This section keeps you up-to-date on the latest news and upcoming public appearances of Lavery professionals.
News
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Lavery welcomes Eric Stevenson, ex-superintendent, client services and distribution oversight at the AMF to its Business Law group
Lavery is pleased to announce the arrival of a new partner, Eric Stevenson, who is joining the Business Law group at our Québec office. Eric’s leading expertise will increase the quality and depth of Lavery’s consulting and representation service offering, in particular with its financial sector clients and stakeholders. For Eric Stevenson, this represents a return to his roots, given that he worked for the firm prior to joining the Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF). A professional who has an outstanding reputation and whose leading expertise and keen knowledge are renowned in Québec, Canada and abroad Until just recently, Eric Stevenson was the superintendent, client services and distribution oversight at the AMF.He lead a team of 150 employees with the mandate of overseeing the activities relating to the distribution of financial services and products in Québec all in the while establishing the regulatory framework governing this sector of activities. His role also included issuing exercise rights to insurance and securities operators. Eric was also in charge of the AMF team tasked with evaluating the integrity of companies and their directors who were seeking to conclude agreements with the Québec government and granting the requested authorization, when applicable. Eric Stevenson has represented the AMF before several key organisations in particular by serving as a member of the market intermediaries’ commission of the International Organization of Securities Commissions. He also presided or took part in numerous committees of the Canadian Council of Insurance Regulators as well as served on several committees of the Canadian securities regulatory authorities. “Coming back to Lavery was an evident choice considering that the firm benefits from an outstanding reputation and the financial sector’s stakeholders regularly recognize the excellence of its integrated legal services offering”, says Eric Stevenson. “I am delighted to rejoin a consulting team that is devoted to offering a memorable client-based approach that is well-rooted in a deep understanding of the client’s actual business reality. I am also eager to help Lavery’s current and future clients benefit from my knowledge andvast network of contacts that I had the privilege to develop over the past years.” A leadership connected to the client’s business reality coinciding with Lavery’s vision “As a seasoned attorney, experienced manager and a proven strategist, Eric’s profile, rooted in the realities of the financial industry, is well suited to meet our client’s expectations. With a unique career path, Eric will leverage his leadership and know-how to play an active part in Lavery’s role as a leader of transformation in Québec’s legal market. We are especially proud of the fact that he has chosen Lavery and our Québec City office as a re-entry point into the professional services sector. Eric’s return to Lavery is a testament to the firm’s power to attract exceptional talents”, concludes Anik Trudel, Lavery’s Chief Executive Office.
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Lavery welcomes two new lawyers at its Québec City office
Lavery is pleased to announce the arrival of two new lawyers at its Québec City office. Florence Forest joins the Litigation and Conflict Resolution group where she will practise in the areas of civil, professional and hospital liability and insurance law. She represents members of various professions against whom allegations of malpractice are made, and also represents insurance companies in major litigation cases. Florence is actively involved in her community, as a member of a circle of young leaders who work to promote the Théâtre du Nouveau Monde and to make the theatre more accessible, to ensure that it is carried on by the next generation. She graduated in the second cohort of “l’Effet A” and proudly carries the standard for increasing the numbers of ambitious women in all spheres of society, particularly in business and law. Marc-André Bouchard joined the Lavery team as a student in May 2016 and began his articles in July 2017. He was admitted to the Bar on January 22 of this year and joins our Litigation and Conflict Resolution group. Marc-André is active in his community, primarily through his work as a volunteer football and basketball coach with secondary school students at Séminaire Saint-François. He has also given his time to a not-for-profit organization in the Québec City region to promote sports among elementary school students.
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Audrey Gibeault and Luc Pariseau speak at the 12th Montréal M&A Club M&A Forum
On December 12, Audrey Gibeault and Luc Pariseau, respectively an associate and a partner of the Business Law group, spoke at the 12th Montréal M&A Club M&A Forum. The seminar, entitled “Transfert et relève de moyennes entreprises”, was attended by approximately sixty people!
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A Lavery team to train members of the COMBEQ in 2018 on wetland issues
Throughout 2018, Daniel Bouchard, a partner, along with Valérie Belle-Isle, Chloé Fauchon and Pier-Olivier Fradette, associates of the Public and Administrative Law group, will train members of the Corporation des officiers municipaux en bâtiment et en environnement du Québec (COMBEQ). The seminar is entitled “Milieux humides et hydriques et certificat d’autorisation : quel rôle pour les municipalités ?” and is intended primarily for environmental municipal officers, as well as other municipal workers. It deals with the practical impact of Bills 102 and 132 adopted in 2017 respecting the conservation of wetlands and bodies of water. The training will be offered to all municipalities in the province and will be delivered in 24 cities over the course of the year.
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Charles Olivier Thibeault delivers training for the Association des centres d’urgence du Québec
On November 22 and 29, Charles Olivier Thibeault provided training to emergency call centre operators and dispatchers at the request of the Association des centres d’urgence du Québec (ACUQ). The seminar was entitled “Le rôle et les responsabilités des préposés des centres d’appels d’urgence” and Charles Olivier discussed the legislative and regulatory framework governing emergency call centres, and the different cases resulting in disciplinary measures imposed on operators/dispatchers or civil lawsuits against emergency call centres.
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Lavery represents Lexis Média during the acquisition of 12 regional newspapers from Transcontinental
A Lavery team advised the Groupe Lexis Media in connection with the acquisition of 12 regional newspapers from Transcontinental. The Groupe Lexis Media, which already publishes Homme, Mieux-Être, Moi Parent and Maternité, now owns the following newspapers: Le Citoyen Rouyn-Noranda, Le Citoyen de la Vallée-de-l'Or, L'Écho Abitibien and La Frontière, distributed in Abitibi Témiscamingue; L’Action d'Autray, L’Action - édition de mercredi, L’Action - édition du week-end, L’Express Montcalm and Hebdo Rive-Nord, in Lanaudière; and Le Bulletin, La Petite-Nation and La Revue, in Outaouais. The Lavery team was led by Eric Lavallée and included Laurent Bellemare-Proulx, Mylène Boisvert and Justin Gravel.
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Éric Gélinas and Audrey Gibeault speak at the Colloque en droit des sociétés
On November 23, Éric Gélinas and Audrey Gibeault, respectively a partner and an associate of the Business Law group, spoke during the Colloque en droit des sociétés held in the Conference Centre at the Intercontinental Hotel. Over 60 people attended and listened to a presentation on tax pitfalls to avoid entitled “Pièges à éviter en matière fiscale pour un avocat en droit des affaires”.
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Chloé Fauchon and Sylvain Pierrard deliver a seminar on copyright
On November 21, Chloé Fauchon, an associate of the Public and Administrative Law group, and Sylvain Pierrard, an associate of the Business Law group, delivered a seminar on copyright to professionals working in the film and television industry. Organized by the Table de concertation de l’industrie du cinéma et de la télévision de la Capitale-Nationale, the seminar was held at Le Camp in Québec City. Ms. Fauchon and Mr. Pierrard introduced participants to the different intellectual property rights, the exceptions to copyright protection of a work, copyright ownership, copyright assignment and the moral rights in the works.
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Lavery’s expertise in energy and corporate law recognized by Legal 500 Canada
Lavery is pleased to announce that its expertise has been recognized in the most recent edition of Legal 500 Canada in the practice areas of corporate/mergers and acquisitions and energy: power. We are extremely proud of this accomplishment considering that Lavery is competing against every national firm in Canada. The fact that we are listed in these Legal 500 Canada categories clearly demonstrates the complexity and importance of the mandates handled by our lawyers.
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Pierre Marc Johnson appointed Chair of the MCFR Board of Directors
Pierre Marc Johnson, counsel and chief negotiator for the Government of Québec for the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), was appointed Chair of the Board of Directors of the Montreal Council on Foreign Relations (MCFR) during the organization’s 33rd annual general meeting held on December 13. In a press release announcing the appointment, MCFR President and CEO Pierre Lemonde commented that Me Johnson is well-suited to handle this new challenge because of “his experience and knowledge of the business community, international organizations, local and international governments and his extensive network of contacts throughout the world”. Me Johnson acts as special advisor to the Government of Québec on trade agreements, is a member of the Government of Canada’s NAFTA Advisory Council on the Environment and, since 2009, has acted as chief negotiator for Québec in the Comprehensive and Economic Trade Agreement negotiations (CETA). “As with the Médaille du Barreau and the Paul-André-Crépeau Medal, two prestigious awards received by Me Johnson earlier this year, this appointment recognizes his expertise and important contribution to the areas of law and international trade, negotiations and international partnerships,” stated Anik Trudel, Lavery’s Chief Executive Officer. The MCFR’s mission is to promote greater knowledge of international affairs and, through its events and partnerships, to encourage closer cooperation between the various entities that share an interest in international matters.
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Lavery hosts the Annual General Meeting of the Hellenic Jurists Association of Québec.
Lavery hosted the 2017 Annual General Meeting of the Hellenic Jurists Association of Québec at its Montréal office on November 14. Me. Brian R. Mitchell, Bâtonnier of Montréal, delivered the keynote speech and the Honourable Dionysia Zerbisias was inducted as the first honorary member of the HJAQ. This event was made possible thanks to Despina Mandilaras, an associate of the Litigation and Conflict Resolution group.
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Lavery applauds the appointment of the Hon. Richard Wagner as Chief Justice of Canada
We are enormously proud to learn of the appointment today of our former partner, the Hon. Richard Wagner, to the position of Chief Justice at the highest court in Canada. Justice Wagner practised at Lavery from 1980 to 2004 before being appointed to the bench, first of the Superior Court of Quebec and then of the Court of Appeal of Quebec and the Supreme Court of Canada. We at Lavery knew Richard as a hard worker, a conscientious lawyer and a man with a passion for his profession, dedicated to giving the best of himself. He made his name as an accomplished litigator in the fields of commercial litigation, professional liability and construction law. A number of our lawyers were fortunate to have the benefit of his talents as a mentor and trainer, and it is thanks to his generosity that they have successful practices today, both with the firm and in the private sector. “For Lavery, the appointment of Justice Richard Wagner to the head of the Supreme Court of Canada is an honour that reflects on the entire firm. It speaks to a long tradition of litigation practitioners whose intellectual rigour and top-flight professional skills are at the heart of the services offered by Lavery,” said Anik Trudel, Lavery’s Chief Executive Officer. Lavery now has 29 alumni and alumnae who sit as judges on both provincial and federal courts.