This section keeps you up-to-date on the latest news and upcoming public appearances of Lavery professionals.
News
-
Daniel Bouchard of Lavery speaker at the seminar of the Fédération québécoise des municipalités
Mr. Daniel Bouchard, Managing Partner of the Quebec City office, recently gave a conference entitled « Équipe maire / Directeur Général, une formule gagnante dans l’administration d’une municipalité » (Translation: Mayor and General Director : a winning combination in municipal administration ) at the Fédération québécoise des municipalities seminar. Ms.. Valérie Belle-Isle and Ms. Chloé Fauchon, administrative law associates, presented the same conference in English. The conference discussed the respective roles of the mayor and director general.
-
Appointment of Ms. Elise Poisson of Lavery to the Superior Court of Quebec
Lavery is pleased to announce the appointment of Ms. Élise Poisson as Judge of the Superior Court of Quebec, as of October 9th, 2014. Ms. Poisson graduated from the Université de Montréal Faculty of Law in 1985. She was an articling student with the firm in 1986 and was hired as an associate the same year. Ms. Poisson became a partner at Lavery in 1994 and practised civil and commercial litigation for more than twenty-five years. During her career, Ms. Poisson advised and represented a wide breadth of clients issued from the private and public sector, operating in multiple spheres of activities and with diverse commercial challenges. She contributed to the training and professional development of many young lawyers at Lavery. Devoted and involved, Ms. Poisson sat on the firm’s board of directors from 2004 to 2012. She oversaw major projects for the development and growth of the firm. Ms. Poisson held the position of managing partner at Lavery between January 1st, 2010 and December 31st, 2012. She resumed the practise of civil and commercial litigation as of January 1st, 2013 and continued to pursue her professional activities within the firm. With this new nomination, Lavery’s tradition of contributing judges to the legal community lives on.
-
Lavery’s presence significant at the Canadian Association of Counsel to Employers annual conference
It is in Montreal that the Canadian Association of Counsel to Employers (CACE) recently held its 11th annual Conference. CACE is comprised of approximately 800 management-side lawyers acting in various labour-related fields, such as Employment Law, Occupational Health and Safety, Human Rights, Pensions and Privacy law. CACE’s objectives are notably to provide input on policy and legislative reform from a legal perspective and to promote excellence in the specialized field of labour and employment law. Mr. Guy Lavoie, a partner in Lavery’s Labour and Employment practice group, was acting as Co-Chair of the Conference, which hosted a record number of participants with 240 attorneys in attendance. Ms. Catherine Maheu and Ms. Josiane L’Heureux, partners in Lavery’s Labour and Employment practice group each acted as speakers. Ms. Maheu’s conference focused on the highlights in Federal Labour Law, while Ms. L’Heureux’s discussed OHS developments. In 2015, the CACE conference will be held in Halifax. For additional information, kindly click here.
-
Jean-Yves Simard of Lavery to co-chair 10th Annual Pan-Canadian Insolvency and Restructuring Law Conference
On October 23rd and 24th, 2014, Mr. Jean-Yves Simard, litigation partner at Lavery, will co-chair the 10th Annual Pan-Canadian Insolvency and Restructuring Law Conference, which will be held at the Château Frontenac, in Quebec City. This conference, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year with an opening reception, will discuss the latest developments in insolvency and restructuring in Canada and will include, amongst other topics, a panel by the American Bankruptcy Institute on Chapter 11 Reform, the Annual Cross-Country Legal Update, as well as latest developments in pensions and personal bankruptcy. For additional information or to register, kindly click here.
-
Marie Cossette of Lavery appointed counsel to the commissioner in the public inquiry to examine Isle-Verte tragedy
Ms. Marie Cossette, Ad. E, litigation partner at Lavery, has recently been appointed counsel to the commissioner tasked with leading the inquest to examine the causes and circumstances of the fire that claimed 32 lives on the night of January 23rd, 2014. The public inquiry was requested by Vice-Prime-Minister and Public Security Minister Lise Thériault as well as by the minister responsible for the region, Mr. Jean D’Amour, in hopes that it will not only cast light on the circumstances of the tragic events but also lead to the implementation of measures promoting elderly safety. Ms. Cossette has developed a strong expertise relating to commissions of inquiry, having acted as senior counsel to the Gomery Commission, assistant chief counsel to the Johnson Commission, and counsel to the Quebec provincial police officers during the Poitras Commission. She currently represents a major public contracting authority before the Charbonneau Commission.
-
Katia Opalka of Lavery to chair a mini-seminar on law and environmental professionals
On November 7th, 2014, Ms. Katia Opalka, an environmental and aboriginal law partner at Lavery, will chair a half-day seminar regarding legal issues for environmental professionals at Lavery’s Montreal offices on behalf of the Canadian Bar Association. During this professional training event (4,15 hours of CLE credits), seasoned professionals will discuss professional liability, legal aspects of project management as well as contaminated sites regulations, followed by a talk on real life experiences. This programme is designed for environmental professionals (engineers, hydrogeologists, biologists and others) but also for in-house counsel who are periodically called upon to advise their employers in connection with environmental risk management. For additional information or to register, kindly click here. But hurry as seats are limited!
-
Éric Gélinas, of Lavery, guest speaker at APFF seminar
Mr. Éric Gélinas, legal counsel in business law at Lavery and professor in the tax department of Sherbrooke University, was guest speaker at the conference organized by the Association de planification fiscale et financière (APFF), on October 9th, 2014. Mr. Gélinas spoke about subparagraph 55(3)a) of the Income Tax Act by discussing the exceptions as they are defined by this subsection and presenting examples of complex situations.
-
Lavery welcomes two new associates
Lavery is pleased to announce that Ms. Marika Couture-Houle (2014) and Mr. Nicolas Thibault Bernier (2014) have recently joined the firm. The new lawyers will practise in the Litigation Group in our Sherbrooke office. Ms. Marika Couture-Houle practises civil and commercial litigation, namely in the fields of insurance, civil liability and latent defects whereas Mr. Thibault Bernier practises in the field of restructuring, insolvency, bank law as well as professional liability. "The addition of these lawyers not only shows Lavery’s willingness to attract young talent who will reinforce our practice groups but it also demonstrates that the firm is committed to hiring young lawyers who were previously articling students with the firm", said Don McCarty, Managing Partner of the firm. The year of call to the Quebec Bar appears in parentheses.
-
Gérard Coulombe of Lavery, speaker at a press conference for the Canadian International Organ Competition
Mr. Gérard Coulombe, Q.C., Ad. E., partner at Lavery practising in the Business law/ transactions group, was speaker at a press conference for the opening of the Canadian International Organ Competition. This year marks the third edition of this competition which attracts talented pipe organ players of international reputation to perform a fascinating repertoire. Presided by Mr. Coulombe, this event’s mission is to promote and generate interest for what Bach, Mozart and many others referred to as “the king of instruments». Mr. Coulombe seized the opportunity of this press conference, filmed by CTV and CBC, to thank the event’s sponsors for their support, including Lavery. For additional information, kindly click here: www.ciocm.org
-
Bernard Larocque appointed Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Théâtre Les Deux Mondes
Mr. Bernard Larocque, partner at Lavery , has recently been appointed Chairman of the Board of Directors of the theater company Théâtre Les Deux Mondes. He wishes to acknowledge the work of his predecessor, Ms. Francine D’Entremont, who will be remaining on the Board of Directors. Les Deux Mondes theater is a key player on the Quebec artistic scene. Active for more than 40 years, the work of the theatre focuses on contemporary creation and has become a meeting place for both a young and adult public at once. Mr. Larocque’s involvement in this cultural entity is part of Lavery’s long-standing tradition of supporting the arts within the Quebec community. For additional information, kindly click here.
-
-
Gabrielle Ferland, recipient of the Jacques Perron Award of Excellence
Lavery congratulates Gabrielle Ferland, a law student at the University of Montréal and recipient of the “Prix d’excellence Jacques Perron” at the legal aid clinic - for the 2014 academic year. Mr. Perron, a partner at Lavery, was a lecturer at the Law Faculty of the University of Montréal for 25 years. He created the “Prix d’excellence Jacques Perron” which is awarded every year to a student for his or her outstanding work at the legal aid clinic, which Mr. Perron helped establish in 1973.