This section keeps you up-to-date on the latest news and upcoming public appearances of Lavery professionals.
News
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Gérard Coulombe, Q.C., Ad. E., Adm. A. (1947-2016) – Homage to a builder and a faithful partner of Québec Inc.
It is with profound sadness that Lavery announces the sudden passing of its partner, Me Gérard Coulombe, at the age of 68. “Me Coulombe was known to all, and recognized by the stalwarts of the business world. His energy was equalled only by his competence and his passion for the profession, a passion that he shared with all those who had the privilege of crossing his path and reaping the benefits of his sage advice. Lavery has lost a partner, a mentor and a friend, and the entire business community of Québec is in mourning today”, stated Don McCarty, Managing Partner of Lavery. In addition to the legal profession, which he practised for nearly five decades, Me Coulombe sat on many boards of directors, including, in particular, that of the National Bank of Canada for slightly over 20 years. At the time of his passing, he was still a director of Club de Hockey Canadien inc., National Bank Group Inc., National Bank Trust Inc., Casavant Frères, S.E.C., Fonds de solidarité FTQ and National Bank Funds Corporation. He was also a trustee of the Cominar Real Estate Investment Trust and had been appointed Lead Trustee of the Board of Trustees of this Fund in May 2016. He was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1992 and received the distinction of Lawyer Emeritus (Ad. E.) in 2013. Over the span of a career that was as prolific as it was inspiring, Me Coulombe earned a more than enviable reputation in Québec and throughout Canada, where his name is synonymous with integrity, competence and hard work. Lavery sends its most sincere condolences to the family and friends of Me Coulombe, as well as to all the colleagues and partners who had the privilege of working alongside him. Homage to a builder and a faithful partner of Québec Inc. --> It is with profound sadness that Lavery announces the sudden passing of its partner, Me Gérard Coulombe, at the age of 68. “Me Coulombe was known to all, and recognized by the stalwarts of the business world. His energy was equalled only by his competence and his passion for the profession, a passion that he shared with all those who had the privilege of crossing his path and reaping the benefits of his sage advice. Lavery has lost a partner, a mentor and a friend, and the entire business community of Québec is in mourning today”, stated Don McCarty, Managing Partner of Lavery. In addition to the legal profession, which he practised for nearly five decades, Me Coulombe sat on many boards of directors, including, in particular, that of the National Bank of Canada for slightly over 20 years. At the time of his passing, he was still a director of Club de Hockey Canadien inc., National Bank Group Inc., National Bank Trust Inc., Casavant Frères, S.E.C., Fonds de solidarité FTQ and National Bank Funds Corporation. He was also a trustee of the Cominar Real Estate Investment Trust and had been appointed Lead Trustee of the Board of Trustees of this Fund in May 2016. He was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1992 and received the distinction of Lawyer Emeritus (Ad.E.) in 2013. Over the span of a career that was as prolific as it was inspiring, Me Coulombe earned a more than enviable reputation in Québec and throughout Canada, where his name is synonymous with integrity, competence and hard work. Me Coulombe hailed from the region of Vaudreuil-Soulanges , where he still lived. Lavery sends its most sincere condolences to the family and friends of Me Coulombe, as well as to all the colleagues and partners who had the privilege of working alongside him. An exemplary and inspiring professional career Me Coulombe was first awarded a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) cum laude from the University of Montréal in 1965, and then a law degree (LL.L.) magna cum laude from the University of Ottawa in 1968. That same year, he was awarded a Certificate in Political Science from the University of Ottawa, and the following year, he was admitted to the Québec Bar. In 1969, he headed for Oxford in England as a Rhodes Scholar for the Province of Québec, where he pursued graduate studies in administrative and tax law at Balliol College. Upon returning to Canada in October 1971, he joined the Technical Interpretations Division of the National Revenue Department in Ottawa where he remained until June 1972, when he became Special Advisor for International Taxation Matters to the Department of Finance of Canada. In that capacity, he was responsible for negotiating agreements to avoid double taxation between Canada and more than forty countries, in addition to representing Canada on Working Party No. 1 of the Committee on Fiscal Affairs of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in Paris. In March 1977, he joined the law firm of Desjardins Ducharme where he practised for some thirty years and chaired its Board of Directors from 2000 to 2007. In October 2007, he joined Lavery along with 34 other lawyers, and practised his profession tirelessly within this firm until the very end. Recognition of his contributions For many years, Me Coulombe has been listed in the Canadian Legal Directory published by Lexpert in the fields of corporate-commercial law and mergers and acquisitions, and he was also featured in the Best Lawyers in Canada directory in the field of business law (finance). In October 2012, Lexpert magazine awarded him its Zenith Award, in recognition of his exceptional contribution as a lawyer and agent of change for more than 40 years for his clients, his firm, businesses, law schools, the legal profession, his colleagues and the community. At the award ceremony, the following statement was made: “Many industrial conglomerates that operate internationally must regularly thank Gérard Coulombe. Not only was he a leading corporate practitioner but he played a pivotal role in creating tax policy. As a special advisor to the Minister of Finance from 1972-1977, he was responsible for negotiating agreements that avoided double taxation between Canada and more than 40 countries.” Me Coulombe was appointed Queen’s Counsel (Q.C.) in December 1992 and, in 2013, the Québec Bar awarded him the distinction of “Lawyer Emeritus” in recognition of an exceptional career that contributed to the influence of the legal profession. A Partner of Québec Inc. Me Coulombe, with his university education, his versatility and his experience, became closely associated for almost thirty years with the businesses making up Québec Inc. The various matters he was involved in led him to work throughout Canada and abroad, and to develop a unique practice that went beyond the strict confines of the legal profession. Hence, in 1979, he represented the Government of Québec as part of the nationalization of asbestos-producing corporations. He was involved in the merger between the Provincial Bank of Canada and the Bank Canadian National at the beginning of the 1980s. Towards the middle of the 1980s, on behalf of the Société générale de financement du Québec (SGF), he headed up the creation of the consortium charged with building the aluminum smelter of l’Aluminerie de Bécancour. Thereafter, he represented the SGF in the sale of its interest in the Bécancour aluminum smelter in 1995 and in the construction of the aluminum smelter of l’Aluminerie Alouette de Sept-Îles. During the 1990s, he spearheaded the acquisition of the business of several trust companies by the National Bank of Canada, including General Trust of Canada and the sale of National Bank Leasing to GE Capital, which thereby established a significant foothold in Canada. His professional activities continued throughout the 2000s, in particular in his capacity as Special Advisor to the Minister of Finance of Québec as part of the negotiation of the acquisition of Alcan by Rio Tinto. In 2009, he headed up the Lavery team that represented the consortium of Québec businesses that purchased the Montreal Canadiens. Passionate about international affairs All throughout his career, Me Coulombe remained interested in the international activities that he developed during the years he spent with the Department of Finance in Ottawa. From 1989 to 2005, he was very active within the Lex Mundi Association, a worldwide leader among associations of independent law firms with a head office in Houston, Texas. Me Coulombe sat on the Board of Directors of this Association for many years and was its Chairman of the Board from 1993-1994. Lex Mundi has one member per jurisdiction and the law firm of Desjardins Ducharme was the member for Québec until 2007. Finally, from 2008 until his passing, Me Coulombe acted as Honorary Consul for the Republic of Burkina Faso. Involved in his community Me Coulombe was a Governor of the Canadian Tax Foundation from 1983 to 1987, a member of the Board of Directors of the Québec section of the Fiscal and Financial Planning Association from 1983 to 1987 and a member of the Board of Directors of the Canadian section of the International Fiscal Association from 1981 to 1989. He was a member of the Ethics Committee of the Barreau du Québec since 2003 and, in 1996, he sat on the Committee established by the Québec Bar with respect to the Securities Act. Me Coulombe also devoted a great deal of his time to the field of the arts, primarily music, in particular as Chair of the Board of Directors of the I Musici Montreal Chamber Orchestra and Deputy Chair of the Canadian International Organ Competition for several years. Finally, Me Coulombe participated in several funding drives by the Faculty of Civil Law of his alma mater, the University of Ottawa. In 2005, while he was sitting on the campaign committee of the Civil Law Section of the University of Ottawa, he established a Fund at the University to award the Gérard Coulombe Scholarship, an entrance scholarship for candidates from Québec who apply for admission to the Civil Law Degree Program and who have an outstanding academic record or professional background.
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Lavery celebrates the Fête du Lac des Nations in Sherbrooke
On July 21, 2016, almost 190 of Lavery’s clients and business partners came to meet the Sherbrooke team and watch the evening’s fireworks in honour of the Fête du Lac des Nations on the Lavery office terrace. This special event, organized by Danielle Gauthier, a partner at the firm, together with the organizing committee, began with a cocktail and dinner that offered the perfect opportunity to discuss, network and have fun in a lively country-music ambiance while savoring the tasty dishes cooked up by Le Smoking BBQ food truck. The event was then capped off by the Fête’s spectacular firework display! -->
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Lavery joins the partners of the Barreau du Québec’s Panorama project
Lavery is a partner of the Panorama project, which promotes the recruitment, retention and advancement of lawyers from ethnocultural groups within Quebec law firms and company legal teams. The firm was represented by Don McCarty, the firm’s Managing Partner, Awatif Lakhdar, a partner and member of the Family law, personal law, and estate law group. The launch event, held June 9, 2016 at the Maison du Barreau, included members of various cultural communities as well as representatives and project managers of legal firms and departments. For her part, Zeïneb Mellouli, a lawyer and member of Lavery’s Labour and employment group, was involved in this committee The Panorama project is one of the seven items listed in the Barreau du Québec’s ethnocultural diversity action plan adopted in 2014 following the publication of the “Forum Project for a More Inclusive Profession” report. For three years, the firms and partner legal departments involved in the project commit to sharing best practices to achieve greater ethnocultural diversity and a true inclusion in their workplaces and in the profession.
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La Ruche Mauricie was launched in the presence of Myriam Lavallée, ambassador
Myriam Lavallée, a labour and employment lawyer in Lavery’s Trois-Rivières office, was part of a group of ambassadors who helped createLa Ruche Mauricie, inaugurated on June 16. La Ruche is a crowdfunding platform designed to democratize entrepreneurship by facilitating the process of creating, launching, and managing business projects. A wide variety of projects will thus have access to this funding tool and be able to contribute to the economic development of the Mauricie region. The ambassadors form a partnership of local players who are involved in their respective sectors. Their role is to offer promoters their professional expertise as well as a network of contacts.
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Lavery on the Podium at the Saint-Lambert Triathlon/Duathlon
--> About 20 representatives of the firm took part to various disciplines during the 29th edition of the Saint-Lambert Triathlon/Duathlon, on July 16, 2016. This prestigious event, which gathered over 700 athletes, is co-organized by Sport Aktiv and the St-Lambert ORANGE Triathlon Club, which Nicolas Joubert, a Lavery partner, co-founded. Lavery has been a partner of this provincial competition for over a decade. For another year, the firm has held its own. The remarkable performance of Lavery’s team needs to be highlighted: Nicolas Joubert, gold medallist in the Triathlon Men 35–39 category, Isabelle Richard, medallist in the Duathlon Women 20–29 category, as well as the Lavery men teams, who won the silver and bronze medals. Congratulations to all our representatives, Lavery’s powerful allies!
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Our lawyers support the Fondation du Barreau du Québec
Six of our lawyers made a noteworthy contribution during the 2015-2016 campaign of the Fondation du Barreau du Québec. The Foundation warmly thanked our partners Magali Cournoyer-Proulx and Awatif Lakhdar for accepting its invitation to become new governors. André Vautour and Louis Rochette became Governors emeritus by renewing their commitment for a fourth year; and Gérard Coulombe and Pierre Beaudoin became “lifetime governors” by renewing their mandate beyond five years. The Fondation du Barreau du Québec plays a key role in the field of legal research by supporting the work of legal professionals and providing legal publications to the general public.
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Lavery, a sponsor of the Coupe Québec mountain bike competition in Sherbrooke
Lavery was a proud sponsor of the 3rd edition of the Coupe Québec mountain bike competition, which was held on June 25 and 26, 2016 in Sherbrooke's Mont Bellevue park. Organized by Club de vélo de montagne Dalbix, the event drew 360 participants for Saturday's Olympic cross-country (XCO) circuit and 320 for Sunday's classic cross-country circuit, stages 2 and 3 of the Coupe du Québec. In addition to its sponsorship, Lavery’s involvement extended to having a team of volunteers in charge of the refuelling post at the foot of the mountain during stage 2. Lavery’s team included lawyers Audrey-Julie Dallaire and Marilyn Paré, notary Cynthia Fortin, paralegal Katy Pelletier and articling student Cynthia Coutu. Funds raised during the event will mainly be used to set up mountain bike trails on Mont Bellevue and will contribute to the mountain’s development. (From left to right: Katy Pelletier, Audrey-Julie Dallaire, Cynthia Fortin and Marilyn Paré (Cynthia Coutu absent)
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Two partners of Lavery in Lexpert Guide to the Leading US/Canada Cross-Border Corporate Lawyers
Lavery is proud to highlights that two of its lawyers are mentioned in this year’s Lexpert’s directory, Guide to the Leading US/Canada Cross-Border Corporate Lawyers. Firstly, Mr. René Branchaud, partner, is recognized as a mining law leader. He practises in the areas of securities law, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate law. He assists companies in matters related to incorporation, corporate structure, shareholder agreements, private placements, public offerings, stock exchange listings, dispositions, and takeovers. To consult his profile, please turn to page 92 of the guide. Additionally, Mr. Guillaume Lavoie, partner, made the list of Corporate Lawyers to watch. His practice focuses on private equity and venture capital. He has developed considerable expertise in setting up investment funds (private equity funds, venture capital funds, and hedge 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. To consult his profile, please turn to page 103. Congratulations!
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Jonathan Lacoste-Jobin quoted in the Journal de l’Assurance about his presentation at the Journée de l’assurance de dommages 2016
Jonathan Lacoste-Jobin, partner at Lavery, was invited to speak about regulatory framework during the Journée de l’assurance de dommages 2016. The Journal de l’Assurance quoted him in this regard: “During the Journée de l’assurance de dommages 2016, Jonathan Lacoste-Jobin, a lawyer at Lavery, explained that the legislative and regulatory framework is always slow to catch up. The sharing economy is no exception. He notes that, in insurance law, whether you’re talking about a car or a home, it’s not easy to assess the risk related to shared property. ‘When taking out an insurance policy, the insured’s primary obligation is to declare the circumstances that, to their knowledge, could affect the risk,’ he said.” [Translation – article available in French only] The article in the Journal de l’Assurance titled “L’encadrement règlementaire sera long à se mettre en place” is available here.
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21 partners from Lavery ranked in the 2016 edition of The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory
Lavery is pleased to announce that 21 partners are ranked among the leading practitioners in Canada in their respective practice areas in the 2016 edition of Thomson Reuters’s The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory. “I congratulate our colleagues for this recognition and for their continued commitment to serving the needs of our clients. This recognition highlights the contribution of our exceptional lawyers and consolidate the expertise of our firm” said Don McCarty, Lavery’s Managing Partner. The following Lavery partners are listed in the 2016 edition of The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory : René Branchaud, Corporate Finance & Securities/Mining *Marie-Claude Cantin, Litigation - Commercial Insurance Louis Charette, Aviation/Litigation — Product Liability *Marie Cossette, Ad. E., Litigation — Corporate Commercial Gérard Coulombe, Q.C., Ad.E., C.ADM., Corporate Commercial Law Magali Cournoyer-Proulx, Employment Law (Management) Pierre Denis, Asset Equipment Finance/Leasing Josée Dumoulin, Pensions & Employee Benefits (Management) Nicolas Gagnon, Construction Law Benjamin David Gross, Asset Equipment Finance/Leasing Jean Hébert, Litigation—Commercial Insurance *Josiane L’Heureux, Occupational Health & Safety Guy Lavoie, CIRC, Labour Relations (Management), Workers’ Compensation (Management) Robert W. Mason, Litigation/Commercial Insurance François Parent, Pensions & Employee Benefits (Management) Louis Payette, Ad. E., Banking & Financial Institutions Élisabeth Pinard, Family Law Ian Rose, Litigation-Directors & Officers’ Liability Jean Saint-Onge, Ad. E., Class Actions/Litigation—Product Liability André Vautour, Computer & IT Law/Corporate Commercial Law/Technology Transactions Sébastien Vézina, Mining *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://lexpert.ca/directory.
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Anthonie Vézina-Crawford and Paméla Kelly-Nadeau organized “Québec 1608”, an original event bringing together the new generation of professionals
On June 17, 2016, Lavery – Québec’s new generation invited its counterparts at Ernst & Young – Québec to a unique networking activity entitled “Québec 1608”, which was held at Station touristique Duchesnay. Instead of a traditional cocktail, Anthonie Vézina-Crawford and Paméla Kelly-Nadeau, two lawyers from Lavery, organized a friendly competition that drew on teamwork skills and mental and physical abilities. The accountants and lawyers pretended to be pioneers and faced a series of tasks with the goal to build a pioneer village. They built a church, planted a vegetable garden, ensured the transportation of water from a well, and participated in a giant vegetable hunt. Fun and team spirit were at the heart of this truly original activity, which proved to be a great success!
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Marie Cossette interviewed by The Lawyers Weekly on newly introduced Quebec ethics bill
Marie Cossette, partner and head of Lavery’s business integrity group, was recently interviewed by Luis Millan from The Lawyers Weekly in an article titled ‘Questions raised over Quebec ethics bill flowing Commission Charbonneau’ in which she discussed the newly introduced legislation: "The bill is a follow-up to the Charbonneau Commission which raised awareness among different decision-making bodies over the importance of creating a culture of ethics and integrity in our society," said Marie Cossette, an administrative law expert who heads the business integrity group for Lavery, de Billy and who is based in Québec City. "The bill will not change attitudes but it is a step in the right direction. It fosters training and gives professional corporations powers to allow them to play an increased role in monitoring." The article is available in english only. To read the article, please click here.