News and Updates | Lavery Lawyers

March 17, 2026

42 partners from Lavery ranked in the 2026 edition of The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory

Lavery is proud to announce that 42 partners are ranked among the leading practitioners in Canada in their respective practice areas in the 2026 edition of The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory. The following Lavery partners are listed in the 2026 edition of The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory: Asset Securitization Brigitte M. Gauthier Banking Étienne Brassard Class Actions Laurence Bich-Carrière Myriam Brixi Marie-Nancy Paquet Construction Law Laurence Bich-Carrière Nicolas Gagnon Marc-André Landry Ouassim Tadlaoui Corporate Commercial Law Étienne Brassard Jean-Sébastien Desroches Christian Dumoulin Alexandre Hébert Édith Jacques Paul Martel André Vautour Corporate Finance & Securities Josianne Beaudry René Branchaud Corporate Mid-Market Étienne Brassard Jean-Sébastien Desroches Alexandre Hébert Édith Jacques André Vautour Employment Law Benoit Brouillette Frédéric Desmarais Simon Gagné Richard Gaudreault Marie-Josée Hétu Guy Lavoie Josiane L’Heureux Zeïneb Mellouli Environment Valérie Belle-Isle Family Law Caroline Harnois Awatif Lakhdar Elisabeth Pinard Infrastructure Law Nicolas Gagnon Insolvency & Financial Restructuring Yanick Vlasak Insolvency Litigation Jean Legault Ouassim Tadlaoui Yanick Vlasak Jonathan Warin Intellectual Property Chantal Desjardins Alain Y. Dussault Isabelle Jomphe Eric Lavallée Labour (Management) Benoit Brouillette Brittany Carson Simon Gagné Richard Gaudreault Marie-Josée Hétu Marie-Hélène Jolicoeur Guy Lavoie Carl Lessard Zeïneb Mellouli Litigation - Commercial Insurance Dominic Boisvert Martin Pichette Litigation - Corporate Commercial Laurence Bich-Carrière Marc-André Landry Litigation - Product Liability Laurence Bich-Carrière Myriam Brixi Medical Negligence Anne Bélanger Mergers & Acquisitions Josianne Beaudry Étienne Brassard Jean-Sébastien Desroches Christian Dumoulin Alexandre Hébert Édith Jacques Mining Josianne Beaudry René Branchaud Occupational Health & Safety Josiane L'Heureux Professional Liability Marie-Nancy Paquet Judith Rochette Technology André Vautour Workers' Compensation Marie-Josée Hétu Josiane L'Heureux Guy Lavoie Carl Lessard

Managing absenteeism in the post-Law No. 68 era

Lavery welcomes a new partner to its Labor and Employment Law group

Lavery is pleased to announce the arrival of Frédéric Desmarais, who joins our firm as a partner in the Labor and Employment Law Group in Montreal. Frédéric has expertise in strategic consulting for employers at the provincial and federal levels. His extensive experience includes representation before various bodies, including administrative tribunals, common law courts, the Quebec Court of Appeal, and grievance arbitrators. A prolific author and lecturer, Frédéric wrote “Le Contrat de travail (Art. 2085 à 2097 C.c.Q.)” (The Employment Contract (Art. 2085 to 2097 C.C.Q.)), published by Éditions Yvon Blais. This reference work has been cited numerous times by Quebec courts, including the Quebec Court of Appeal. In addition to his professional activities, Frédéric has contributed to the academic community by teaching labor and employment law at the Quebec Bar School. He is also a member of the Disciplinary Council of the Quebec Bar. "The important and recognized role of the labor and employment law group within the firm's growth strategy and the organization's strategic vision for the future were decisive factors in my decision to pursue my career within this firm, whose reputation is well established. The values of this firm on a human scale and its growth strategy are perfectly aligned with my profile as a labor and employment law professional, heralding a long-lasting relationship that will certainly be crowned with success." Frédéric Desmarais' arrival strengthens Lavery's ability to offer first-rate legal advice and demonstrates our ongoing commitment to excellence in the field of labor and employment law.