Montreal, December 8, 2009 – Lavery is pleased to announce the appointment of Élise Poisson as the firm's managing partner commencing January 1, 2010. Ms. Poisson succeeds Richard Dolan, who directed the firm for the past 10 years, becoming the first woman to occupy the position of managing partner in Lavery's history.
"All of Lavery's partners, associates, other professionals and employees are enthusiastic about the appointment of Élise Poisson as managing partner", said Richard Dolan, the outgoing managing partner. "Her professional dedication and the high quality of her work on the management team over the past five years have fully prepared her to take on her new functions".
Élise Poisson joined Lavery after obtaining her bachelor of law from the University of Montreal in 1985, and has remained with the firm ever since. She became a partner in 1994 and has been a member of the board of directors since 2004. She is a respected litigator in the areas of commercial law and extraordinary recourses, and has represented a broad range of commercial, industrial and institutional clients before all levels of the courts.
"Under the leadership of Richard Dolan, Lavery has adapted to the reality of the business world and has put the talent and expertise of all the firm's members to work for our clients in the business community", said Ms. Poisson. "In the coming years, we will continue strengthening the firm by consolidating our expertise so that we remain in tune with our clients, understand their business realities and anticipate their needs, while also focusing on recruiting and developing the best legal talent, and highlighting our firm's distinctiveness". Richard Dolan will remain a member of the firm's board of directors.