This section keeps you up-to-date on the latest news and upcoming public appearances of Lavery professionals.
News
-
Katia Opalka of Lavery, speaker at a Canadian Bar Association webinar
Katia Opalka, an environmental and aboriginal law partner at Lavery, delivered a presentation on the Quebec legislative framework for water during a recent webinar entitled “Regional Approaches to Water Across Canada” organized by the National Environmental, Energy and Resources Law Section of the Canadian Bar Association.
-
The Quebec Bar 2014 National Symposium on Class Actions – Jean Saint-Onge interviewed by the Journal Barreau
Mr. Jean Saint-Onge, Ad. E., a Litigation partner at Lavery, was interviewed by the Journal Barreau in connection with the 11th edition of the National Symposium on Class Actions that will be held at the Palais des congrès de Montréal on March 20-21, 2014.According to Mr. Saint-Onge, the symposium has become a must-attend event that yearly draws dozens of speakers from Quebec, Canada and the United States who are discussing the most recent case law and trends with regards to class actions. Mr. Saint-Onge believes that class actions have become increasingly popular partly because they allow greater access to justice at a more affordable cost.To read this interview (in French, page 31), click here.
-
Lavery represents Industrial Alliance in the redemption of its series C preferred shares in the aggregate amount of $100 million
On December 31, 2013, Industrial Alliance Insurance and Financial Services Inc. redeemed all of its Non-Cumulative 5 Year Rate Reset Class A Preferred Shares Series C (the “Series C Preferred Shares”) then outstanding for an aggregate amount of $100 million. The Series C Preferred Shares were redeemed in accordance with the rights, privileges, restrictions and conditions attached to the Series C Preferred Shares and were delisted from the Toronto Stock Exchange on December 31, 2013. Industrial Alliance was represented by a team from Lavery consisting of Marc Rochefort, Michel Servant and Maxime Bergeron (corporate and securities). Founded in 1892, Industrial Alliance Insurance and Financial Services Inc. is a life and health insurance company with operations in all regions of Canada as well as in the United States.
-
Lavery welcomes thirteen new lawyers to its Montreal office
Lavery is pleased to announce that thirteen new lawyers, who are practising in health law, labour law and litigation, have joined its Montreal office: six partners, one counsel and six associates. The new partners are as follows:Magali Cournoyer-Proulx practises in the areas of labour and employment law, and health law. She is recognized for her expertise in matters relating to the individual contract of employment and all legal questions concerning health institutions. She also advises various professional orders, syndics, organizations and associations in regulatory, disciplinary and ethical matters, and with respect to professional liability. Norman A. Dionne practises in the area of labour and employment law. He has long-standing experience in union certifications, the negotiation of collective agreements, the management of labour conflicts and grievance arbitrations. He is often called upon to act in cases involving employment disputes. Véronique Iezzoni focuses her practice on civil litigation. She has solid experience in matters regarding civil and professional liability, in particular relating to health and social services centres including the liability of the nursing staff and medical residents. Simon Gagné focuses his practice on both health and labour law, including grievance arbitrations, labour standards and the interpretation of collective agreements. He also offers a broad range of health law services to institutional and corporate clients. Sylvain Poirier, LL.M., heads Lavery’s Health Law team. For more than 25 years, he has been practising in health law and labour law. Mr. Poirier is a founding member of the Société de médecine et de droit du Québec. He was also a lecturer for the Université de Sherbrooke’s Master’s program in Health Law. Mr. Poirier is recognized as a leading practitioner in the area of Health Care Law in the 2012, 2013 and 2014 editions of The Best Lawyers in Canada. Best Lawyers also named him 2014 Montreal Lawyer of the Year in Health Care Law. Philippe Tremblay specializes in commercial litigation. He has led numerous complex files giving rise to a number of construction law remedies and has acted in various public-private partnership (PPP) construction files. Patrick A. Molinari, FRSC, is counsel. He brings to his health law and regulatory practice the experience of an exceptional career in academia. A professor at the Faculty of Law of the Université de Montréal from 1977 to 2010, he headed the Centre de recherche en droit public (Public Law Research Centre). He also acted as Associate Dean and then Dean of the Faculty as well as Provost, Administration and Finance of the Université de Montréal. In addition, Mr. Molinari was Chairman of the Board of the Centre hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal from 2004 to 2012. The new associates are as follows: Amélie Bélisle practises in the area of labour and employment law. She advises and represents small, medium and large private and public sector clients in all aspects of their labour and employment needs. She also acts as a legal advisor for her clients, representing them before various administrative and civil tribunals. Laurence Bich-Carrière focuses her practice on all aspects of civil and commercial litigation. She is also the author of several articles, including in the areas of intellectual property and constitutional law. Rhonda Grintuch focuses her practice on all aspects of health law as well as labour and employment law. She has also developed expertise with regards to the ethical, legal and social implications of pharmacogenomics research. Jérôme Laflamme practises in the area of labour and employment law. He handles every aspect of the employment relationship, including the interpretation of collective agreements, grievance arbitration matters, labour relations, labour standards and employment litigation. Mélanie Sauriol practises in the areas of labour and employment law, and health law. Her practice includes handling matters pertaining to grievance arbitration, labour standards, privacy law and human rights. She regularly advises health and social services institutions on administrative issues related to their organization and management. Charles Olivier Thibeault, M.Sc. (Health Services Management), practises in the area of health law. He assists institutions and organizations in Quebec’s health and social services sector with various legal issues. "We are very pleased to welcome these new lawyers. Their combined experience and expertise will help maximize our service offer in certain practice areas to reflect our clients’ needs and our growth objectives", said Don McCarty, Managing Partner of the firm.
-
Bernard Larocque and Jonathan Lacoste-Jobin of Lavery, speakers at the 2013 Annual Review of Insurance Law
Mr. Bernard Larocque and Mr. Jonathan Lacoste-Jobin, Litigation lawyers at Lavery, acted as speakers at the 2013 Annual Review of Insurance Law that was held in Montreal on February 12, 2014.Organized by the Canadian Insurance Claims Managers Association (CICMA), this event drew many insurance professionals who wanted to learn more about the case law and trends that had an impact on the industry in 2013.
-
Valérie Boucher and Diana Darilus of Lavery, speakers at an event of the Association de planification fiscale et financière
Ms. Valérie Boucher and Ms. Diana Darilus, lawyers in Lavery’s Business Law Group, acted as speakers on February 12, 2014 for the event La Relève presented by the Association de planification fiscale et financière (APFF).In their conference, entitled “Trusts and the 21-Year Rule: Impact and Measures” (À l’approche de la 21e année de la fiducie : impact et mesures à prendre »), Ms. Boucher and Ms. Darilus analyzed the tax and legal considerations that can be helpful in implementing a strategy aimed at reducing the tax impact following a trust’s 21-year anniversary.
-
Lavery represents Héroux-Devtek Inc. in connection with the acquisition of British landing gear company APPH
Lavery is pleased to announce that it acted as the legal advisor to Héroux-Devtek Inc. (hereinafter "Héroux-Devtek"), a leading Canadian manufacturer of aerospace products, in connection with its acquisition of the entire share capital of U.K.-based APPH Limited and U.S.-based APPH Wichita, Inc. (collectively "APPH"), subsidiaries of BBA Aviation plc (LES: BBA). APPH is an integrated supplier of landing gear and hydraulic systems and assemblies for original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and aftermarket applications.The transactional team at Lavery was led by Jean-Sébastien Desroches (mergers and acquisitions) and included Josianne Beaudry (securities) and Raphaël Bacal (mergers and acquisitions). Lavery's financing team was led by François Renaud (financing) and included Étienne Brassard (financing).In this transaction, Héroux-Devtek acquired four plants located in the United Kingdom and one plant in Wichita, Kansas. These plants have a combined workforce of approximately 400 employees, including a design engineering department staffed with 40 professionals. The purchase price, net of about US$4 million of cash acquired, is approximately US$124 million. The transaction was financed with Héroux-Devtek's available cash and existing credit facilities."Lavery is pleased to have been an active participant in this major international transaction in the aerospace sector. This transaction is an eloquent indicator of the firm's advanced expertise in the area of mergers and acquisitions, and once again demonstrates our team's ability to support our clients as they expand into international markets", said Don McCarty, Managing Partner of the firm.
-
Dominique Bélisle of Lavery, panelist at the Corporate State: Québec Summit
Ms. Dominique Bélisle, a Business Law partner at Lavery, was a panelist during the Corporate State: Québec Summit that was held on January 28, 2014 and drew around a 100 business women holding senior executive positions.Sponsored by Lavery and organized by Bedlam Productions Inc. in alliance with the Association of Québec Women in Finance, this event gave participants the opportunity to discuss four cutting-edge business trends that could have an impact on how business is conducted, such as new leadership paradigms, the reinvention of social conscience, changes in the retail business and the growth of fab labs, or how to do about anything on your 3D Printer, the latter representing a new form of collaborative digital creation and production using digital control machines which will revolutionize the manufacturing industry.
-
Bernard Larocque and Jonathan Lacoste-Jobin of Lavery, speakers at the 2013 Conference Jean-Bélanger on damage insurance
Mr. Bernard Larocque and Mr. Jonathan Lacoste-Jobin, Litigation lawyers at Lavery, recently acted as speakers at the Canadian Bar Association, Québec Branch (CBA Québec) Annual Review of Insurance Law which drew many insurance professionals.This event was renamed Conference Jean-Bélanger in honour of a renowned lawyer at Lavery who passed away in 2013. Mr. Jean Bélanger is considered a pioneer in insurance law. For several decades, he contributed to the growth of this legal area of practice.For more information about the Conference Jean-Bélanger (in French), click here.
-
Louis Charette of Lavery appointed on the Defense Research Institute International Committee
Mr. Louis Charette, a Litigation partner at Lavery, was appointed “Canada Country Chair” of the Defense Research Institute (DRI) International Committee. The DRI is the world’s largest organization of attorneys defending the interests of businesses and individuals in civil litigation cases.The DRI International Committee is a forum that brings together international clients and their in-house and outside counsel to discuss relevant substantive, regulatory and procedural issues.
-
Chloé Fauchon joins Lavery as an associate
Lavery is pleased to announce that Ms. Chloé Fauchon has joined the firm as an associate on January 20, 2014. Called to the Quebec Bar in 2014 and a former articling student with the firm in 2013, Ms. Fauchon will practise in the firm’s Administrative Law Group.Recipient of many awards for academic excellence, Ms. Fauchon took part in the prestigious pan-Canadian Laskin moot court competition in administrative and constitutional law for which her team won the first place Jeremy Oliver Prize. While at law school, she also did a legal internship with the department of legal affairs at the Quebec Ministry of Culture, Communications and the Status of Women as well as the Ministry of Education, Recreation and Sports.
-
Katia Opalka of Lavery, to moderate panel at McGill Arctic law colloquium
Katia Opalka, a partner at Lavery who practices in the areas of environmental and aboriginal law, will moderate a panel at an Arctic law colloquium entitled “Offshore Resources & International Governance” to be held at the Faculty of Law of McGill University on Saturday, January 25, 2014.This event will bring together renowned practitioners and academics who will discuss issues such as Canadian Arctic sovereignty, rights of passage and jurisdiction over natural resources.Ms. Opalka will moderate a panel on offshore resources.For more information about the Colloquium, click here.