This section keeps you up-to-date on the latest news and upcoming public appearances of Lavery professionals.
News
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René Branchaud, a leading lawyer in the 2013 Lexpert/American Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada
Mr. René Branchaud, partner at Lavery, has been recognized as a leading lawyer in mining law in the 2013 edition of the Lexpert®/American Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada. He sits on the board of directors and is corporate secretary of several publicly listed mining companies. He is also listed in The Canadian Legal LEXPERT® Directory 2012 in the field of Mining and the 2013 edition of The Best Lawyers in Canada directory recognizes Mr. Branchaud as one of the best lawyers in Natural Resources Law.
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Jean Saint-Onge recognized as a leading US-Canada cross-border lawyer
Mr. Jean Saint-Onge, Ad. E., partner at Lavery, was named a leading cross-border lawyer in the area of class actions in the 2012 edition of the directory Lexpert Guide to the Leading US/Canada Cross-border Litigation Lawyers in Canada. Mr. Saint-Onge has been involved in numerous precedent-setting cases and has represented major corporations in multijurisdictional and cross border class actions, more particularly in the areas of competition law and consumer law. He is listed among the leading practitioners in the fields of Class Actions-Litigation, Commercial Insurance-Litigation and Product Liability in The Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory 2012. He has also been named Lawyer of the Year for 2013 by The Best Lawyers in Canada in the field of Class Action Litigation in Montreal.
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Lavery recognized by Lexpert magazine in one of the Top 10 Corporate Deals of 2012
Lavery was recognized as a significant player in one of the Top 10 Canadian Corporate Deals, being the acquisition of Canmarc Real Estate Investment Trust by Cominar Real Estate Investment Trust in an amount of $838.2 million, as reported in the January 2013 issue of Lexpert magazine. In this transaction, a team of Lavery composed of Marc Rochefort, Michel Servant, Guillaume Lavoie and Geneviève Fournier (corporate and securities), and Philip Nolan (tax) represented the syndicate of underwriters led by National Bank Financial Inc. and BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc. in connection with equity financings of Cominar totalling nearly $350 million. For more information on the transaction, click here to consult pages 40 and 42 of Lexpert.
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Jean Martel, member of the Investment Industry Association of Canada Hall of Fame Selection Committee
Mr. Jean Martel, Ad. E., partner at Lavery’s Montreal office, was appointed by the Investment Industry Association of Canada (IIAC) to sit on its Hall of Fame Selection Committee. The committee’s mandate will namely consist of selecting individuals who have played a key role in the development of the Canadian securities sector. Jean Martel is a member of several boards of directors, including TMX Group Inc. and the Business Development Bank of Canada. From 1995 to 1999, he acted as Chairman and CEO of the Quebec Securities Commission which became the Autorité des marchés financiers in 2004.In addition to Jean Martel, the IIAC Hall of Fame Selection Committee brings together influential Canadians: Gary Filmon, Consultant, The Exchange Group, and former Premier of Manitoba, Winnipeg Margaret Franklin, President and CEO, Kinsale Private Wealth Inc., Toronto J. Colin Dodds, President, Saint Mary’s University, Halifax Lois Mitchell, Senior Partner, Rainmaker Global Business Development, Calgary Chris Collingwood, President and CEO, Baine Johnston Corp., St. John’s James C. Baillie, Senior Counsel, Torys, Toronto
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Lavery represents Black Diamond in the acquisition of White Birch Paper Company in Quebec
On September 18, 2012, Black Diamond Capital Management, L.L.C. and BD White Birch Investment LLC announced the acquisition of the assets of White Birch Paper Company, the second largest newsprint manufacturer in North America. This transaction represents an important milestone in the restructuring process of the business commenced more than two years ago and will ensure the long-term viability of the new company. Black Diamond, a US-based independently owned alternative investment firm, was represented in Quebec by a multidisciplinary team from Lavery, which included Jean-Yves Simard and Jonathan Warin (restructuring and insolvency), Catherine Maheu, Josée Dumoulin and François Parent (labour and employment; pension and benefits), Dominique Bélisle, Brigitte Gauthier, Chantal Joubert and Étienne Guertin (financing and real estate law), Jean-Sébastien Desroches, Guillaume Lavoie, Ariana Lisio and Maxime Bergeron (business transactions, mergers and acquisitions), Yvan Biron and Sophie Prégent (environment) as well as Philippe Asselin and Audrey Gibeault (tax law). The Lavery team demonstrated its expertise and worked closely with colleagues at Goodmans (Toronto) and Skadden (Chicago), both counsel to Black Diamond.
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Carl Lessard discusses the National Hockey League labour conflict on TVA Sports
Mr. Carl Lessard, a partner at Lavery in labour and employment law, appeared yesterday night on the TV Show Le Premier Trio, produced by TVA Sports network, to discuss the recent judicial proceedings initiated by the National Hockey League (NHL) and the National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA) with respect to the labour conflict, which has been raging for several months. An expert in labour relations, Carl Lessard dealt with various issues related to this conflict, including the revocation of certification, the judicial precedents in that regard in the United States and the risks that such proceedings could have on the outcome of negotiations.The comments of Carl Lessard can be read and viewed by clicking here (in French).
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Lavery ranks very well in the latest Financial Post League Tables
During the third quarter 2012, Lavery distinguished itself as Canadian legal counsel to underwriters in connection with various transactions. According to the figures published in the Legal Post column of the daily Financial Post, Lavery ranked 9th among all Canadian law firms for debt and equity offerings, 10th for equity offerings and 8th for debt offerings.It is worth mentioning that Lavery finished ahead of several national leading firms, which shows the strength of our transaction activity. In 2012, Lavery was ranked Quebec’s number one regional law firm by Canadian Lawyer magazine.
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Lavery Announces the Appointment of André Vautour as Chairman of the Board of Directors
Lavery is pleased to announce the appointment of André Vautour as Chairman of the Board of Directors. He succeeds Richard Dolan who acted as Chairman for the last three years. "I am very honoured by this vote of confidence from the firm’s partners and determined to support our new Managing Partner, Donald McCarty, who will assume his duties in January, and promote Lavery’s continued development and the reinforcement of our business law branding, all of which will benefit of our clients for years to come", stated André Vautour. As Chairman of the Board of Directors, André Vautour will ensure along with the Managing Partner proper carriage of all of the firm’s major files, and take part in the preparation and elaboration of the firm’s strategic development plan as well as oversee its implementation. André Vautour will continue practising in the areas of corporate and commercial law with a focus on strategic alliances, joint ventures, investment funds, mergers and acquisitions of private corporations, and technology law. In addition, on October 31, 2012, he was appointed Denmark’s Honorary Consul for the province of Quebec. André Vautour joined Lavery’s Business Law Group in October 2007. Prior to that, as representative of the firm Desjardins Ducharme, where he was Managing Partner, he headed the committee responsible for the agreement that enabled the Montreal office of Lavery to welcome 34 lawyers from Desjardins Ducharme in business law, commercial litigation and insolvency. During the negotiations between the two firms, André Vautour developed a close professional relationship with Richard Dolan, who was then Managing Partner, which largely contributed to the success of this integration. Lavery’s Board of Directors wishes to thank Richard Dolan for his commitment, dedication and exceptional contribution to the growth of the firm and its successful positioning, first as Managing Partner for 10 years and then as Chairman of the Board of Directors since January 2010. André Vautour is recognized in the 2013 edition of the directory The Best Lawyers in Canada in the fields of Information Technology Law and Technology Law. He has also been named "Best Lawyers’ 2013 Lawyers of the Year in Montreal" by Best Lawyers in the field of Technology Law in Montreal. In addition, he is listed in The Canadian Legal LEXPERT® Directory 2012 in the fields of Technology Transactions.
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Daniel Bouchard new Managing Partner of the Quebec City Office
Lavery is pleased to announce the appointment of Daniel Bouchard as the new Managing Partner of the firm’s Quebec City office. Mr. Bouchard succeeds Louis Rochette who has acted as Managing Partner of our Quebec City office since 2004. "This is an excellent nomination for our Quebec City office", said Élise Poisson, Managing Partner of the firm. "In the last eight years, Louis Rochette has strongly contributed to the continued expansion and influence of the Quebec City office. Daniel Bouchard will enable us to build on this momentum and consolidate Lavery’s position in the legal services market." Member of the Quebec Bar since 1991, Daniel Bouchard practises mainly in the fields of municipal, environmental and administrative law. In addition, he has developed special expertise in the areas of land use planning and development, agricultural zoning, environment, municipal liability and municipal management. He regularly acts as barrister and solicitor for numerous municipalities, energy businesses, and municipal and other government bodies as well as for individuals dealing with public authorities. A renowned speaker and trainer, he has published many articles in various law reviews and other specialized publications. "I am very honoured by this nomination and I intend to reinforce our presence not only in the Capital Region but also elsewhere in Quebec", said Daniel Bouchard. "We have an excellent team and by putting together our respective strengths, Lavery will continue to provide our clients with exceptional service."
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Eugène Czolij recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal
Lavery is pleased to announce that Eugene Czolij, partner at our firm, was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal on November 30, 2012 during a special awards presentation ceremony, which was organized by the Ukrainian Canadian Congress.The Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal was created to mark the 60th anniversary of the Queen’s accession to the throne in 1952. This distinction recognizes the significant contributions and accomplishments of Canadian citizens to a particular province or community.Lavery is proud to salute the unrelenting commitment of Mr. Czolij in the Ukrainian community, in Montreal, throughout Canada and around the world.Since 2008, Mr. Czolij is the President of the Ukrainian World Congress, an international coordinating body for Ukrainian communities in the diaspora representing the interests of over 20 million Ukrainians. The Ukrainian World Congress has member organizations in 33 countries and ties with Ukrainians in 14 additional countries.
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Lavery represents the syndicate of agents in the re-opening of Cominar real estate investment trust’s 4.274% series 1 senior unsecured debentures in the principal amount of $125 million
On September 14, 2012, Cominar Real Estate Investment Trust completed the re opening of its 4.274% Series 1 senior unsecured debentures due June 15, 2017 in the principal amount of $125 million, for total net proceeds to Cominar of approximately $125,6 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., CIBC World Markets Inc., Scotia Capital Inc., RBC Dominion Securities 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 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.