News

On November 23, Isabelle Duval, an associate in the firm's Family Law Group, was named as YBM lawyer of the year in the category of family law at the 11th edition of the YBM "Leaders of Tomorrow" Gala, held at the St-James Theater. "The naming of Isabelle Duval as YBM lawyer of the year for 2017 reflects the expertise and talent of the firm's next generation of lawyers", said Loïc Berdnikoff, Lavery's Director of Professional Development. "The firm is privileged to be able to count on exceptional professionals such as Isabelle. I would like to congratulate her, both on my own and on the firm's behalf, for this well-deserved distinction!" Note that in choosing the winners, the YBM relies on its Governors Council, consisting, among others, of the deans of three law faculties in Quebec, the Bâtonnier of the Montreal Bar, Brian Mitchell, and the Honourable Justices Nicole Duval Hesler, Lucie Rondeau, Ann-Marie Jones and Bernard Mandeville.

During the Annual Meeting of the International Academy of Family Lawyers (IAFL) which took place at Reykjavik, Iceland, from September 13 to September 17, 2017, Caroline Harnois, a partner in the Family Law, Personal and Estate Group has delivered a conference on the interplay between return applications filed under the The Hague Convention on International Child Abduction and claims for refugee status. Click here for more information about the IAFL.

On June 7, Awatif Lakhdar, a partner of the Family, Personal and Estate Law group, spoke at a mini-seminar organized by the Wills, Estates and Trusts section of the Canadian Bar Association - Québec Division, held at the Lavery Conference Centre in Montréal and attended by over 45 lawyers. Entitled “Planification successorale et droits matrimoniaux : Avez-vous vraiment tout prévu ?”, Ms. Lakhdar addressed the challenges with foreign-born spouses. She specifically discussed the international jurisdiction of Quebec courts, the doctrine of international litispendence, the application of the rules on family patrimony and the qualification of the matrimonial regime.

On March 29, Awatif Lakhdar, a partner of the Family, Personal and Estate Law Group, spoke to owner-pharmacists at an information session held at Lavery’s Conference Centre. Me Lakhdar discussed the legal tools and general considerations required to protect the patrimony and business of owner-pharmacists during the seminar, entitled Pharmaciens-propriétaires : soyez à l’affût des meilleures pratiques pour la gestion de votre patrimoine.

On April 13, Gerald Stotland, a partner of the Family, Personal and Estate Law Group, spoke at a mini-seminar organized by the section of children's rights of the Canadian Bar Association, Québec Division, which Caroline Harnois, partner, is Vice-president. This mini-seminar was held at Lavery’s Conference Centre in Montréal. The mini-seminar, entitled Tout ce que vous avez toujours voulu savoir, mais n’avez jamais osé demander quant aux rapports psychologiques soumis en preuve dans vos dossiers, offered participants the opportunity to ask experts questions pertaining to different areas of law, including family, youth, immigration, estate, and criminal law.

Awatif Lakhdar, a partner with the Family Law Group, spoke about the survival of the support obligation and the family residence during the 3rd edition of the Colloque Liquidation des successions, held on October 5th in Montréal and October 27th in Québec City. Me Lakhdar reviewed some of the successions law notions specific to the survival of the support obligation and the criteria for determining support. She also provided details about the limits imposed by law and discussed the reduction of liberalities. Last, she raised various difficulties regarding the family residence, in particular the legislative priority in favour of the surviving spouse.