This section keeps you up-to-date on the latest news and upcoming public appearances of Lavery professionals.
News
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Brian C. Elkin publishes an article in the American magazine For The Defense
Brian C. Elkin, partner at Lavery, is the author of an article entitled "Bound by Provisions – Choice of Forum in Common Law Canada", which was published in the May 2012 issue of For The Defense, a monthly publication of the Defense Research Institute, a U.S.-based organization of civil defence lawyers with an international membership.In this article, the author draws attention to recent court decisions in the common law provinces of Canada, which reflect an important trend that risk managers and lawyers advising clients, who are involved in cross-border transactions, should be aware of.Click here to read this article.
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Jocelyne Gagné appointed Judge of the Federal Court
Lavery is very pleased with the appointment of Jocelyne Gagné, partner of our firm, as a Judge of the Federal Court, as of June 1, 2012.With more than 20 years of legal experience, Jocelyne Gagné has focused her practice on civil and commercial litigation where, as a litigator, she represented clients before all levels of court in Quebec.A renowned speaker and an executive member of the Canadian Bar Association since 2007, the year that she joined Lavery, Jocelyne Gagné has successfully managed important files in various practice areas, including the liability of banks, construction law and real estate law.At Lavery, we know that Jocelyne Gagné will take up this new professional challenge with the same level of competence and dynamism she has always demonstrated.
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An economic South-North Mission in the Plan Nord Territory
Lavery, in collaboration with PriceWaterhouseCoopers, Québec Manufacturers and Exporters, Investissement-Québec, and AGC Communications, is organizing a South-North economic mission within the Plan Nord territory. From June 17 to 19, we will guide the executives of companies and organizations that would like to take advantage of the new business opportunities that Plan Nord will generate. The program includes guided tours of mining development facilities owned by Xstrata in Matagami, Arcelor Mittal in Mont-Wright, and Rio Tinto/IOC in Labrador City, meetings with the executives of these companies, and business meetings with the mayors, economic development agents, major work providers, local entrepreneurs, and Aboriginal communities living on the territory. Companies and organizations that take part in this mission will have the opportunity to find out about the business potential and identify South-North business opportunities, foster and develop a South-North business network, create new business alliances and partnerships, and gain a better understanding of the needs and operations of the major work providers within the mining industry. Several companies and organizations have already confirmed their participation. You can contact René Branchaud at rbranchaud@lavery.ca or 514 877-3040 for more information. You can register online, on the website of Manufacturers and Exporters or by phone at 514 866-7774. Consult the Mission Guide (français seulement)
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Appointment of Michel Yergeau as Judge of the Superior Court of Québec
Lavery is very pleased to announce the appointment of Michel Yergeau, partner of our firm, as a Judge of the Superior Court of Québec, as of June 1, 2012.During his 26 years at Lavery, Michel Yergeau distinguished himself by his administrative skills and his legal expertise. For a total of 13 years, he held the strategic position of Chairman of the firm’s Board of Directors and he set up our group in Environmental Law.A renowned jurist, Michel Yergeau made his mark in various practice areas, mainly environmental law, Aboriginal law, civil law and administrative law. He is also a Fellow of the prestigious American College of Trial Lawyers.At Lavery, we know that Michel Yergeau will fulfill his new responsibilities with the same level of competence, integrity, impartiality and discipline he has always demonstrated.
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A third term for Frédéric Pagé on the Board of Directors of the Young Bar Association of Montreal (YBAM)
During its Annual General Meeting, held in Montreal on May 18, the YBAM announced the election results for various positions. Frédéric Pagé, a lawyer at Lavery, was elected for a third term as administrator on the YBAM Board of Directors for year 2012-2013. Founded in 1898, the YBAM represents lawyers with 10 years or less of practice, registered in the Montreal area. The mission of the YBAM is to defend and promote its members’ interests. It also offers various segments of the population consulting and legal information on a volunteer basis, besides organizing charitable activities. Overall, the YBAM seeks to improve access to justice and to contribute to the well-being of the community.
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René Branchaud quoted in an article published in La Presse about the Plan Nord
Mr. René Branchaud, partner at Lavery and an expert in mining law, is quoted in an article published in La Presse newspaper on May 3 and entitled "Les fusions venues du froid". Mr. Branchaud points out that the Plan Nord generates significant interest with mining industry suppliers (ex.: equipment, technology, services, etc.) and Asian corporations, particularly from China. According to him, this interest could lead to an increase in mergers and acquisitions within the scope of the Plan Nord.Click here to read this article (in French only).
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20 Lavery Partners Ranked in the 2012 Edition of the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory
Lavery is pleased to announce that 20 partners of the firm are ranked among the most recommended lawyers in Canada in their respective practice areas in the 2012 edition of Thomson Carswell’s Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory. The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory is the most comprehensive publication to legal talent in the country. It is a reference guide for Canadian and U.S. corporate counsel and law firms in need of specialized legal services. The 2012 edition of the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory identifies the best lawyers in 64 practice areas based on the results of a thorough annual peer-review survey completed by more than a thousand respected legal professionals and a wide range of well-informed clients. Lavery lawyers are recommended in a vast array of fields, including banking, asset finance, mining law, environmental law, mergers and acquisitions, employment law and labour relations, class actions, construction law, medical negligence, family law, and commercial insurance litigation. "In the 2011 edition of this legal directory, 15 Lavery partners were recognized as opposed to 20 partners in 2012. This significant increase reflects our lawyers’ quality and diversity of expertise. I congratulate our 20 colleagues for this recognition and for their continued commitment to serving the legitimate needs of our clients", said Élise Poisson, Lavery’s Managing Partner. The following Lavery partners are listed in the 2012 edition of the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory : Marie-Claude Armstrong* – Family Law Pierre L. Baribeau - Employment Law and Labour Relations Michel Blouin - Mining René Branchaud – Mining Louise Cérat - Litigation – Commercial Insurance Gérard Coulombe*, Q.C. – Corporate Commercial Law, Mergers & Acquisitions Pierre Denis - Asset Equipment Finance/Leasing Nicolas Gagnon - Construction Law Jean Hébert - Litigation – Commercial Insurance Jean-François Hotte – Labour Relations Odette Jobin-Laberge, Ad. E. - Litigation – Commercial Insurance Guy Lemay* – Class Actions Jean-François Lepage* – Medical Negligence Robert W. Mason - Litigation – Commercial Insurance Louis Payette, Ad. E. - Banking & Financial Institutions Jacques Perron* – Transportation (Road & Rail) Ian Rose* – Litigation – Directors’ & Officers’ Liability Jean Saint-Onge, Ad. E. - Class Actions; Litigation – Commercial Insurance; Litigation - Product Liability André Vautour - Technology Transactions Michel Yergeau, Ad. E. - Environmental Law *New postingFor more information, please visit Lexpert’s website at: www.lexpert.ca/directory.
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Michel Blouin and René Branchaud recognized for their expertise in corporate law
The June 2012 issue of the Globe and Mail’s Report on Business, published on May 25, includes an insert entitled 2012 Lexpert/Report on Business Special Edition – Corporate (ROB Corporate) in which Michel Blouin and René Branchaud, both Lavery partners, are recognized as leading corporate law practitioners in Canada. To read this insert, please click here.
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Sébastien Vézina nominated Corporate Secretary of GeoMegA Resources
Sébastien Vézina, a Lavery Partner, has been made Corporate Secretary of GeoMegA Resources, a Quebec-based mineral exploration company that focuses on finding economically viable deposits of minor metals in Québec. This nomination takes place in the context of management changes that, as Patrick Godin, Chairman of the Board of the company said, "aim to keep the momentum gained in developing the Montviel deposit while strengthening investor relations and Montviel’s position in the Plan Nord."
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Study by the Board of Trade of Metropoiltan Montreal: “Natural Resources: Leverage for the City’s Growth”
On April 18, 2012, the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal released the results of its study entitled “Natural Resources: Leverage for the City’s Growth.” The study aims to measure the weight and importance of the natural resources sector in the metropolitan Montreal area economy and to consider, in particular, the direct and indirect jobs that depend on it, the foreign investments that can be ascribed to it, and the expenditures that are made in the area by the firms involved in it. The study also considers the question of the Plan Nord and of the potential spinoffs of the Plan’s investments for metropolitan area companies. This part of the study identifies, in particular, business opportunities associated with the planned public infrastructure projects and with the anticipated private investments. Finally, the reader will find a series of lines of thinking addressed to public decision-makers and other actors concerned with the success of the natural resources sector, in order to maximize the positive spinoffs of this ambitious plan for Québec and its metropolitan area.The highlights of the study include: In terms of total investment and operating expenditures, natural resources will generate estimated spin-offs of $51.8 billion in the Montréal metropolitan area over the next 25 years. The exploitation of natural resources and the implementation of the Plan Nord will create or maintain around 14,335 jobs in the city per year, for 25 years. To maximize the economic spin-offs of the exploitation of natural resources in the metropolitan area, the actors concerned will have to implement concrete strategies with four major goals in mind: Put in place a business environment conducive to the development of natural resources; Propose and strengthen training programs to allow development of a sufficient number of specialized human resources; Maximize linkage in the value chain, both upstream and downstream; Highlight the distinctive qualities of our resources and enhance their value in the marketplace.
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Evelyne Verrier gives a presentation on legal updates in life and disability insurance at the 2012 CLHIA Conference
Last May 3, Evelyne Verrier, a Lavery partner, gave a presentation during a workshop on case law highlights in life and disability insurance over the past year, at the 2012 Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association’s Claims Section Annual Conference.The workshop dealt mainly with the following topics: misrepresentation, burden of proof, designation of beneficiaries, duty to inform and duty to advise, contract interpretation, action in damages, and definition of disability. Ms. Verrier frequently appears before the courts in disputes concerning life and disability insurance, and damage insurance. She also has expertise in the distribution of financial products and services.
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Guillaume Lavoie will give a training organised by the Fondation du maire, next June 14
Guillaume Lavoie, a lawyer with Lavery, will be giving the members of the Fondation du maire a one-day training on shareholders’ agreements and the potential issues arising from the rights and powers provided to the shareholders of a start-up company and the adoption of the rules regarding the management of such company, next June 14. The non-profit organization supports young Montréal companies through grants and various services like this free training seminar. Mr. Lavoie evaluates applications submitted to obtain a grant from the foundation and carries out various coaching activities for the foundation’s training program in order to help business members of the foundation who are seeking expertise and advice in business law.