This section keeps you up-to-date on the latest news and upcoming public appearances of Lavery professionals.
News
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Pierre Marc Johnson, of Lavery, receives honorary doctorate from Université de Montréal
Pierre Marc Johnson, GOQ, FRSC, former premier of Quebec and counsel at Lavery, recently received an honorary doctorate during the doctoral degree commencement ceremony at Université de Montréal. This distinction recognizes the expertise and excellence of national or international figures in the major fields of human activity: scientific or literary, cultural or social, political or economic, administrative or financial.Also honoured on this occasion: Lieutenant-general Romeo A. Dallaire Serge Haroche, 2012 Nobel Prize in physics Guy Frija, graduate of Université Paris Descartes in medicine and holder of a post-graduate degree in electroradiology
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Michel Blouin and René Branchaud of Lavery recognized as mining law leaders in Lexpert Guide to the Leading US/Canada Cross-Border Corporate Lawyers in Canada
Mr. Michel Blouin and Mr. René Branchaud, Business Law partners at Lavery, have been recognized as mining law leaders in Leading Canadian Lawyers in Global Mining, in the 2014 issue of Lexpert’s directory, Guide to the Leading US/Canada Cross-Border Corporate Lawyers in Canada.This prestigious recognition is the result of extensive peer surveys conducted not only in Canada but also worldwide. The expertise of Mr. Blouin and Mr. Branchaud in the area of mining law is therefore recognized internationally.To consult this Lexpert publication, click here.
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Quebec’s 2013 Prix de la justice awarded to Hélène (Sioui) Trudel
On June 16, Quebec’s 2013 Prix de la justice was awarded to Ms. Hélène (Sioui) Trudel during a ceremony in the National Assembly’s Red Room in the presence of Stéphanie Vallée, Quebec Minister of Justice, Nicole Duval-Hesler, Chief Justice of Quebec, and former honorees, including Mr. Jean Saint-Onge, a Lavery partner who received the award in 2007.Throughout her career, Ms. Trudel, a criminologist and lawyer by training, has prioritized the recognition and protection of human rights, promoting access to equality and social justice. The youngest daughter of a Wendat mother and a Québécois father, she has been influenced by the Aboriginal concept of restorative justice.The Minister for Justice highlighted Ms. Trudel’s exceptional contributions to promoting social justice in Quebec.This award is Quebec's highest honourary distinction in the field of law. Photo: Can be recognized on the picture :Stéphanie Vallée, Quebec Minister of Justice; Hélène (Sioui) Trudel, the 2013 award winner; Nicole Duval-Hesler, Chief Justice of Quebec; and Mr. Jean Saint-Onge, the 2007 award winner
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Breakfast meeting on Canada’s new anti-spam legislation: Better safe than sorry
On June 17, Mr. Loïc Berdnikoff, partner in administrative law at Lavery, and Ms. Joanne Desjardins and Ms. Myriam Duguay of KPMG, were guest speakers at a breakfast meeting that attracted some sixty people to the Lavery Conference Center. The goal of this presentation was to help participants prepare for the coming into force of this legislation on July 1, 2014, and to ensure that sound business practices are adopted in the area of electronic communications.In particular, the speakers focused on the companies and organizations targeted by the Act, its scope, and the penalties for offending companies. In addition, they offered tips on complying with the new law.For more information concerning this new legislation, please refer to our “Need to know” report on this subject.
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Jean-Philippe Turgeon, of Lavery, guest speaker at the International Franchise Expo in New York City
On June 19, Jean-Philippe Turgeon, partner and head of the Franchise and distribution section at Lavery, was guest speaker at the International Franchise Expo in New York City. The exhibition, which attracted franchisors and exhibitors from around the globe, is one of the largest franchise expos in the world, presenting the latest franchise concepts and local and international business opportunities.Mr. Turgeon’s talk, “Franchising in Canada: The duality of laws and cultures,” aimed to educate foreign franchisors about the cultural and legal diversity of franchises in Canada, and thereby, promote the advantage of expanding their concept in Quebec.
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Louis-Martin Dubé, of Lavery, author of an article in Premières en affaires magazine
Mr. Louis-Martin Dubé, partner in real estate law at Lavery, is the author of an article titled “L’importance de divulguer – Annulation d’une vente d’immeuble,” recently published in Premières en affaires magazine.The article discusses the experience of a property owner who, when selling his home, failed to disclose the suicide of the former occupants. Mr. Dubé discusses and explains the judge’s decision, highlighting the obligations of the seller and the importance of certain real estate rules.To read the article (in French, on page 45), click here.
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Katia Opalka of Lavery, Chair of the Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Section of the Quebec Branch of the Canadian Bar Association
Katia Opalka, a partner at Lavery practising in the areas of environmental and aboriginal law, has taken over as chair of the Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Section of the Quebec Branch of the Canadian Bar Association. During her two-year term, Ms. Opalka intends to offer Section members practical and relevant continuing education programming. She also plans to deliver networking opportunities that bring together businesspeople, environmental services professionals, lawyers and law students.
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Lavery optimizes service offering in franchise and distribution law, welcoming Jean-Philippe Turgeon and Stéphanie Destrempes
Lavery is pleased to announce the optimization of its service offering in franchise and distribution law with the arrival of Mr. Jean-Philippe Turgeon and Ms. Stéphanie Destrempes, respectively partner and associate in this growing field of legal practice.Lavery’s franchise and distribution section offers local and international franchisors, distributors, retailers, and manufacturers the legal services they need to build or strengthen their business model, expand their system in Canada and internationally, and enhance their brand and concept.Mr. Turgeon is head of Lavery’s franchise and distribution section. He represents and advises Canadian, U.S., and European franchisors, retailers, and manufacturers in various industries on issues underlying development and support of the operational structure, supply chain, and system’s expansion.Ms. Destrempes primarily represents Quebec franchisors and distributors in the food service industry dealing with issues related to the elaboration of business agreements and system’s support and restructuring.“The addition of Jean-Philippe Turgeon and Stéphanie Destrempes to our team will allow our clients to benefit from recognized expertise in franchise and distribution law,” said Don McCarty, managing partner at Lavery.
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Marie Cossette to be awarded Lawyer Emeritus distinction by the Barreau du Québec
Lavery is pleased to announce that Me Marie Cossette, partner in the litigation group at Lavery, will be awarded the Lawyer Emeritus (Ad. E.) distinction by the Barreau du Québec during a ceremony to be held on September 17, 2014, at the Windsor Hotel, in Montréal.Me Cossette’s name will thus be added to the list of Lavery lawyers who have received this prestigious honorary award, created to pay tribute to exceptional legal careers. Called to the Barreau du Québec in 1991, Me Cossette has participated in several public inquiries and developed recognized expertise in crisis management as well as in issues relating to ethics, professional conduct, and integrity.For more than twenty years, Me Cossette has been at the heart of major cases in various fields of litigation. A significant component of her practice is devoted to public law, administrative law, and disciplinary law, and she is often called upon to work on cases involving government relations. Her expertise is also recognized in the fields of commercial and construction law litigation, where she advises clients in both the private and public sectors. A skilled communicator, she is the author of numerous publications, appears frequently as guest speaker, and regularly serves as legal expert in the national media.“Lavery is delighted by the awarding of the Lawyer Emeritus (Ad. E.) distinction to Marie Cossette. Marie makes a significant contribution to her profession in various ways, whether through her leading expertise in her areas of practice, her sense of ethics, or her remarkable communication skills,” declared Don McCarty, the firm’s managing partner.
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Jean-Simon Deschênes, of Lavery, jury member at Rendez-vous Relève inc. in Québec
Jean-Simon Deschênes, partner in business law at Lavery, served on the jury for the Rendez-vous Relève inc. MC held in Québec on June 5. To watch a video about this event (in French), click here.Between June 3 and 5,the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal and the Fonds de solidarité FTQ held activities in three Quebec regions to raise awareness of, promote, and facilitate the transfer of businesses.Quebec is in danger of losing thousands of companies. This will be a growing problem in coming years, since 30% of business owners are planning to retire within the next decade, and half of them have no plans to sell or transfer ownership of their business. The events were attended by more than 600 people.
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20 Lavery partners ranked in the 2014 edition of the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory
Lavery is pleased to announce that 20 partners of the firm are ranked among the most recommended lawyers in Canada in their respective practice areas in the 2014 edition of Thomson Reuters’s Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory. The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory is the most comprehensive publication to legal talent in the country. It is a reference guide for Canadian and U.S. corporate counsel and law firms in need of specialized legal services. The 2014 edition of the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory identifies the best lawyers in 64 practice areas based on the results of a thorough annual peer-review survey completed by more than a thousand respected legal professionals and a wide range of well-informed clients. Lavery lawyers are recommended in a vast array of fields, including banking, asset finance, mining law, mergers and acquisitions, employment law and labour relations, pensions, class actions, construction law, family law, and commercial insurance litigation. "In the 2014 edition of this legal directory, 20 Lavery partners were recognized for their first-rate expertise. I congratulate our 20 colleagues for this recognition and for their continued commitment to serving the needs of our clients", said Don McCarty, Lavery’s Managing Partner. The following Lavery partners are listed in the 2014 edition of the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory : Pierre-L. Baribeau - Labour (Management) Yvan Biron* - Environment Michel Blouin - Mining René Branchaud – Mining Louis Charette* - Aviation Gérard Coulombe, Q.C., Ad. E. – Corporate Commercial, Mergers & Acquisitions Pierre Denis - Asset Equipment Finance/Leasing Josée Dumoulin - Pensions (Management) Nicolas Gagnon - Construction Jean Hébert - Litigation – Commercial Insurance Odette Jobin-Laberge, Ad. E. - Litigation – Commercial Insurance Guy Lavoie* - Labour (Management) Guy Lemay – Class Actions Robert W. Mason - Litigation – Commercial Insurance François Parent* - Pensions (Labour) Louis Payette, Ad. E. – Banking Élisabeth Pinard* - Family Jean Saint-Onge, Ad. E. - Class Actions; Litigation – Commercial Insurance; Litigation - Product Liability André Vautour - Technology Transactions Sébastien Vézina* - Mining *New postingFor more information, please visit Lexpert’s website at: www.lexpert.ca/directory.
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Raphaël H. Schachter, of Lavery, re-elected to the board of the Canadian Foundation of the American College of Trial Lawyers
Recently, Mr. Raphaël H. Schachter, Q.C., Ad. E, partner in criminal and penal law at Lavery, was re-elected to the board of directors of the Canadian Foundation of the American College of Trial Lawyers. The honourary president of the Foundation is the Honourable John C. Major, C.C., Q.C., former Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada. Other members of the board include the Honourable George K. MacIntosh (Supreme Court of British Columbia), Mr. Michel Décary, Q.C., Ad. E. (BCF), and Mr. David W. Scott, Q.C. (Borden Ladner Gervais).Founded in 1950, the American College of Trial Lawyers is a professional association of the best trial lawyers in the United States and Canada. The College is dedicated to maintaining and improving the standards of trial practice, the administration of justice, and the ethics of the profession.