This section keeps you up-to-date on the latest news and upcoming public appearances of Lavery professionals.
News
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Pierre Marc Johnson receives the AAC’s 2017 Christian-Van-Houtte Award
On October 12, Pierre Marc Johnson, counsel and lead negotiator for the Government of Quebec for the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), received the 2017 Christian-Van-Houtte Award from the Aluminium Association of Canada at its annual meeting. The award highlights Mr. Johnson’s outstanding contribution to the signing of the CETA between Canada and the European Union and recognizes his efforts in mobilizing exporters here at home to ensure that they are able to benefit from the full potential of the CETA. Pierre Marc Johnson and Gervais Jacques, chariman of the board, AAC, managing director, atlantic operations, Aluminium Rio Tinto.
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Frédéric Bélanger and Benjamin Poirier speak on recent developments in insurance law
On October 27, Frédéric Bélanger and Benjamin Poirier, lawyers in the Litigation and Dispute Resolution group, spoke at an educational event on the topic of recent developments in insurance law organized by the Barreau du Québec and held at the InterContinental Hotel in Montreal. Their presentation, entitled La recherche de la vérité a ses limites [there are limits to the search for truth], addressed the principles of confidentiality in an effort to find a balance between the search for truth and the integrity of the justice system. It also attempted to identify the sometimes elusive structure of the legal framework that governs the privileges of confidentiality for insurance litigation practitioners, as those privileges have evolved in recent decisions. Their presentation was prepared with the close collaboration of Bernard Trang, a student in the Montreal office. They also addressed this topic in Développements récents en droit des assurances 2017, published by the continuing education service of the Barreau du Québec.
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Lavery welcomes Marie-Lou Beaumont, a new lawyer in the Business Law group
Lavery is pleased to announce that a new lawyer, Marie-Lou Beaumont, has joined the Business Law group. Marie-Lou was admitted to the bar in 2013 and has focused her practice on real estate law in the Quebec City region. One of the fields that Ms. Beaumont has been particularly active in is energy. She has worked on a number of wind projects, by examining property titles, drafting documents, and determining the legislative characterization of the work done when wind parks are created. She has also represented clients in a number of major cases involving the interpretation of affiliation agreements, corporate finance, and the sale of woodlots. Anik Trudel, Lavery’s Chief Executive Officer, said: “The strength of Marie-Lou’s profile and the qualities she has demonstrated are in part the result of her seven years working as a paralegal, from which she gained unique expertise in real estate law. Having Marie-Lou join us will consolidate the real estate services we offer.”
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Chloé Fauchon and Charlotte Fortin comment on the Act to amend the Environment Quality Act
In an article published by Éditions Yvon Blais in La Référence, Chloé Fauchon and Charlotte Fortin, lawyers of the Public and Administrative Law group, analyze and comment on the main amendments to the Environment Quality Act under the Act to amend the Environment Quality Act to modernize the environmental authorization scheme and to amend other legislative provisions, in particular to reform the governance of the Green Fund (Bill 102). Click here to consult the article (in french only).
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Lavery holds its annual conference on recent developments in property & casualty (damage) insurance
On October 25, in conjunction with Déry Barrette, a claims adjustment firm, Lavery held its annual conference on recent developments in damage insurance at the Delta Sherbrooke Hotel. Frédérick Breton and Jonathan Lacoste-Jobin, respectively a lawyer and a partner in the Litigation and Conflict Resolution Group, summarized significant decisions handed down over the past year in property and casualty insurance.
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Maude St-Georges facilitated Éducaloi workshops on the law and the judicial system
On October 11 and 12, 2017, Maude St-Georges, a lawyer in the Litigation and Conflict Resolution Group facilitated Éducaloi workshops held in the Secondary IV classes at the comprehensive high school of Polyvalente La Samare. Entitled Choisis ton camp! (Choose Your Side!), these workshops were meant to introduce young people to the law and to deconstruct certain persistent myths and preconceived notions about the law and the judicial system. Éducaloi affords high schools the opportunity of hosting a legal professional free of charge as part of introductory workshops on justice.
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Lavery represents Bestar inc. in a transaction with Novacap
On July 20, 2017, Novacap, a Canadian leader in private equity, has acquired an important stake in Bestar Inc. (“Bestar“), a leading designer and manufacturer of ready-to-assemble home and office furniture primarily sold online in Canada and the United States. Bestar Inc. was represented by a team at Lavery including Hubert Pépin (Mergers and acquisitions), Isabelle Mercure (Mergers and acquisitions) and Marilyn Paré (Mergers and acquisitions), Éric Lavallée (Intellectual property), Dave Bouchard (Labour and Employment) and Mylène Boisvert (Financing).
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Maude Lafortune-Bélair speaks at the 3rd edition of the Éditions Yvon Blais conference on insurance law
Maude Lafortune-Bélair, a lawyer of the Litigation and Conflict Resolution group, spoke during the 3rd edition of the conference on insurance law organized by Éditions Yvon Blais, held at the Intercontinental Hotel in Montréal on October 18. Entitled L’exclusion pour actes criminels, her presentation addressed the specific elements to include when drafting and enforcing an exclusion clause for criminal acts. Me Lafortune-Bélair also discussed parallels that could be drawn between similar exclusions, such as those regarding intentional fault.
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Patrick A. Molinari elected president of the CIAJ
On October 12, Patrick A. Molinari, counsel to the Health Law group, was elected president of the Canadian Institute for the Administration of Justice (CIAJ) for a two-year term. Founded in 1974, the mission of the CIAJ is to promote excellence and leadership in the administration of justice by fostering the acquisition of knowledge, training and the exchange of ideas. The CIAJ has over 1300 members from the judiciary, provincial law societies and professions or organizations involved in the administration of justice in Canada. Each year it offers seminars, conferences and training programs to a varied audience. Click here for more information on the CIAJ.
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Chloé Fauchon hosts Projection Libre on MATV for the second consecutive year
This fall, Chloé Fauchon, a lawyer of the Public and Administrative Law group, is hosting Projection Libre for the second year. The show is broadcast on MATV. Projection libre presents all kinds of short films (fiction, documentary, etc.) produced by Quebec filmmakers. Chloé Fauchon and her guests discuss different themes, which vary from show to show. Most of the works presented are produced by members of Spira, an artists’ cooperative dedicated to independent cinema.
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Guillaume Lavoie to participate in a McGill-HEC EMBA panel on mergers and acquisitions
On October 30, Guillaume Lavoie, a partner and head of the Mergers & Acquisitions and Lavery CAPITAL groups, is participating in a panel on mergers and acquisitions organized by the McGill-HEC Montréal EMBA, to be held at HEC Montréal. Entitled The before and after of mergers & acquisitions, the panel will address the various issues and challenges involved in mergers and acquisitions faced by different industries and types of organizations to encourage thought, questions and discussion about the topic using examples drawn from the panelists personal experiences. Moderated by Louis Hébert, strategy professor at HEC Montréal, mergers and acquisitions expert and co-director of the EMBA McGill-HEC Montréal, the panel will also include: Rémi Fournier, Vice President, Sales and Engineering, Fibrenoire Rita-Rose Gagné, President, Growth Markets, Ivanhoé Cambridge Pascal Lépine, President and Founder, ATYPIC Click here to register.
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Karine Joizil moderates a panel at the Conference on Canadian Stewardship
On September 27, Karine Joizil, a partner of the Litigation and Conflict Resolution group, moderated a panel of business people during the Conference on Canadian Stewardship, held at the Sheraton Centre in Montréal. The purpose of the panel was to take an objective look at the state of extended producer responsibility (EPR) and the circular economy in Canada.