc. and Genuity Capital Markets G.P.The syndicate of underwriters was represented by a team from Lavery consisting of Marc Rochefort, Michel Servant and Guillaume Lavoie (corporate and securities), and Philip Nolan (tax).Cominar is the largest commercial property owner and manager in the Province of Québec.