This section keeps you up-to-date on the latest news and upcoming public appearances of Lavery professionals.
News
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Lavery’s Strong Presence in the National Seminar on Class Actions of the Quebec Bar’s Continuing Education Services
For the 9th consecutive year, Mr. Jean Saint-Onge, Ad. E., Litigation partner at Lavery, has organized and hosted the National Seminar on Class Actions of the Quebec Bar’s Continuing Education Services, which was held on March 21-22, 2013 at the Palais des congrès in Montreal.This seminar represents the most important professional training event in the area of class actions in Canada. It gathered a total of 35 speakers, class action lawyers and judges from everywhere in North America as well as about a dozen sponsors. The seminar enabled participants to receive leading edge training in this fast-evolving practice area that focused on recent developments in Quebec, Canada and the United States as well as the latest trends with respect to international class actions.Mr. Jean-Philippe Lincourt, an associate in Lavery’s class action team, gave a well-attended conference on landmark class action cases in Quebec in 2012.Mr. Saint-Onge was recently ranked as Lawyer of the Year 2013 in the category Class Action Litigation - (Montréal) by the legal directory The Best Lawyers in Canada.
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Lavery seminar on Life and Disability Insurance: A Successful Event
Ms. Evelyne Verrier and Ms. Marie-Andrée Gagnon, Litigation partner and associate at Lavery respectively, acted as speakers, on March 20, at a seminar on life and disability insurance, which was organized jointly with the Association québécoise des directeurs de règlement en assurances collectives (AQDRAC).This event drew some 30 participants at the Lavery Conference Centre. The topics discussed focused on recent jurisprudential trends with respect to disability, updating jurisprudential tests with regard to the definition of disability, private healthcare and the change of insurer.
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Marie-Claude Cantin, Nicolas Gagnon and Louis-Martin Dubé – speakers at a conference on Bill 1: Integrity in Public Contracts Act
Two Litigation partners at Lavery, Ms. Marie-Claude Cantin and Mr. Nicolas Gagnon, and a Real Estate partner, Mr. Louis-Martin Dubé, acted as speakers during an event focused on Bill 1: Integrity in Public Contracts Act.This event, which was held at the Lavery Conference Centre on March 14, drew about 100 people. The guest speaker was Mr. Eric Stevenson, Superintendent, Client Services and Distribution Oversight at the Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF), who gave the organization’s viewpoint on the challenges stemming from its mandate with respect to the new provisions included in An Act respecting contracting by Public Bodies, which lays the framework for companies contracting with a public body.Mr. Nicolas Gagnon discussed the legal challenges arising from this act for the various stakeholders in the construction industry. Ms. Marie-Claude Cantin and Mr. Louis-Martin Dubé also gave a presentation on the Règlement visant à améliorer la sécurité dans le bâtiment [Regulation to enhance building safety]. They described the new public building safety measures that came into force on March 18, 2013 as well as the obligations of building owners and managers, designers and entrepreneurs under the new regulation. From left to right: Mr. Eric Stevenson, Ms. Marie-Claude Cantin, Mr. Nicolas Gagnon and Mr. Louis-Martin Dubé
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Jean Saint-Onge and Michel Gélinas recognized as Leaders in their Field by Chambers Global
Mr. Jean Saint-Onge, Ad. E., a Litigation partner at Lavery, and Mr. Michel Gélinas, a Labour Law partner at Lavery, are recognized as Leaders in their Field in the 2013 edition of the prestigious legal directory Chambers Global. The expertise of Mr. Saint-Onge is recognized in the category Dispute Resolution: Class Action (Defence) Canada, whereas the expertise Mr. Gélinas is recognized in the category Employment & Labour (Canada). In addition, in the same edition of this publication, Lavery is recognized in the category Dispute Resolution: Québec. The lawyers and law firms profiled in Chambers Global are selected following a rigorous process where thousands of interviews are conducted with a vast range of lawyers and their clients, i.e. commercial users of legal services, by a team of more than 140 full-time researchers. Moreover, the final selection is based on well-defined criteria, such as the quality of service provided to clients, legal expertise and commercial astuteness. For more information, click on the following links: Jean Saint-Onge Michel Gélinas Lavery
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Conference by Jean-Sébastien Desroches and Emil Vidrascu on shareholder agreements
Mr. Jean-Sébastien Desroches and Mr. Emil Vidrascu, Business Law partner and Litigation partner at Lavery respectively, discussed the mechanisms of shareholder agreements during a breakfast conference that took place on March 14 at the Lavery Conference Centre. This event, held under the theme "Avoid litigation by using shareholder agreements", drew about 40 people, mostly small and medium-sized business owners. Mr. Desroches and Mr. Vidrascu informed the participants about the main strategies with respect to negotiating and implementing shareholder agreements within a corporation to ensure smooth business operations, prevent and resolve disputes as well as minimize various risks. From left to right: Mr. Jean-Sébastien Desroches, Business Law partner at Lavery, and Mr. Emil Vidrascu, Litigation partner at Lavery.
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The English-speaking section of the Bar of Montreal pays tribute to Vincent O,Donnell
Lavery is pleased to announce that the English-speaking section of the Bar of Montreal today paid tribute to Mr. Vincent O’Donnell, Q.C., Ad. E., a renowned lawyer who practised at the firm for more than 50 years, for his outstanding legal career, by awarding him its first Lifetime Achievement Award.Mr. O’Donnell joined the firm in 1957, moving quickly through the ranks to become one of Canada’s foremost litigation lawyers. He has appeared before all levels of court in Canada, including at least 12 times before the Supreme Court. He has also argued precedent-setting cases in various areas, such as insurance law, professional liability and class actions.President of the Bar of Montreal from 1984 to 1985, he was actively involved in many committees of the Quebec Bar and the Canadian Bar Association throughout his career. In addition, Mr. O’Donnell’s reputation extends well beyond national borders. He has been a member of internationally renowned professional associations, including the American College of Trial Lawyers, the International Academy of Trial Lawyers and the International Association of Defense Counsel."Lavery is delighted that the English-speaking section of the Bar of Montreal has recognized the remarkable career of a great legal mind. In addition to his invaluable contribution to the development of law, Mr. O’Donnell influenced generations of lawyers with his passion for the law and his sound legal reasoning. As a colleague, mentor, adviser, professor or friend, Vincent O’Donnell imprinted his distinctive mark on our profession and made a profound impression on several people during his long and distinguished career", said Don McCarty, Managing Partner of the firm.
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Dina Raphaël, Martin Pichette and Nathalie Durocher, speakers at Damage Insurance Day 2013
Two litigation lawyers at Lavery, Ms. Dina Raphaël and Mr. Martin Pichette, and a litigation associate, Ms. Nathalie Durocher, will be conference speakers at la Journée de l’assurance de dommages 2013 (Damage Insurance Day 2013), an event organized by Le journal de l’assurance in co-operation with the Chambre de l’assurance de dommages and that will be held on Wednesday, March 20 at the Palais des congrès de Montréal under the theme "S’unir pour gagner la confiance de l’assuré" (Together to win the trust of the insured). Lavery is proud to be a partner of this major event that brings together insurers, brokers, agents and claims adjusters. Martin Pichette will act as moderator of a conference entitled "Assurance des condominiums : des changements sont à l’horizon !" (Condo insurance: Some upcoming changes) that will focus on the changes that will have an impact on underwriting risks with respect to condo insurance. In addition, Dina Raphaël and Nathalie Durocher will take part in the conference "2013 marquera-t-elle l’avènement de la vente d’assurance sur Internet ?" (Selling insurance on the Internet in 2013?) where she will discuss the regulatory framework applicable to this practice as well as the changes needed to fully implement this practice and protect consumer rights. To read the event program (in French), click here.
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Lavery represents the syndicate of agents in the offering of $200 million of 4.23% series 2 senior unsecured debentures of Cominar Real Estate Investment Trust
On December 4, 2012, Cominar Real Estate Investment Trust completed a public offering of $200 million aggregate principal amount of 4.23% Series 2 senior unsecured debentures due December 4, 2019, for total net proceeds to Cominar of approximately $199.0 million. The debentures were offered to the public by a syndicate of agents led by National Bank Financial Inc. and BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc., including Desjardins Securities Inc., RBC Dominion Securities Inc., CIBC World Markets Inc., Scotia Capital Inc., TD Securities Inc., HSBC Securities (Canada) Inc., Canaccord Genuity Corp., Dundee Securities Ltd. and Macquarie Capital Markets Canada Ltd. The syndicate of agents was represented by a team from Lavery consisting of Marc Rochefort, Michel Servant, Guillaume Lavoie and Geneviève Fournier (corporate and securities), and Philip Nolan (tax). Cominar is the third largest diversified real estate investment trust in Canada and the largest commercial property owner in the Province of Québec.
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Dina Raphaël recognized as a 'litigation future star' in Québec
Ms. Dina Raphaël, partner in Lavery’s Litigation Group, has been recognized as a "litigation future star" in Québec in the second edition of the legal directory Benchmark Canada, the Guide to Canada’s Leading Litigation Firms and Attorneys, a publication of Benchmark Litigation which is the only legal directory in the United States to focus exclusively on US litigation. Ms. Raphaël’s expertise was recognized in the areas of product liability, general commercial, insurance and professional liability. Lawyers are selected following extensive interviews conducted with litigators and their clients.
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PwC Canada-Lavery Information and Networking Cocktail: A Successful Event
The PwC Canada-Lavery Information and Networking Cocktail, that took place at the Lavery Conference Centre in Montreal on February 27, was a success. Held under the theme "How to attract, manage, motivate and retain talent in innovative ways within the mining industry in Quebec?", this event mostly drew representatives from mining corporations that are active in Quebec, particularly within Plan Nord territory. The event co-organizers, Mr. René Branchaud, partner and coordinator of Lavery’s Business Law Group, and Mr. Nochane Rousseau, PwC partner and leader of the Mining industry for the province of Quebec, invited participants to discuss the issue of leadership in the context of human resources management in the mining sector. Mr. Gérard Coulombe, Q.C., partner of Lavery’s Business Law Group, acted as master of ceremony for the event. The following persons shared their thoughts on various issues: Ms. Josiane L’Heureux, partner in Lavery’s Labour Law Group, focused on certain aspects of employment contracts and human resources management; Mr. Claude Gosselin, Vice President Operations and Maintenance at Aluminerie Alouette, spoke to the participants about managing and retaining talent in the mining sector; and Mr. Alain Robichaud, partner responsible for strategic management and organizational change at PwC, discussed the issues of leadership and human resources management in the mining industry. From left to right: Gérard Coulombe, Q.C., partner at Lavery; Alain Robichaud, partner, strategic management and organizational change, PwC; Josiane L’Heureux, partner at Lavery, and Claude Gosselin,Vice President Operations and Maintenance, Aluminerie Alouette
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Benjamin David Gross and Étienne Brassard – speakers at the Advanced Conference on Real Estate and Urban Development in Quebec
Mr. Benjamin David Gross, partner, and Mr. Étienne Brassard, associate, both in Lavery’s Business Law Group, were speakers at the Advanced Conference on Real Estate and Urban Development in Quebec that was held in Montreal on February 27-28, 2013. Their joint presentation was titled "Le financement des projets immobiliers au Québec pour atteindre les objectifs d’affaires de vos clients" (i.e. "The Financing of Real Estate Projects in Quebec to Achieve Your Clients’ Goals").Hosted by the Canadian Institute, the Advanced Conference on Real Estate and Urban Development in Quebec allowed key players to share their expertise on a wide range of topics including real estate market trends, financing, environmental risk management, development agreements and management contracts as well as land use planning, urban planning and zoning.For more information about the Conference (in French only), click here.
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Marie Cossette and Lavery’s Quebec City office recipients of a 4-star Maestria for the 2012 Centraide Campaign
Ms. Marie Cossette, director of the 2012 Centraide Campaign for Lavery’s Quebec City office and partner of the Litigation Group, has received the 4-star Maestria Major Donors in the small business category, awarded by Centraide Québec et Chaudière-Appalaches, during the 2012 Centraide Campaign recognition event that was held on February 26 at the Hôtel Château Laurier Québec.Since 2009, the Maestria is awarded to groups of employees working in a corporation or an institution who take part in a Centraide Campaign that helps generate high levels of participation. Ms. Cossette’s active involvement enabled our office to more than double the previous year’s total donations. As a result of the hard work of our Quebec City office employees, Lavery ranked among the top two or three law firms in the region with the most significant number of major donors.