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  1. Beyond Code: Powering AI; Canada’s Moment?

    The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer just about algorithms, data, and software. Once confined to the minds of computer scientists, AI now depends on massive physical infrastructure: expanded electricity generation, resilient transmission and distribution grids, and high-performance data centres, supported by advanced semiconductors, critical minerals, and complex global supply chains. As AI penetrates every sector, from defense1 to finance2, it is driving surging demand for reliable, affordable, low-carbon power; leading-edge hardware manufacturing; and the construction and modernization of digital infrastructure. This shift creates material challenges as well as opportunities, particularly for resource-rich countries such as Canada. This article first outlines AI’s infrastructure requirements and then examines how Canada could position itself as a key player by leveraging its energy and critical-mineral endowments, while identifying critical blind spots in current strategy. Infrastructures Required for AI The Need for Stable Energy The electricity demand driven by the expansion of data centres and AI applications is surging. The International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that data centres consumed approximately 415 terawatt-hours (TWh) in 2024, roughly 1.5% of global electricity consumption. This figure could more than double by 20303, to roughly 945 TWh, with AI a primary growth driver. In some economies, data centres could represent more than 20% of electricity demand growth by 2030, while in the United States, demand could grow more than thirtyfold by 2035, to 123 gigawatts, from 4 gigawatts in 20244. Meeting this rising demand requires new generation capacity. Building renewable, nuclear, or gas-fired plants poses significant regulatory, environmental, and logistical challenges. Renewables face land-use constraints, and wind and solar intermittency is at odds with AI’s round-the-clock power requirements. Nuclear entails high upfront costs, licensing and safety requirements, and long lead times. Several recent data centre and AI infrastructure projects, including those led by xAI5, Oracle6, and Meta7 have turned to natural gas generation, citing its speed of deployment and ability to bypass grid interconnection delays. The IEA emphasizes that accelerating deployment of clean generation is essential to meet AI-driven demand and climate commitments. In practice, countries must balance the urgency of capacity expansion with decarbonization targets, an increasingly complex policy challenge. The stability and scalability of AI infrastructure also depend on grid modernization and the strategic siting of data centres. The IEA emphasizes that “a sole focus on increasing electricity generation won’t be enough […] countries must also think about their infrastructure.” Deloitte similarly notes that “the AI ambitions of the [U.S.] government and industry come up against the grid’s capacity to power or even interconnect data centers, as there is currently a seven-year wait for some requests to connect to the grid.” Material Needs for AI Infrastructure Beyond energy, AI relies on a wide range of materials: to build data centres (concrete, steel, copper, cooling systems) and to equip them (semiconductors and specialized chips, cabling, rare earths, and high-purity metals). The IEA warns that AI-driven growth will add pressure to critical-mineral supply chains—especially for copper and aluminium8, but also nickel, gallium, and silicon. This pressure is not unique to AI: the global shift to electrification already fuels intense competition for the same scarce resources. The IEA’s Global Critical Minerals Outlook 20259 projects that demand for copper, lithium, and nickel could double or even triple by 2030, while supply remains concentrated in a few regions and vulnerable to geopolitical shocks. In short, AI rests on heavy physical infrastructure underpinned by a finite, geopolitically sensitive mineral base. The growing overlap between AI and the broader energy transition underscores a key point: the sustainability and scalability of AI hinge as much on resource management and industrial policy as on innovation. Canada as a Potential Key Player Energy: Nuclear Development and Hydro-Québec’s Ambitions Canada is a major energy producer, generating approximately 639 TWh of electricity in 2022, roughly 70% from renewables10. This baseline gives Canada a comparative advantage in powering energy-intensive digital infrastructure, such as AI data centres. Building on this foundation, Canada is expanding its nuclear capacity. In 2023, Ontario Power Generation announced plans to build up to four small modular reactors (SMRs) at its Darlington site, together totalling about 1,200 megawatts (MW) of clean electricity11. These developments form part of a national effort to deploy next-generation nuclear technology12 that will provide stable, low-carbon baseload power to support industrial electrification and the growth of AI infrastructure. Meanwhile, in Québec, Hydro-Québec is investing heavily to modernize and expand renewable capacity. Its Action Plan 2035 outlines $90–110 billion to add 8,000–9,000 MW of new capacity by 2035, primarily through hydro and wind. The plan also calls for approximately 5,000 km of high-voltage transmission lines to connect new generation and improve reliability across the province13. Canada’s cold climate offers an operational advantage: data centres can significantly reduce cooling costs by using free-cooling techniques. For example, a Winnipeg data centre leverages ambient winter air to reduce energy use and costs14. This cold climate, together with hydroelectric and nuclear capacity and Canada’s endowment of critical minerals required to build AI infrastructure, gives Canada strong prospects for AI-related investment. The Blind Spots in Canada’s Strategy Canada was the first G7 country to launch a national AI strategy in 2017: the Pan-Canadian Artificial Intelligence Strategy. The strategy aims to position Canada as a global AI leader by fostering research excellence, developing talent, and promoting commercialization. However, it focuses heavily on intellectual leadership and policy principles, with limited measures to address the physical requirements of large-scale AI deployment, including data centre capacity, digital infrastructure, and energy integration15. Building on this framework, the federal government announced the AI Strategy Task Force on September 26, 202516. The initiative will address safe AI, public trust, and infrastructure. The task force, comprising experts from academia, industry, and civil society, will provide recommendations. Nonetheless, details on specific measures remain limited. A major structural challenge is weak coordination among federal, provincial, and local authorities, as well as with Indigenous and community stakeholders17. While the federal government sets broad ambitions for AI, the energy transition, and digital sovereignty, implementation depends on provincial jurisdiction over energy, land use, and industrial planning. This fragmented governance results in inconsistent priorities and delays. The Wonder Valley data centre in northern Alberta, announced as a US$70 billion initiative to build one of the world’s largest AI computing hubs, illustrates these tensions18. Despite support from the provincial government, the project faced strong opposition from the Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation, citing inadequate early consultation and environmental and treaty-rights concerns. The controversy reflects a broader issue of social acceptability, a recurring barrier to large-scale industrial and digital infrastructure projects across Canada. Overlapping regulations and permitting delays significantly hamper Canada’s ability to develop large-scale infrastructure. The Business Council of Canada describes the permitting system for major projects as “overly complex, time-consuming and a major impediment to attracting investment,” 19 noting that projects may face decades of approvals before construction begins. This maze of federal-provincial rules introduces uncertainty and cost escalation, especially problematic for high-capital, rapidly evolving sectors such as AI infrastructure. In Québec, two strategic challenges stand out. First, the province has long reserved large blocks of electricity capacity for traditional energy-intensive industries, especially metallurgical and mining operations, while deprioritizing data centres. Hydro-Québec explicitly stated in 2022 that it “is in no way working to attract data centers,” reflecting hesitancy to dedicate scarce energy resources to sectors perceived as offering limited employment or local value creation. This cautious approach has left numerous projects, including major initiatives by Google in Beauharnois, waiting years for approval or grid connection. The provincial stance prioritizes long-term industrial diversification and resource-based manufacturing over rapid digital infrastructure expansion20. Second, Québec’s Action Plan 2035 emphasizes wind and solar as complements to hydroelectricity, but their intermittency challenges the continuous power required by AI data centres. While this policy aligns with decarbonization goals, it may make Québec less attractive to hyperscale data centre operators, many of whom now favour regions with stable nuclear or natural gas baseload generation, such as Ontario or certain U.S. states. Taken together, these challenges reveal a structural gap between Canada’s ambition to lead in AI and its capacity to provide the physical and regulatory foundations needed to sustain it. A recent partnership between the U.S. government, Westinghouse Electric Company, Brookfield Asset Management, and Cameco Corporation to deploy at least US$80 billion in new nuclear capacity—explicitly linked to AI data centres and compute—shows the global race to build AI’s physical backbone is already underway21. Conclusion The emergence of artificial intelligence marks a profound transformation in the global economy, one that is as material and infrastructural as it is digital and cognitive. Data centers, energy systems, and supply chains for critical minerals have become the true arteries of the AI age. As such, the countries that succeed in this new era will not be those that simply pioneer algorithms, but those that can secure, scale, and sustain the physical foundations of intelligence itself. For Canada, the path forward hinges on bridging the gap between its research excellence and its industrial capabilities. With abundant clean energy, critical minerals, and a strong technological ecosystem, Canada holds the ingredients to become a champion of sustainable AI infrastructure. Yet, without a coherent, long-term coordination between federal and provincial levels and a streamlined regulatory environment, it risks remaining on the periphery of the next technological revolution. Original article: https://emagazine.renewcanada.net/?pid=ODk8923274&v=3.10&p=31 Ministère des Armées et des Anciens combattants (2025). Comprendre l’IA de défense. https://www.defense.gouv.fr/actualites/comprendre-lia-defense KPMG (2025). L’IA dans la fonction finance. International Energy Agency (2025). Energy and AI. https://iea.blob.core.windows.net/assets/601eaec9-ba91-4623-819b-4ded331ec9e8/EnergyandAI.pdf Deloitte (2025). Can US infrastructure keep up with the AI economy?. https://www.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/industry/power-and-utilities/data-center-infrastructure-artificial-intelligence.html Data Centers Going Off-Grid With Natural Gas to ‘Find Any Way to Get Power’ https://www.naturalgasintel.com/news/data-centers-going-off-grid-with-natural-gas-to-find-any-way-to-get-power/ 'Go Where The Gas Is': Data Centers Follow Fracking In Search For Power https://www.bisnow.com/national/news/data-center-power/go-where-the-gas-is-data-centers-follow-the-fracking-in-search-for-power-131552 Ibid. See 3 International Energy Agency (2025). Global Critical Minerals Outlook 2025. https://iea.blob.core.windows.net/assets/ef5e9b70-3374-4caa-ba9d-19c72253bfc4/GlobalCriticalMineralsOutlook2025.pdf Government of Canada (2025). Energy Fact Book, 2024-2025: Clean power and low carbon fuels. https://energy-information.canada.ca/en/energy-facts/clean-power-low-carbon-fuels Government of Ontario (2023). Ontario Building More Small Modular Reactors to Power Province’s Growth. https://news.ontario.ca/en/release/1003248/ontario-building-more-small-modular-reactors-to-power-provinces-growth Governement of Canada (2024). Canada’s Small Modular Reactor Action Plan. https://natural-resources.canada.ca/energy-sources/nuclear-energy-uranium/canada-s-small-modular-reactor-action-plan Government of Québec (2023). Vers un Québec décarboné et prospère, Plan d’action 2025. https://www.hydroquebec.com/data/a-propos/pdf/plan-action-2035.pdf Economic Development Winnipeg. (n.d). Winnipeg’s cold climate means big savings for MTS Data Centres’ clients. https://www.winnipegedt.com/newsroom/read,post/596/winnipeg-s-cold-climate-means-big-savings-for-mts-data-centres-clients?dismiss=day Government of Canada (2025). Pan-Canadian Artificial Intelligence Strategy. https://ised-isde.canada.ca/site/ai-strategy/en Government of Canada (2025). Government of Canada launches AI Strategy Task Force and public engagement on the development of the next AI strategy. https://www.canada.ca/en/innovation-science-economic-development/news/2025/09/government-of-canada-launches-ai-strategy-task-force-and-public-engagement-on-the-development-of-the-next-ai-strategy.html The Dais (2024). From Potential to Performance: Roundtable Report on Canada’s Investment in AI Compute Infrastructure. https://dais.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/AI-Roundtable-Summary-Report_V4.pdf E. Rubayita (2025). Alberta First Nation voices 'grave concern' over Kevin O'Leary's proposed $70B AI data centre. CBC. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/alberta-first-nation-voices-grave-concern-over-kevin-o-leary-s-proposed-70b-ai-data-centre-1.7431550 Business Council of Canada (2025). Stifled by red tape. https://www.thebusinesscouncil.ca/report/stifled-by-red-tape/ L. Arbour and S. Mayer (2025). Les centres de données au Québec. Bibliothèque de l’Assemblée Nationale. https://premierelecture.bibliotheque.assnat.qc.ca/2025/02/10/les-centres-de-donnees-au-quebec/ Brookfield (2025). United States Government, Brookfield and Cameco Announce Transformational Partnership to Deliver Long-term Value Using Westinghouse Nuclear Reactor Technology. https://bam.brookfield.com/press-releases/united-states-government-brookfield-and-cameco-announce-transformational-partnership

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  3. Adopting a collaborative delivery model: 10 key takeaways from the Alto project to benefit the infrastructure industry

    A look back at a panel discussion with Alto, CDPQ Infra and Lavery at the Grand Forum hosted by the Infrastructure Council On November 26, 2025, infrastructure industry leaders have come together this week for a panel discussion on collaborative delivery in infrastructure projects, with a focus on the Alto project, the future high-speed rail project that will transform intercity travel in Canada. The panel, moderated by Lavery partner David Tournier, featured: Sophie Lussier, Executive Vice-President and Head of Corporate Services, Organizational Performance and Secretariat, CDPQ Infra Félix Turgeon, Chief Legal Officer, Alto The panellists shared insights from an innovative public-private partnership along with lessons that apply across the industry. 10 takeaways from the Alto project and collaborative delivery models 1-   The largest infrastructure project in Canadian history Alto is Canada’s first ever high-speed rail project, requiring simultaneous early-stage involvement of experts from both the public and private sectors. 2-   A collaborative model chosen to create added value This model blends private-sector innovation and efficiency with public-sector vision, governance and accountability. 3-   Proactive, structured risk management Risks are identified and allocated from the outset based on each partner’s expertise, a major shift from traditional models. 4-   Integrated governance for quick and consistent decision making Joint committees, integrated working groups and ongoing coordination mechanisms help maintain strategic alignment. 5-   Strong, clearly articulated public goals The project is intended to: Increase ridership Improve the passenger experience Reduce the environmental footprint Improve accessibility Enhance safety and security Minimize impact on taxpayers Support reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples 6-   A project recognized for its potential to transform the country’s future The government wants to accelerate project delivery while ensuring regulatory processes are followed and consultations are held, leaving no room for compromise. 7-   Strong community and stakeholder engagement Planning and defining the corridor involves meaningful, ongoing dialogue with affected residents, municipalities and Indigenous communities. 8-   A private partner committed for the long haul Cadence will play a role not only in designing and building the project but also in operating and maintaining the future network, aligning its incentives around sustainable performance. 9-   A culture of collaboration that is being actively reinforced General meetings, internal newsletters, Alto Academies, and a co-located team, all supporting continuous, day-to-day collaboration that keeps the momentum going. 10-   Growing alignment with international trends and innovative practices Bill 62, the Alto–Cadence partnership and international examples show that collaborative delivery models are emerging as a key driver of success for major projects in Canada and Quebec. Panel recap The panel shed light on how collaborative approaches are reshaping delivery models for the most complex infrastructure projects, with the panellists explaining that early stakeholder involvement, transparency and structured risk-sharing make these approaches critical to delivering projects of such magnitude. The discussion highlighted: The integrated governance framework jointly implemented by Alto and Cadence A dynamic based on transparency and quick issue resolution The strategic value of involving private-sector partners early in the project The central role of consultations and social acceptability in moving a transformative project forward Essential elements of a collaborative delivery model Before diving into the Alto case, the panel briefly touched on what collaborative delivery means for infrastructure projects. Unlike traditional models, where the client designs and the contractor executes, collaborative delivery models rely on an integrated approach that brings project owners, designers and contractors together earlier in the project life cycle. This approach involves: Shared governance and joint decision making Integrated risk management Open-book accounting to jointly determine a target cost Mechanisms for sharing savings and cost overruns A commitment to avoid claims and resolve issues internally These models foster greater cooperation and transparency, improving risk sharing and leading to fewer claims. This helps teams stay on schedule and ultimately boosts overall project performance. In Quebec, the trend has gained additional support from Bill 62, passed in 2024. The Bill introduced new “partnership contracts,” making it easier for public bodies to bring in contractors early on and take a collaborative approach to project delivery. Elsewhere, large-scale projects such as Union Station in Toronto, Terminal 5 at Heathrow, and Waaban Bridge in Kingston have shown that collaboration becomes a powerful driver of performance when governance, culture, and contractual frameworks are aligned. And that’s particularly true for non-standard projects. The Alto project, which starts with a five-year co-development phase prior to construction, perfectly illustrates this approach. Conclusion The Alto panel confirmed one thing: to transform the infrastructure industry, we must first transform our approach to collaboration. The Alto–Cadence partnership shows how integrated governance, structured risk sharing and a culture of cooperation help teams navigate complexity more effectively, while generating lasting value for the public.  

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  4. Lavery advises Bangkok Bank Public Company Limited on US$835 million cross-border financing related to the acquisition of the Éléonore mine

    Lavery acted as legal counsel for Bangkok Bank Public Company Limited in connection with a US$835 million cross-border financing related to the acquisition of the Éléonore gold mine, located in Eeyou Istchee James Bay, in northern Quebec. This transaction, which involved negotiations in four separate jurisdictions, required in-depth expertise in banking law, mining law, and security law to secure financing for the acquisition of one of Quebec's largest gold mines. This case was led by David Tournier, with the support of Katerina Kostopoulos, Francis Sabourin, Annie Groleau, and Joëlle Montpetit. Lavery is privileged to have played a role in the evolution of the Éléonore mine, having represented Newmont Corp in the sale of the Éléonore mine in 2024. These transactions reflect the firm's significant expertise in its ability to manage complex commercial and financial transactions in the mining sector. About LaveryLavery is the leading independent law firm in Québec. Its more than 200 professionals, based in Montréal, Québec City, Sherbrooke and Trois-Rivières, work every day to offer a full range of legal services to organizations doing business in Québec. Recognized by the most prestigious legal directories, Lavery professionals are at the heart of what is happening in the business world and are actively involved in their communities. The firm's expertise is frequently sought after by numerous national and international partners to provide support in cases under Québec jurisdiction.

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  5. 86 Lavery lawyers recognized in The Best Lawyers in Canada 2026

    Lavery is pleased to announce that 86 of its lawyers have been recognized as leaders in 42 areas of expertise in the 20th edition of The Best Lawyers in Canada in 2026. This ranking is based entirely on peer recognition and rewards the professional achievements of the country's top lawyers. Three partners from the firm were named Lawyer of the Year in the 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in Canada directory: Josianne Beaudry: Mining Law  Marie-Josée Hétu: Labour and Employment Law  Jonathan Lacoste-Jobin: Insurance Law See below for a complete list of Lavery lawyers and their areas of expertise. Please note that the practices reflect those of Best Lawyers. Geneviève Beaudin: Employee Benefits Law / Labour and Employment Law  Josianne Beaudry: Mergers and Acquisitions Law / Mining Law / Securities Law  Geneviève Bergeron: Intellectual Property Law  Laurence Bich-Carrière: Administrative and Public Law / Class Action Litigation/ Construction Law / Corporate and Commercial Litigation / Product Liability Law  Dominic Boisvert: Insurance Law  Luc R. Borduas: Corporate Law / Mergers and Acquisitions Law  René Branchaud: Mining Law / Natural Resources Law / Securities Law  Étienne Brassard: Equipment Finance Law / Mergers and Acquisitions Law / Project Finance Law / Real Estate Law / Structured Finance Law / Venture Capital Law  Jules Brière: Aboriginal Law / Indigenous Practice / Administrative and Public Law / Health Care Law  Myriam Brixi: Class Action Litigation / Product Liability Law  Benoit Brouillette: Labour and Employment Law  Marie-Claude Cantin: Construction Law / Insurance Law  Brittany Carson: Labour and Employment Law  André Champagne: Corporate Law / Mergers and Acquisitions Law  Chantal Desjardins: Advertising and Marketing Law / Intellectual Property Law  Jean-Sébastien Desroches: Corporate Law / Mergers and Acquisitions Law  Raymond Doray: Administrative and Public Law / Defamation and Media Law / Privacy and Data Security Law  Christian Dumoulin: Mergers and Acquisitions Law  Alain Y. Dussault: Intellectual Property Law  Isabelle Duval: Family Law / Trusts andEstates  Ali El Haskouri: Banking and Finance Law / Venture Capital Law  Philippe Frère: Administrative and Public Law  Simon Gagné: Labour and Employment Law  Nicolas Gagnon: Construction Law  Richard Gaudreault: Labour and Employment Law  Julie Gauvreau: Biotechnology and Life Sciences Practice / Intellectual Property Law  Marc-André Godin: Commercial Leasing Law / Real Estate Law  Caroline Harnois: Family Law / Family Law Mediation / Trusts and Estates  Alexandre Hébert: Corporate Law / Mergers and Acquisitions Law / Venture Capital Law  Marie-Josée Hétu: Labour and Employment Law / Workers' Compensation Law  Édith Jacques: Corporate Law / Energy Law / Mergers and Acquisitions Law / Natural Resources Law  Marie-Hélène Jolicoeur: Labour and Employment Law / Workers' Compensation Law  Isabelle Jomphe : Advertising and Marketing Law / IntellectualProperty Law  Nicolas Joubert: Labour and Employment Law  Guillaume Laberge: Administrative and Public Law  Jonathan Lacoste-Jobin: Insurance Law  Awatif Lakhdar: Family Law / Family Law Mediation  Marc-André Landry: Alternative Dispute Resolution / Class Action Litigation / Construction Law / Corporate and Commercial Litigation / Product Liability Law  Éric Lavallée: Privacy and Data Security Law / Technology Law  Myriam Lavallée: Labour and Employment Law  Guy Lavoie: Labour and Employment Law / Workers' Compensation Law  Jean Legault: Banking and Finance Law / Insolvency and Financial Restructuring Law  Carl Lessard: Labour and Employment Law / Workers' Compensation Law  Josiane L'Heureux: Labour and Employment Law   Paul Martel: Corporate Law  Zeïneb Mellouli: Labour and Employment Law / Workers' Compensation Law  Isabelle P. Mercure: Tax Law / Trusts and Estates  Patrick A. Molinari: Health Care Law  Marc Ouellet: Labour and Employment Law  Luc Pariseau: Tax Law / Trusts and Estates  Ariane Pasquier: Labour and Employment Law  Martin Pichette: Corporate and Commercial Litigation / Insurance Law / Professional Malpractice Law  Élisabeth Pinard: Family Law / Family Law Mediation  François Renaud: Banking and Finance Law / Structured Finance Law  Marc Rochefort: Securities Law  Judith Rochette: Alternative Dispute Resolution / Insurance Law / Professional Malpractice Law  Ouassim Tadlaoui: Construction Law / Insolvency and Financial Restructuring Law  David Tournier: Banking and Finance Law  Vincent Towner: Commercial Leasing Law  André Vautour: CorporateGovernance Practice / Corporate Law / Energy Law / Information Technology Law / Intellectual Property Law / Private Funds Law / Technology Law / Venture Capital Law  Bruno Verdon: Corporate and Commercial Litigation  Sébastien Vézina: Mergers and Acquisitions Law / Mining Law / Sports Law  Yanick Vlasak: Banking and Finance Law / Corporate and Commercial Litigation / Insolvency and Financial Restructuring Law  Jonathan Warin: Insolvency and Financialanick Vlasak: Banking and Finance Law / Corporate  We are pleased to highlight our next generation, who also distinguished themselves in this directory in the Ones To Watch category: Anne-Marie Asselin: Labour and Employment Law (Ones To Watch) Rosemarie Bhérer Bouffard: Labour and Employment Law (Ones To Watch) Frédéric Bolduc: Labour and Employment Law (Ones To Watch) Marc-André Bouchard: Construction Law (Ones To Watch) Céleste Brouillard-Ross: Construction Law / Corporate and Commercial Litigation (Ones To Watch) Karl Chabot: Construction Law / Corporate and Commercial Litigation / Medical Negligence (Ones To Watch) Justine Chaput: Labour and Employment Law (Ones To Watch) James Duffy: Intellectual Property Law (Ones To Watch) Francis Dumoulin: Corporate Law / Mergers and Acquisitions Law (Ones To Watch) Joseph Gualdieri: Mergers and Acquisitions Law (Ones To Watch) Katerina Kostopoulos: Banking and Finance Law / Corporate Law (Ones To Watch) Joël Larouche: Construction Law / Corporate and Commercial Litigation (Ones To Watch) Despina Mandilaras: Construction Law / Corporate and Commercial Litigation (Ones To Watch) Jean-François Maurice: Corporate Law (Ones To Watch) Jessica Parent: Labour and Employment Law (Ones To Watch) Audrey Pelletier: Tax Law (Ones To Watch) Alexandre Pinard: Labour and Employment Law (Ones To Watch Camille Rioux: Labour and Employment Law (Ones To Watch) Sophie Roy: Insurance Law (Ones To Watch) Chantal Saint-Onge: Corporate and Commercial Litigation (Ones To Watch) Bernard Trang: Banking and Finance Law / Project Finance Law (Ones To Watch) Mylène Vallières: Mergers and Acquisitions Law / Securities Law (Ones To Watch) 

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  6. Lavery Advises Technicolor Canada on the Sale of Mikros Animation

    This March 25th, 2025, the Superior Court of Quebec approved the sale of "Mikros Animation", the cartoon animation division of Technicolor Canada, Inc., a Canadian subsidiary of the Technicolor Group. Lavery had the privilege of advising Technicolor Canada on this transaction, which was part of the court-ordered reorganization of the corporations that make up the Technicolor Group. Simultaneously with the acquisition of the assets of the "Mikros Animation" division in Quebec, the buyer, RodeoFx, will also acquire the assets of the "Mikros Animation" division in France. This would greatly facilitate the closing of the transaction, considering that the Technicolor group is an internationally integrated company. Still due to the international component of the "Mikros Animation" division's operations, this simultaneous acquisition of it's assets in Quebec and France required the unprecedented collaboration of the Tribunal des Activités Économiques de Paris and the Quebec Superior Court. Completion of the transaction will ensure the continued operation of the "Mikros Animation" division in both Quebec and France and preserve up to 207 jobs in Montreal in the specialized field of animation, in addition to the 80 jobs in the "Mikros Animation" division in France. The Lavery team led by Sébastien Vézina and Jean Legault also included Martin Pichette, Marc Ouellet, Jessica Parent, Ouassim Tadlaoui, David Tournier, David Choinière, Jean-Paul Timothée and Yasmine Belrachid. About Lavery Lavery is the leading independent law firm in Québec. Its more than 200 professionals, based in Montréal, Québec City, Sherbrooke and Trois-Rivières, work every day to offer a full range of legal services to organizations doing business in Québec. Recognized by the most prestigious legal directories, Lavery professionals are at the heart of what is happening in the business world and are actively involved in their communities. The firm's expertise is frequently sought after by numerous national and international partners to provide support in cases under Québec jurisdiction.

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  7. The Best Lawyers in Canada 2025 recognize 88 lawyers of Lavery

    Lavery is pleased to announce that 88 of its lawyers have been recognized as leaders in their respective fields of expertise by The Best Lawyers in Canada 2025. The ranking is based entirely on peer recognition and rewards the professional performance of the country's top lawyers. The following lawyers also received the Lawyer of the Year award in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in Canada: Isabelle Jomphe: Intellectual Property Law Myriam Lavallée : Labour and Employment Law Consult the complete list of Lavery's lawyers and their fields of expertise: Geneviève Beaudin : Employee Benefits Law Josianne Beaudry : Mergers and Acquisitions Law / Mining Law / Securities Law Geneviève Bergeron : Intellectual Property Law Laurence Bich-Carrière : Class Action Litigation / Contruction Law / Corporate and Commercial Litigation / Product Liability Law Dominic Boivert : Insurance Law Luc R. Borduas : Corporate Law / Mergers and Acquisitions Law Daniel Bouchard : Environmental Law René Branchaud : Mining Law / Natural Resources Law / Securities Law Étienne Brassard : Equipment Finance Law / Mergers and Acquisitions Law / Project Finance Law / Real Estate Law Jules Brière : Aboriginal Law / Indigenous Practice / Administrative and Public Law / Health Care Law Myriam Brixi : Class Action Litigation / Product Liability Law Benoit Brouillette : Labour and Employment Law Marie-Claude Cantin : Construction Law / Insurance Law Brittany Carson : Labour and Employment Law André Champagne : Corporate Law / Mergers and Acquisitions Law Chantal Desjardins : Intellectual Property Law Jean-Sébastien Desroches : Corporate Law / Mergers and Acquisitions Law Raymond Doray : Administrative and Public Law / Defamation and Media Law / Privacy and Data Security Law Christian Dumoulin : Mergers and Acquisitions Law Alain Y. Dussault : Intellectual Property Law Isabelle Duval : Family Law Ali El Haskouri : Banking and Finance Law Philippe Frère : Administrative and Public Law Simon Gagné : Labour and Employment Law Nicolas Gagnon : Construction Law Richard Gaudreault : Labour and Employment Law Julie Gauvreau : Biotechnology and Life Sciences Practice / Intellectual Property Law Marc-André Godin : Commercial Leasing Law / Real Estate Law Caroline Harnois : Family Law / Family Law Mediation / Trusts and Estates Marie-Josée Hétu : Labour and Employment Law Édith Jacques : Corporate Law / Energy Law / Natural Resources Law Marie-Hélène Jolicoeur : Labour and Employment Law Isabelle Jomphe : Advertising and Marketing Law / Intellectual Property Law Nicolas Joubert : Labour and Employment Law Guillaume Laberge : Administrative and Public Law Jonathan Lacoste-Jobin : Insurance Law Awatif Lakhdar : Family Law Marc-André Landry : Alternative Dispute Resolution / Class Action Litigation / Construction Law / Corporate and Commercial Litigation / Product Liability Law Éric Lavallée : Technology Law Myriam Lavallée : Labour and Employment Law Guy Lavoie : Labour and Employment Law / Workers' Compensation Law Jean Legault : Banking and Finance Law / Insolvency and Financial Restructuring Law Carl Lessard : Labour and Employment Law / Workers' Compensation Law Josiane L'Heureux : Labour and Employment Law Hugh Mansfield : Intellectual Property Law Zeïneb Mellouli : Labour and Employment Law / Workers' Compensation Law Isabelle P. Mercure : Trusts and Estates / Tax Law Patrick A. Molinari : Health Care Law Luc Pariseau : Tax Law / Trusts and Estates Ariane Pasquier : Labour and Employment Law Hubert Pepin : Labour and Employment Law Martin Pichette : Insurance Law / Professional Malpractice Law / Corporate and Commercial Litigation Élisabeth Pinard : Family Law / Family Law Mediation François Renaud : Banking and Finance Law / Structured Finance Law Marc Rochefort : Securities Law Yves Rocheleau : Corporate Law Judith Rochette : Alternative Dispute Resolution / Insurance Law / Professional Malpractice Law Ian Rose FCIArb : Class Action Litigation / Director and Officer Liability Practice / Insurance Law Ouassim Tadlaoui : Construction Law / Insolvency and Financial Restructuring Law David Tournier : Banking and Finance Law Vincent Towner : Commercial Leasing Law André Vautour : Corporate Governance Practice / Corporate Law / Energy Law / Information Technology Law / Intellectual Property Law / Private Funds Law / Technology Law / Venture Capital Law Bruno Verdon : Corporate and Commercial Litigation Sébastien Vézina : Mergers and Acquisitions Law / Mining Law / Sports Law Yanick Vlasak :  Banking and Finance Law / Corporate and Commercial Litigation / Insolvency and Financial Restructuring Law Jonathan Warin : Insolvency and Financial Restructuring Law   We are pleased to highlight our rising stars, who also distinguished themselves in this directory in the Ones To Watch category: Romeo Aguilar Perez : Labour and Employment Law (Ones To Watch) Anne-Marie Asselin : Labour and Employment Law (Ones To Watch) Rosemarie Bhérer Bouffard : Labour and Employment Law (Ones To Watch) Marc-André Bouchard : Construction Law (Ones To Watch) Céleste Brouillard-Ross : Construction Law / Corporate and Commercial Litigation (Ones To Watch) Karl Chabot : Construction Law / Corporate and Commercial Litigation (Ones To Watch) Justine Chaput : Labour and Employment Law (Ones To Watch) Julien Ducharme : Corporate Law / Mergers and Acquisitions Law (Ones To Watch) James Duffy : Intellectual Property Law (Ones To Watch) Joseph Gualdieri : Mergers and Acquisitions Law (Ones To Watch) Katerina Kostopoulos : Corporate Law (Ones To Watch) Joël Larouche : Corporate and Commercial Litigation (Ones To Watch) Despina Mandilaras : Construction Law / Corporate and Commercial Litigation (Ones To Watch) Jean-François Maurice : Corporate Law (Ones To Watch) Jessica Parent : Labour and Employment Law (Ones To Watch) Audrey Pelletier : Tax Law (Ones To Watch) Alexandre Pinard : Labour and Employment Law (Ones To Watch) Camille Rioux : Labour and Employment Law (Ones To Watch) Sophie Roy : Insurance Law (Ones To Watch) Chantal Saint-Onge : Corporate and Commercial Litigation (Ones To Watch) Bernard Trang : Banking and Finance Law / Project Finance Law (Ones To Watch) Mylène Vallières : Mergers and Acquisitions Law / Securities Law (Ones To Watch) These recognitions are further demonstration of the expertise and quality of legal services that characterize Lavery’s professionals.  

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  9. Lavery involved in the construction of the new Île-aux-Tourtes bridge

    Following a qualification process, the Ministère des Transports et de la Mobilité durable du Québec (MTMD) issued a call for tenders in 2022 for the construction of the new Île-aux-Tourtes bridge pursuant to the project delivery method known as design-build-finance (DBF). Since this was a DBF, the financing of this project had to be included in the proposals made by the selected candidates. Lavery represented the successful consortium made up of Dragados Canada Inc., Roxboro Excavation Inc. and Construction Demathieu & Bard Inc. Our role required expertise in the following areas: (a)   Governance and corporate law  (b)  Project financing (banking and securities)  (c)   Public procurement (d)  Construction law (e)   Commercial agreements (f)    Taxation  Lavery represented the consortium from the call for proposals to the financial close, including the drafting phase leading up to the awarding of the contract to the consortium. The financing was the most complex part of this transaction. Under the hybrid approach retained for that project, a major credit facility to be granted by a bank syndicate had to be set up, as well the private placement of two tranches of bonds. This involved adjusting the rights and obligations of creditors on both sides within a sophisticated intercreditor agreement. The financing also required parent company guarantees, including from French and Spanish corporations, which required us to find common ground to accommodate the typical requirements of a North American financing and the specific corporate and commercial features applicable in France and Spain. To meet this challenge, we put together a multidisciplinary team, divided up the work in accordance with our professionals’ diverse expertises, and dedicated a team member exclusively to interactions with the MTMD, its lawyers and the issuers of performance bonds typical for this kind of projects. Sound project management practices were essential to the success of this team effort. It is a privilege for Lavery to have participated in this essential project allowing the people of Quebec to obtain a new bridge linking the regions of Montérégie and Montréal. The Lavery team was led by Josianne Beaudry, Nicolas Gagnon, Édith Jacques, David Tournier and André Vautour, and included Véronik Bonneville-Pesant, Katerina Kostopoulos, Jean-François Maurice, Joseph Gualdieri, Siddhartha Borissov-Beausoleil, Alexandre Turcotte, Luc Pariseau, Charles Hugo Gagné, Mickaël Pageau, Jean-Vincent Prévost-Bérubé and Yohann Lévy.

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  10. Lavery helps Cultures Gen V become Quebec’s largest greenhouse grower

    On July 4, 2023, Cultures Gen V, one of Quebec’s leading greenhouse growers, announced the acquisition of Serres Royales. The acquisition furthers Cultures Gen V’s business strategy, which aims to improve Quebec’s food self-sufficiency by expanding sustainable greenhouse growing and offering consumers a wider variety of superior quality products. This transaction makes Cultures Gen V the largest diversified greenhouse grower in Quebec, adding 9 hectares of tomatoes to its current acreage, for a total of 36 hectares. Lavery was privileged to represent Cultures Gen V in the transaction. Not only did the firm implement the group’s pre-transaction refinancing, it also negotiated and closed the transaction. The Lavery team was led by Étienne Brassard with the assistance of Gabrielle Ahélo and France Camille De Mers and the collaboration of Béatrice Bull, Pamela Cifola, Éric Gélinas, Jessica Parent, Chantal Desjardins, James Duffy, Valérie Belle-Isle, Sonia Guérin, Joseph Lauzon-Potts, Arielle Supino, Bernard Trang, Katerina Kostopoulos, Charlotte Dangoisse, David Tournier, Ana Cristina Nascimento, Joëlle Montpetit and Nadine Giguère.

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  11. Lavery recruits two partners and expands its expertise in business law and intellectual property

    Lavery is delighted to welcome two new partners, David Tournier and Benoit Yelle, to the Business Law and Intellectual Property groups respectively. They bring cutting-edge expertise in these fast-growing sectors and a practice approach based on technological innovation. David Tournier joins the Business Law group and will focus on corporate financing. His extensive experience in private practice, in particular, bank financing, infrastructure projects, insolvency and private equity, has led him to deal with lenders and borrowers in the context of syndicated and cross-border loans, acquisition and project financings (including PPPs). David has a wide-ranging portfolio, having represented both start-ups and multinationals, as well as investors involved in engineering, green industrial projects and new technology, which is one of his passions. "Lavery has a reputation for excellence in the provincial and national markets. When combined with its independence, this reputation puts it in a good position to serve a wide range of clients in different areas of business law. The lawyers from the firm that I already knew showed me the human side of this great organization, and easily convinced me to join their wonderful team," said David Tournier. His experience in well-known law firms and as a company director will undoubtedly benefit our clients. Benoit Yelle joins the Intellectual Property group. A registered patent agent in Canada and the United States with a background in computer engineering, Benoit has developed an expertise over the years in everything from mechanical inventions to quantum technologies, hand tools, medical devices, network protocols, telecommunications, mobile applications and quantum computing. Within the Lavery network, he will focus his practice on drafting and prosecuting patent and industrial design applications. Thanks to his considerable experience in analyzing the patentability and commercial potential of invention disclosures, Benoît worked as a patent engineer and agent for a multinational telecommunications company. "Lavery's Intellectual Property group needs no introduction. We share a common vision on how best to practice IP. It also seemed to me that Lavery was the most innovative and best-suited platform to leverage current and future changes to the practice of law. I think I found the right place to harness my passion for innovation!" said Benoit Yelle. By becoming a partner and patent agent at Lavery, Benoit will be able to adapt his approach and provide services that help achieve his clients' objectives.

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