This section keeps you up-to-date on the latest news and upcoming public appearances of Lavery professionals.
News
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Marie Cossette, speaker for the Fédération Québécoise des Municipalités
On September 12, 2013, Ms. Marie Cossette, a Litigation partner at Lavery, gave a conference entitled “Votre municipalité est-elle prête à faire face à une gestion de crise médiatique” (Is your municipality ready to manage a media crisis?) before the members of the Fédération. Ms Cossette’s conference was delivered in the aftermath of the Lac-Mégantic tragedy last July.
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Victoria Cohene joins Lavery as an associate
Lavery is pleased to announce that Ms. Victoria Cohene has recently joined the firm as an associate. Called to the Quebec Bar in 2013 and a former articling student with the firm, Ms. Cohene will practise within the firm’s Litigation Group, particularly in the areas of family law and estate law.
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Katia Opalka, author of an article posted on the World Services Group website
Ms. Katia Opalka, an Environmental Law partner at Lavery, is the author of an article entitled “Environmental Law in Canada: The Landscape is changing fast” (Le droit de l’environnement au Canada : Un paysage en rapide mutation) that was posted on the World Services Group website.In this article, Ms. Opalka summarizes the highlights of Government of Canada initiatives from 2009 to 2011 that were designed to amend environmental statutes.To read this article, click here.
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Lavery: 100 years of service
In 2013, Lavery is celebrating 100 years of service to its clients. Founded in Quebec City in 1913, the firm has grown steadily to become Quebec’s leading independent law firm, with offices in Montreal, Quebec City and Ottawa. Throughout its history, Lavery has had strong leaders with a deep understanding of the law, strategic vision and keen business acumen. “Lavery’s influence extends right across Quebec. Over the years, many of our people have been involved in issues that have profoundly affected our society and they have left an enduring mark on our profession. Our firm has always been at the forefront of practice areas that are emerging in response to our clients’ needs and an ever-changing business environment”, said Don McCarty, Managing Partner of the firm. Our people have made Lavery what it is. Pioneers such as Onésime Gagnon, John L. O’Brien and Jacques de Billy, and Elizabeth C. Monk, the first woman to practise law in Quebec. Visionaries such as Harold Tansey and Louis-Philippe and A. Jean de Grandpré. Individuals and leaders with distinguished legal careers such as J. Vincent O’Donnell, Claude Lavery, Robert W. Mason, Pierre Cantin, Pierre Beaudoin, André Laurin, Michel Yergeau, Richard F. Dolan and Élise Poisson. Our story was written by individuals who had a vision for the future and a commitment to attract and develop new talent. “Since its inception, all of the firm’s decisions have been made with a single goal in mind: to support our clients and contribute to their success. Over the decades, the law has evolved to address new realities, and so have we. For example, we have pioneered new areas of practice focused on environmental protection, public law, access to information and the protection of personal information”, added André Vautour, Chairman of the Board. The legal community has acknowledged the calibre of our jurists by selecting dozens of judges from within our ranks, including the Honourable Richard Wagner, Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada, and the Honourable Jacques Chamberland, Justice of the Court of Appeal of Québec. In similar fashion, Lavery lawyers have been sought out by the business community to serve as corporate counsel in some of Canada’s leading companies. For more information, please consult the Centennial Brochure in the “Lavery: Your Business Fair and Square for 100 Years” section of the firm’s website Lavery.ca.
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Bernard Larocque and Jonathan Lacoste-Jobin, authors of an article in La ChADPresse
Mr. Bernard Larocque, a Litigation partner at Lavery, and Mr. Jonathan Lacoste-Jobin, a Litigation associate at Lavery, published an article entitled “Jusqu’où l’assureur couvre-t-il des lieux où se déroulent des activités criminelles ?” (To What Extent are Insurers Required to Cover Premises where Criminal Activities are Conducted?) in the Fall issue of La ChADPresse, a publication of the Chambre de l’assurance de dommages.In their article, Mr. Larocque and Mr. Lacoste-Jobin summarize a decision rendered by the Court of Appeal of Québec on April 17, 2013 that focuses on the application of exclusion clauses contained in a home insurance policy in the context of criminal activities.To read this article (in French), click here (pp.14-15).
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Eugene Czolij re-elected as President of the Ukrainian World Congress
Eugene Czolij, a partner in the Litigation Group at Lavery, was recently re-elected as President of the Ukrainian World Congress (UWC), for another five-year term, at the X UWC Congress held August 20-22, 2013 in Lviv, Ukraine. Over 550 participants from 31 countries attended the X Congress.The UWC is the international coordinating body for Ukrainian communities in the diaspora representing the interests of over 20 million Ukrainians. The UWC has member organizations in 33 countries and ties with Ukrainians in 14 additional countries. Founded in 1967 as a non-profit corporation, the UWC was recognized in 2003 by the United Nations Economic and Social Council as a non-governmental organization (NGO) with special consultative status.
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Nicolas Gagnon and Jacques Perron recognized by Lexpert for their expertise in the area of infrastructure
The September 2013 issue of the Globe and Mails’s Report on Business includes an insert entitled 2013 Lexpert/Report on Business Special Edition – Infrastructure in which Nicolas Gagnon and Jacques Perron, Business Law partners at Lavery, are recognized as leading lawyers in Canada in the area of infrastructure law. This special edition recognized lawyers who have contributed very effectively to the P3 model development and implementation. The P3 model is currently used in 100 fully operational projects in Canada.More precisely, this publication recognizes the scope of Mr. Gagnon Infrastructure Law practice, which embraces infrastructure and institutional projects, including P3s, and focuses on contracts, procurement, default remedy and litigation.The publication also underlines the scope of Mr. Perron Infrastructure and transportation law and commercial litigation law practice, including his more than 25 years’ experience in the railway industry.
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Lavery represents the agents in the offering of Cominar’s 4.941% Series 4 debentures in the principal amount of $100 million
On July 25, 2013, Cominar Real Estate Investment Trust completed the offering of its 4.941% Series 4 senior unsecured debentures due July 27, 2020 in the principal amount of $100 million. Cominar intends to use the net proceeds of the offering to repay amounts outstanding under its credit facility and for general trust purposes, thus replacing shorter-term debt with longer-term debt without increasing its aggregate indebtedness. The debentures were sold by a syndicate of agents 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., TD Securities Inc., HSBC Securities (Canada) Inc. and Macquarie Capital Markets Canada Ltd. The syndicate of agents was represented by a team from Lavery consisting of Marc Rochefort, Michel Servant, Guillaume Lavoie and Geneviève Fournier (corporate and securities), and Philip Nolan (tax). Cominar is the third largest diversified real estate investment trust in Canada and the largest commercial property owner in the Province of Québec.
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Marie Cossette comments on municipal elections for the RDI network
Since August 25, Marie Cossette, partner who practices mainly in litigation at Lavery, has been commenting for the RDI news channel on the municipal elections in the Quebec City and Levis region. Elections will be held in more than 1,100 municipalities across Quebec on November 3.These elections are important since they will provide over 8,000 mayors and councillors who will play a key role in developing livable environments, in stimulating the economic, social and cultural development of their communities and in defending the interest of their citizens in the coming years.To watch the video of the interview, click here.
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Philippe Décary, a lawyer specializing in Business law, joins Lavery
Lavery is pleased to announce that Mr. Philippe Décary has joined the firm as a Business Law partner.Mr. Décary has built his practice through his work in large national firms, focusing, in particular, on the areas of domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions, private equity and corporate finance. He provides timely advice in response to the requirements of clients operating in a variety of industries, including manufacturing, product distribution, the service industries, technology, telecommunications, e-commerce, software, media, consumer products, agribusiness and food products, financial services, real estate, construction, biotechnology, energy, mining and transportation.In addition to assisting his clients in dealing with a broad range of legal issues, Mr. Décary is also a sought-after speaker for conferences, and has written articles on a wide range of subjects, including mergers and acquisitions of private and public corporations, the negotiation of commercial agreements, mining legislation, as well as access to capital by small and medium-sized businesses."Lavery is delighted to welcome such an outstanding lawyer. Philippe is a business advisor focused on the needs of his clients and determined to provide them with optimal legal solutions. He will truly be an asset to our Business Law Group", said Don McCarty, Managing Partner of the firm.Mr. Décary holds an LL.B. from the University of Montreal and was called to the Quebec Bar in 2000. He also holds a CPA designation (chartered professional accountant), a CGA designation (certified general accountant), as well as a B.B.A. (Finance) from HEC Montréal and an M.Sc. in Administration (Finance) from the University of Sherbrooke.
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Sébastien Vézina represents Jacques Martin, the new Assistant Coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins, in his negotiations with the Penguins
Professional hockey coach Jacques Martin called upon Sébastien Vézina, a Lavery partner, to represent him during the negotiation and conclusion of the agreement that led to his nomination as Assistant Coach of the NHL Pittsburgh Penguins.In this matter, Sébastien relied upon the assistance of two of his colleagues, Nicolas Joubert and Robert La Rosa. Sébastien Vézina specializes in business law and he advises, among others, decision makers and executives in the sports industry as well as participants in the sports media and entertainment industry on all questions pertaining to commercial and legal issues in their sphere of activities.
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Marie-Claude Armstrong, René Branchaud, Guy Lemay and Raphaël H. Schachter, Q.C., Ad. E. of Lavery Named Best Lawyers' 2014 Lawyers of the Year
Lavery is pleased to announce that Ms. Marie-Claude Armstrong, Mr. René Branchaud, Mr. Guy Lemay and Mr. Raphaël H. Schachter, Q.C., Ad. E. have been named 2014 Lawyers of the Year by Best Lawyers, a peer-review legal publication. Marie-Claude Armstrong has been named Lawyer of the Year 2014 Montreal, Family Law. René Branchaud has been named Lawyer of the Year 2014 Montreal, Natural Resources Law. Guy Lemay has been named Lawyer of the Year 2014 Montreal, Class Action Litigation. Raphaël H. Schachter, Q.C., Ad. E. has been named Lawyer of the Year 2014 Montreal, Criminal Defense. "On behalf of my partners at Lavery, I heartily congratulate our colleagues Marie-Claude Armstrong, René Branchaud, Guy Lemay and Raphaël H. Schachter on this recognition, acknowledging the expertise, professionalism and the quality of service that they offer to our clients", said Don McCarty, Lavery’s Managing Partner. For more information, please visit Best Lawyers’ website at www.bestlawyers.com.