This section keeps you up-to-date on the latest news and upcoming public appearances of Lavery professionals.
News
-
Conference by Julie Cousineau and Emil Vidrascu on the New Code of Civil Procedure to in-house counsel
On November 25, 2015, Julie Cousineau and Emil Vidrascu, litigation partners at Lavery, gave a conference on the New Code of civil procedure in Montreal and via video conferencing in Quebec. Organized by the Canadian Bar Association (ACCJE division), the conference entitled “Le Nouveau Code de procédure civile changera-t-il votre vie comme conseiller juridique d’entreprise?” (Will the new Code of civil procedure change your life as an in-house counsel?) provided an overview of the practical implications of the new Code of civil procedure on the management of litigation files by in-house counsel.
-
Lavery winner of the RBC Challenge for Centraide!
On November 25, 2015, Lavery’s team comprised of lawyers and staff members, participated in the RBC Challenge by climbing Place Ville Marie’s 1000 stairs to raise money for Centraide in two minutes 43 seconds, five seconds more than the record established last year by a team of Olympic athletes! The RBC Challenge was able to raise the impressive amount of $ 210 000 to fight against poverty and social exclusion in the city. Congratulations to all the runners and the Lavery team for taking on this challenge for Centraide!
-
Étienne Brassard, speaker at the 4th edition of Stratégies PME
On November 26, 2015, Étienne Brassard, a business law partner at Lavery, was co-speaker at Stratégies PME 2016 which took place at the Palais des congrès de Montréal. The conference was entitled “Le financement participatif ou “crowdfunding”: en quoi consiste cette nouvelle alternative pour les entrepreneurs?” (Crowdfunding: what does this new alternative mean for entrepreneurs?) and was presented with Mr. Gabriel Araish, expert analyst in corporate financing at the Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF). Mr. Brassard discussed, among other things, various types of crowdfunding, their interaction with traditional methods of financing, the advantages and key risks for entrepreneurs, while Mr. Araish addressed the new regulatory framework put in place by the AMF with regard to equity crowdfunding.
-
Jean Saint-Onge takes part in a panel on class actions regarding public health
On November 25, 2015, Jean Saint-Onge, a litigation partner at Lavery, participated in a bilingual panel together with Ms. Cynthia Callard of Smoke Free Canada and Dr Alain Poirier of the Institut national de santé publique du Québec (INSPQ), at McGill’s Faculty of Law. Under the topic “Les recours collectifs québécois contre les fabricants de cigarettes ou le rôle des litiges judiciaires dans la poursuite d'objectifs de santé publique” (Quebec class actions against tobacco manufacturers or the role of litigation in pursuing public health objectives), panelists namely discussed two Quebec class actions against three tobacco manufacturers which were granted by the Superior Court in May 2015.
-
Guillaume Lavoie, Young Bar of Montreal Lawyer of the year in Corporate Law
Lavery is pleased to announce that on November 26, 2015, Mr. Guillaume Lavoie, a business law partner at the firm, won the 2015 YBM Lawyer of the year in the Corporate Law category, at the “Leaders of tomorrow” YBM Gala held at the Rialto Theater. Given out by a committee of selected legal figures and members of the YBM Governing Council, this award highlights the quality and excellence a member of the Young Bar of Montréal has shown through his achievements. The award winner must have distinguished himself on a professional and personal level, as well as through his involvement in the community and his views on the profession and his career. Guillaume Lavoie’s practice focuses on private equity and venture capital. He has developed considerable expertise in setting up investment funds and specializes in structuring complex international funds. He regularly acts as lead legal counsel to fund managers in their fundraising efforts and their investments in Canada, the United States, Europe, and elsewhere in the World. "We are very honoured that Guillaume Lavoie is the winner of this prize, a recognition of his contribution to our legal profession, as well as the excellence and discipline shown through his work. This award, which is also a tribute to the quality and depth of his commitment to the profession and community, brings honour to the entire firm", said Don McCarty, Lavery’s Managing Partner.
-
Jean Saint-Onge of Lavery recognized as leading litigation lawyer by Lexpert
Jean Saint-Onge, a Litigation partner at Lavery, is once again recognized as one of Canada’s leading litigation lawyers in Lexpert®’s special supplement published in the Report on Business magazine December edition inserted in the November 27, 2015 issue of The Globe and Mail. Mr. Saint-Onge’s expertise as a leading litigation lawyer focuses particularly on class actions and product liability. He is also listed in other Lexpert publications, such as The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory and the Lexpert Guide to the Leading US/Canada Cross-Border Litigation Lawyers in Canada, as well as in Chambers Global, Chambers Global Canada and Best Lawyers in Canada.
-
Lavery’s Jean-Philippe Turgeon publishes an article in Canadian Business Franchise entitled “Validating the Viability of a Franchise System’s Infrastructure”
Jean-Philippe Turgeon, partner and leader of Lavery’s Franchising and distribution group, has published an article in the December edition of the Canadian Business Franchise magazine highlighting the keys aspects of a franchise system’s infrastructure in order to sustain growth. To read the article, please click here.
-
Lavery lunch and learn: Business law and sports
At a lunch and learn on November 17, 2015, Mtre Sébastien Vézina and Mtre Benjamin David Gross, partners in the business law team of Lavery, shared their experiences as counsel in the field of sports law with the Comité droit des affaires et gestion (CDAG) of the Faculty of Law of the University of Montreal. With a room full of close to 70 attendees, the event turned out to be a great success! Sébastien Vézina and Benjamin David Gross
-
Lavery’s Sherbrooke office participates in the Défi à l’entreprise competition
Lawyers, notaries and employees from Lavery's Sherbrooke office participated in the Défi à l'entreprise competition on Saturday November 21st, 2015. The purpose of this friendly competition between various local businesses is to raise money for CEGEP de Sherbrooke sport teams (les Volontaires). This year's effort was a dry run. The Sherbrooke team expects to participate in (and win!) the competition next year. Front row : Sophie Goulet, Mylène Boivert, Sylvie Stang-Chaput, Audrey-Julie Dallaire, Geneviève Chamberland and Marika Couture-Houle. Back row : Frédérick Breton, Annie Pouliot, Justin Gravel, Doris Mailhot and Nicolas Thibault-Bernier
-
Élisabeth Pinard presides a session at the Discussion forum on the legal protection against exploitation of seniors
On November 27, 2015, at Laval University, Élisabeth Pinard, coordinating partner for the Family law, personal law, and estate law group, will preside a session at the Forum discussion on la protection juridique des personnes aînées contre l’exploitation (Discussion forum on the legal protection against exploitation of seniors), which is organized by the Groupe de recherche en droit des services financiers (GRDSF) and the Antoine-Turmel Chair. Ms. Pinard will present each speaker and act as moderator during question period. To register for the Forum, which meets continuing education credit requirements, please click here.
-
Guillaume Lavoie winner of the 2015 Rising Star Award
Lavery is pleased to announce that Mr. Guillaume Lavoie, a business law partner at the firm, has received the Rising Star Award given out by the Legal Lexpert Directory, during a gala that was held in Toronto on November 19, 2015. This Canada-wide contest pays tribute to lawyers under 40 who are considered rising stars in the legal profession in Canada. The winners are selected based on rigorous and well-delineated criteria: professional accomplishments, leadership, contribution to firm profitability, business acumen, vision, education and awards, and teamwork. Guillaume Lavoie’s practice focuses on private equity and venture capital. He has developed considerable expertise in setting up investment funds and specializes in structuring complex international funds. He regularly acts as lead legal counsel to fund managers in their fundraising efforts and their investments in Canada, the United States, Europe, and elsewhere in the World. "Guillaume Lavoie has excellent professional and human qualities that make him a legal expert respected by his clients and colleagues. Lexperthas acknowledged these qualities by giving him the Rising StarAward. Guillaume is truly an example of professionalism and thoroughness in a demanding profession while still giving back to the community through his numerous involvements in foundations and non-profit organizations, which make him a great asset to Lavery", said Don McCarty, Lavery’s Managing Partner. For more information, please visit the Lexpert Rising Starswebsite at www.lexpert.ca/rising-stars/award-winners.
-
Pier-Olivier Fradette speaks on the contractual freedom of municipalities
On November 16, 2015, at Lavery’s Quebec City office, Pier-Olivier Fradette, a municipal law associate, gave a conference entitled “La liberté contractuelle des municipalités” (Contractual freedom of municipalities). Presented to Lavery clients from the municipal sector, this conference was designed to expose simple mistakes frequently made when drafting municipal contracts, which ultimately cause interpretation issues or lead to legal actions before the courts. Tools were given to municipal writers to help them avoid these mistakes and therefore diminish the risks of legal disputes in their municipalities.