News

Lavery is proud to announce that 26 partners are ranked among the leading practitioners in Canada in their respective practice areas in the 2020 edition of The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory. The following Lavery partners are listed in the 2020 edition of The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory: Asset Equipment Finance/Leasing Pierre Denis Aviation (Regulation & Liability) Louis Charette Banking & Financial Institutions Louis Payette, Ad.E. Class Actions *Myriam Brixi Louis Charette Construction law Nicolas Gagnon Corporate Commercial law André Vautour Corporate Finance & Securities Josianne Beaudry René Branchaud Employment Law Marie-Josée Hétu, CIRC Guy Lavoie, CIRC Family Law Caroline Harnois Elisabeth Pinard Franchise law Jean-Philippe Turgeon Intellectual Property Chantal Desjardins *Isabelle Jomphe Labour Relations Pierre-L. Baribeau Michel Desrosiers Richard Gaudreault Danielle Gauthier, CHRP Michel Gélinas Marie-Josée Hétu, CIRC *Marie-Hélène Jolicoeur Guy Lavoie, CIRC Litigation - Corporate Commercial *Emil Vidrascu Litigation - Commercial Insurance Marie-Claude Cantin Bernard Larocque Litigation - Product Liability Louis Charette Mining Josianne Beaudry René Branchaud Sébastien Vézina Property Leasing Richard Burgos Workers' Compensation Guy Lavoie, CIRC *New posting The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory is the most comprehensive publication to legal talent in the country and it identifies leading practitioners in over 60 separate practice areas and leading law firms in over 40 practice areas. It is a reference guide for Canadian and foreign corporate counsels and law firms in need of specialized legal services in Canada. For more information, please visit Lexpert’s website at: http://www.lexpert.ca/directory.

Dear clients and business partners, In light of recent recommendations from Canadian and Québec authorities, and the progression of the coronavirus epidemic to the pandemic stage, Lavery wishes to inform you of the measures that we have implemented to ensure the safety of our members, limit the spread of the virus within and outside the Lavery network, comply with the official recommendations of the authorities, and ensure the continuity of our business. The safety of our team members, our clients and business partners, as well as that of their families and loved ones, remains our top priority. We would like to offer our thoughts and support to all those who have to deal with the impacts of contamination within their own organizations or among their relations. We would like to assure all of our clients and business partners that we have been monitoring the situation for several weeks, and that a business continuity plan has rapidly been put in place in order to ensure that we maintain the level of service that you expect, particularly in terms of managing the impacts of the spread on your own organization. Lavery’s four offices (Montréal, Québec City, Sherbrooke and Trois-Rivières) remain open and our team members are able to continue operations, whether on site with reinforced sanitary measures or remotely in a secure manner. In summary, here are the preventive measures that we have implemented and will continue to adjust as the situation progresses: All business travel outside Québec, regardless of destination, has been cancelled or postponed until further notice. This includes travel for client meetings or for participation in conferences or other professional events. All personal travel outside Québec, regardless of destination, is subject to the usual recommendations of the official authorities and is subject to precautionary measures (self-isolation or other) before any return to work. All internal events, including training sessions, conferences and any other events organized at the firm, are cancelled until further notice, and participation in events of a professional nature outside the firm (training sessions, symposiums, meetings, receptions, sports and social events, etc.) is not recommended. Participation in events involving more than 25 people is not permitted until further notice.  We have asked our team members to conduct all meetings with clients or business partners by telephone or virtual meeting. Should a client meeting truly need to be held in person on an exceptional basis, our receptionists have been instructed to ask visitors to register so that we can follow up as required. The measures described above are part of a collective prevention effort. Rest assured that we are continuously assessing the adequacy of these measures, that we remain at your service for all your legal needs, including those required to manage this pandemic, and that we will keep you informed as the situation evolves at Lavery. Anik TrudelChief Executive Officer

Lavery is pleased to announce that Bernard Larocque, a partner of the firm, was inducted as a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers (ACTL) during a ceremony held on March 7, 2020 in Tucson, Arizona. Founded in 1950, ACTL is a professional association of the best trial Lawyers in the United States and Canada and one of the most prestigious legal organizations in North America. The College is dedicated to maintaining and improving the standards of trial practice, the administration of justice and the ethics of the profession. Click here for more information on the College.

Lavery is pleased to announce that Valérie Belle-Isle, Guillaume Laberge et Béatrice Ngatcha have been appointed partners of the firm.

Lavery is pleased to announce that a team of five new professionals is joining its Labour and Employment Law group. Richard Gaudreault, Partner Richard Gaudreault’s practice focuses on the negotiation of collective agreements and strategy advising in human resources planning and reorganization for private companies and public institutions.   Benoit Brouillette, Partner Benoit Brouillette serves a clientele that includes private, public and parapublic organizations and assists them in their daily and strategic management of human resources and labour relations.   Ariane Pasquier, Partner Ariane Pasquier regularly represents her clients in court. Thanks to her negotiating skills, she also represents parties in collective agreement negotiations, particularly in municipal matters. In addition, she has specific expertise in public safety for police forces and fire services.   Elizabeth Bourgeois, Associate Elizabeth Bourgeois has gained experience in conflict prevention and resolution, and frequently advises public and private organizations regarding problematic situations that arise in the workplace.   Camille Rioux, Associate Camille Rioux advises employers in the public, parapublic and private sectors on issues related to human resources and the development of good labour relations.

On January 16, Soccer Québec and the Montreal Impact announced a partnership to boost the popularity and quality of Quebec soccer. Lavery had the opportunity to support Soccer Québec in reaching this agreement, which is the first in Canada between a professional soccer club and a provincial sporting federation. The main subject of this agreement is the long-term acquisition of Soccer Québec’s commercial and marketing rights by the Montreal club until the FIFA World Cup in 2026 in North America. This will allow Soccer Québec and the Impact to join forces to promote and support the continued growth of soccer in the province. The Lavery sports law team that counselled Soccer Québec was made up of Sébastien Vézina and Andrée-Anne Perras-Fortin. Click here to learn more.

Lavery is pleased to announce the appointment of Simon Clément as managing partner of Lavery’s Québec City office. In addition to managing Lavery’s Québec City office, comprised of 44 professionals and employees,Mr. Clément will be responsible for the overall growth of the firm’s activities and the firm’s position in the Québec City area. As such, he will be joining the firm’s Management Committee. A professional known in the business community for his expertise and drive Mr. Clément’s practice extends to commercial litigation, including shareholder conflicts, corporate reorganizations and insolvency, breach of contract and urgent proceedings. He also offers legal counsel to long-term clients for acquisitions as well as sales of businesses and assets, in particular. In keeping with this, he chairs the Québec City division of the M&A Club, founded in 2012 to facilitate deal making and financing in the mid-market private sector between M&A professionals. “Lavery is more than a century old and has strong roots in Québec City. With its reputation well established, the firm has reinvented itself over time through bold decisions. Not only am I pleased to join the Lavery network and the entire Québec City team, but I am also eager to put my network and energy to work for the benefit of the firm’s clients and its strategic plan,” says Mr. Clément. An appointment in keeping with Lavery’s vision This arrival coincides with the start of major work aimed at expanding our Québec City office. “I am pleased to pass the torch on to Simon, as our Québec City office redefines itself in new premises and as the region is offering great opportunities for economic growth,” says Daniel Bouchard. “With his excellent legal reputation, entrepreneurial skills, notoriety and strong connections in the Québec City business community, Simon Clément has emerged as the best candidate to take over the management of Lavery’s Québec City office and to drive its development. Although he is not leaving, but simply returning to active practice, I would like to thank Daniel Bouchard for his exceptional contribution. His ongoing commitment throughout the years, the projects and the challenges has been expressed through motivating leadership,” says Anik Trudel, CEO of Lavery.