This section keeps you up-to-date on the latest news and upcoming public appearances of Lavery professionals.
News
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Lavery contributes to the international expansion of the entertainment industry
On December 2, Montreux Comedy and Groupe Juste pour rire (JPR) announced the establishment of an alliance between the two organizations. The aim of this historic collaboration between the two largest French-language comedy festivals in the world is to create original products and content on both sides of the Atlantic and to enable the co-production and co-promotion of an international French-language gala in Montréal and in Montreux, Switzerland. Lavery advised and represented Montreux Comedy in the drafting and negotiation of the agreement for this bold project, particularly on aspects related to the creation of content for digital and traditional broadcasting platforms. Sébastien Vézina, a partner in the Business Law group, handled the negotiations to reach the agreement, with the support of Andrée-Anne Perras-Fortin, a lawyer in the same group. "Lavery is proud to have contributed to finalizing the collaboration between two major players in the entertainment industry in Quebec and abroad. In a context where this industry is taking a major digital shift, this collaboration will increase the positioning and availability of French-language content on the market," says Sébastien Vézina.
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Béatrice Ngatcha appointed editor-in-chief of the Canadian Intellectual Property Review
We are pleased to announce that our professional, Béatrice Ngatcha, was appointed to the position of editor-in-chief of the Canadian Intellectual Property Review (CIPR) last September at the annual general meeting of the Intellectual Property Institute of Canada (IPIC). For a tenure of two years, her role as editor-in-chief will be to coordinate the review process and ensure that only high-quality articles are published. The CIPR is a journal for professionals working in intellectual property law. All submissions undergo a double-blind peer review process: the reviewers are not given the authors' identities and the reviewers' identities are shielded from the authors.
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Lavery assists La Granaudière in obtaining more than $50M in financing
Last October 28, La Granaudière announced that it has obtained more than $50M in financing from Ressources Québec, Investissement Québec and the Caisse Desjardins du Nord de Lanaudière. A team from Lavery represented the three lenders involved in the transaction and with respect to the relations between the various stakeholders in order to successfully complete this project, which will be a showcase for the renewable energy industry in Québec. This financing will enable La Granaudière, a plant producing wood pellets from forest biomass, to complete the construction of its plant by the summer of 2020 and to start producing wood pellets and exporting them to Europe by the end of 2020. The plant will produce nearly 200,000 tonnes of pellets annually, and should create about 180 direct and indirect jobs, including roughly 50 at the production plant in Saint-Michel-des-Saints. This mandate was successfully completed thanks to the extensive expertise of the Lavery team composed mainly by Étienne Brassard, Ali El Haskouri, Katerina Kostopoulos et Bernard Trang.
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Lavery Lawyers welcome 6 professionals in Business Law
Lavery is pleased to announce the arrival of six new professionals in Business Law. Marie-Josée Desjardins Marie-Josée Desjardins has joined the firm as a notary, whose practice is focused on real estate law. Pierre-André Hamel Pierre-André Hamel has joined the firm as an associate, practising primarily in commercial and transactional law, particularly in the areas of bank financing and real estate. Anne-Julie Loiselle Anne-Julie Loiselle has joined the firm as an associate and works mainly in transactional law, mergers and acquisitions, and general corporate law. Selena Lu Selena Lu has joined the firm as a partner. Her practice focuses on mergers and acquisitions and the drafting of standard contracts, including leases, franchise agreements, distribution agreements and financing agreements. Wiam Mahroug Wiam Mahroug has joined the firm as an associate, concentrating her practice in securities law and mergers and acquisitions. Vicky Trépanier Vicky Trépanier has joined the firm as counsel and advises medium and large privately held companies and entrepreneurs regarding mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, corporate finance and governance issues.
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Alain M. Leclerc and Serge Shahinian are recognized as leading patent agents by IAM Patent 1000: The World’s Leading Patent Professionals
Alain M. Leclerc and Serge Shahinian, partners in the firm’s Intellectual Property Group, have been recognized as leading patent agents in the eighth edition of the directory IAM Patent 1000: The World’s Leading Patent Professionals. This distinction was determined, among other things, through exhaustive peer-reviewed surveys. The professionals are ranked in the directory based on a recognition of market share, exceptional skills, and in-depth knowledge of patent matters.
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Josianne Beaudry appointed to the board of directors of the Québec Mineral Exploration Association (QMEA)
At the annual meeting of QMEA members held during the Xplor 2019 convention, our professional, Josianne Beaudry, was appointed to the board of directors of the organization. The Québec Mineral Exploration Association is a non-profit organization representing the stakeholders in Québec’s mining sector. Its mission is to promote sustainable and responsible mining exploration and demonstrate its contribution to Québec’s economy. This appointment not only testifies to the expertise of Josianne Beaudry in Mining Law, but, more generally, recognizes her involvement in the industry.
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Lavery helps Chronometriq obtain $20 million in funding
On October 1, Chronometriq, a Montréal-based supplier of technology that facilitates healthcare access and patient communications, announced that it had received more than $20 million in funding from Full In Partners. This funding will enable our client Chronometriq to strengthen its leadership position in Canada and drive its growth in the United States. Lavery played a significant role in representing Chronometriq’s interests throughout this transaction and helped it take on the kinds of challenges high-growth startups face when negotiating major funding. Chronometriq, founded in 2012, was named one of the 25 most innovative companies by C2 Montréal. It is now a leader in digital healthcare management, thanks to its range of comprehensive appointment management products suited to both clinics and patients. In the past year alone, Chronometriq has served 12 million users through the network of North American clinics that use its products. This mandate was successfully completed thanks to the extensive expertise of the Lavery team led by Jean-François Maurice and made up of Éric Gélinas, Felicia-Yifan Jin, Ali El Haskouri, Tina Basile, Guillaume Laberge, Florence Fournier, Shereen Cook and Pierre-Olivier Valiquette.
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Lavery Lawyers announces arrival of Selena Lu as partner
Lavery is very proud to announce the arrival of Selena Lu as a partner at the firm. Selena has been a member of the Barreau du Québec since 2010. Her practice focuses on commercial law and mergers and acquisitions. She frequently advises clients abroad on investment and expansion in Canada. “Selena is dynamic and committed. We’re proud of her undeniable leadership qualities and strong reputation in the business community. Her arrival strengthens our corporate law team and expands our client base,” said Anik Trudel, CEO of Lavery. “I’ve had the privilege of working with Selena for several years, most recently on the Board of Directors of the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal, where she demonstrates a strong character that aligns perfectly with our firm’s vision of being a leader in the legal services industry.” In addition to her practice, Selena Lu is President of the Junior Chamber of Commerce of Montreal (JCCM) and a member of the Board of Directors of the Collège des administrateurs de sociétés and the Musée National des beaux-arts du Québec. Her noteworthy involvement in the Chinese community has earned her several distinctions, including being named an Eminent Young Overseas Chinese by the Chinese Consulate in Montréal in 2015.
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Lavery supports Neuvoo in obtaining $53M in financing from the CDPQ
On September 19, 2019, the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ) announced a $53 million investment in Neuvoo, a company operating in 77 countries that is experiencing rapid growth in the field of job searches. This investment will allow it to continue its expansion into new markets and improve its online platform through artificial intelligence. Lavery is proud to have assisted Neuvoo with its legal and commercial needs since the company's very beginning, when it was a member of its Lavery GO Inc. program. This is a concrete example of Lavery GO Inc.'s raison d'être: to drive the success of emerging companies and help them move from start-up to growth.
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Judith Rochette made a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers (ACTL)
Lavery is pleased to announce that Judith Rochette, a partner in the Litigation and Conflict Resolution group, has been awarded the title of Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers (ACTL). "I receive this honour with pride, but also with gratitude to those who have been a part of my work over the past 30 years. I feel extremely privileged to join the ranks of this prestigious association of trial lawyers, and in doing so, to be affiliated with colleagues and partners for whom I have the greatest respect," says Ms. Rochette. The receipt of this award is a testament to Ms. Rochette's expertise and recognizes her impeccable professionalism and the reputation she has built in her practice. She is entering an organization made up of the top internationally recognized trial lawyers, which is dedicated to preserving the highest standards of trial practice, administration of justice and ethics in the profession.
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Alain M. Leclerc appointed President of the Intellectual Property Institute of Canada
Lavery is pleased to announce the appointment of Alain M. Leclerc as President of the Intellectual Property Institute of Canada, the largest association of IP professionals in the country. His appointment is a testament to his expertise in intellectual property and a recognition of his excellent reputation in the Canadian market. His commitment to many IP organizations and his experience in advising clients on how to leverage intellectual property for growth are sure to make him greatly successful in his new role. The mission of the Intellectual Property Institute of Canada is to enhance the expertise of intellectual property professionals and shape a policy and business environment that encourages the development, use, and value of intellectual property.
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Lavery Gold level Parity certified
Lavery was awarded Gold level Parity Certification for 2019 at the annual Women in Governance Recognition Gala. Lavery has been committed from day one to Women in Governance as a Pioneer in Parity Certification. This recognition is a testament to the effort and collaboration that the Lavery team put into setting concrete goals and achieving them. We would also like to congratulate the groundbreaking newly certified companies that are committed to taking real action within their organizations in order to achieve parity. The Women in Governance Parity Certification is a one-of-a-kind initiative that recognizes the courage of the thousands of inspiring women who take risks to transform the business environment every day.