This section keeps you up-to-date on the latest news and upcoming public appearances of Lavery professionals.
News
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Lavery hosts a conference on entrepreneurship in South Korea
On May 20, 2015, Lavery hosted a breakfast-conference on the subject of entrepreneurship in South Korea, organized by the Quebec-Asia Law & Business Association (QALBA) and presented by Mr. Michael Lee, founding member of G20 YEA (Young Entrepreneurs’ Alliance) and YES Korea (Young Entrepreneurs’ Society of Korea), and CEO of CreBiz Factory, a consulting firm. This conference, designed to be an introduction to the business culture and strategic areas of economic development in South Korea, was presented to 15 young entrepreneurs and professionals. Mr. Jin Hur, Consul General and Ambassador of the Republic of Korea, also attended the conference. QALBA is a forum for young professionals and entrepreneurs wanting to strengthen economic ties between Quebec and Asia and is presided by Guillaume Synnott, lawyer in Lavery’s Business Law Group.
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Benjamin D. Gross and Sébastien Vézina represent IBMG L.P.
Benjamin David Gross and Sébastien Vézina, partners at Lavery, counseled IBMG L.P. (International Basketball Marketing Group), and its unit holders and all-star leadership team, from the inception of the business idea, to the start-up process and its recent culmination in the signature of a promotions and services agreement with Maccabi Tel Aviv (2014 Euroleague Champions) and Olimpia Milano (2014 Italian League champions), in respect of their much anticipated, and first ever, professional foreign champions basketball games scheduled on American soil at United Center in Chicago (October 1, 2015) and Madison Square Garden in New York (October 4, 2015).
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Lavery’s Pierre Marc Johnson delivers an address at Public Relations Without Borders fundraiser
On May 14, 2015, Me Pierre Marc Johnson, of counsel at Lavery and Quebec’s Chief Negotiator for the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement between Canada and the European Union, delivered an address at the Mount Royal Centre as part of a special breakfast conference titled “The Challenges of Quebec and Canada in Europe, Africa and Asia”. Three hundred participants gathered in support of Public Relations Without Borders, whose mission is to help its partner organizations that work with populations facing development challenges by reinforcing their ability to use public relations to leverage social and economic progress.
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Victory for Lavery’s client, the Chambre de la sécurité financière, before the Superior Court
In a decision rendered on May 4, 2015 (2015 QCCS 1890), the Superior Court of Quebec confirmed the prerogative of the syndic of the Chambre de la sécurité financière (CSF), in demanding and obtaining the information it deems necessary in order to investigate the activities of Mutual Fund Dealer Representatives (MFDR) registered with a bank’s brokerage subsidiary. Mr. Raymond Doray, Ad. E., and Mr. Loïc Berdnikoff, Administrative Law partners at Lavery, argued the case for the CSF. According to justice Louis Lacoursière, the Act respecting the Distribution of Financial Products and Services (ADFPS) allows the CSF’s syndic to obtain documents and information from anyone in the course of an investigation, without regard to the fact that this person is a bank whose employees work part-time as MFDR. That applies, all the more so, when the bank, not its brokerage subsidiary, is in sole possession of the documents and information. Furthermore, the Court found that when circumstances where the integrity, honor and dignity of the bank’s MFDR are concerned, the syndic has the right to have produced confidential documents and information, even if they’re related to core banking activities, as opposed to activities regarding collective investment. The CSF’s role of protecting the public requires, according to the tribunal, a flexible interpretation of the syndic’s powers under the ADFPS. This represents an important victory for the self-regulation of an industry which has many important Lavery clients.
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Magali Cournoyer-Proulx, coauthor of the Code des professions annoté 2015
Ms. Magali Cournoyer-Proulx, a Labour Law partner and member of the Health Law team at Lavery, joined judges Guy Cournoyer and Erik Vanchestein, as well as Ms. Myriam Corbeil as coauthor of the third edition of the Code des professions annoté 2015, published in April 30, 2015 by Éditions Yvon Blais. This edition, which already includes close to a thousand important decisions, has been updated with over 500 new essential and relevant decision summaries, as well as new doctrine relating to professional matters. To order a copy, click here (in French only).
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Marie-Josée Hétu and Myriam Lavallée give a conference to Drummondville’s HR Network
On May 6, 2015, Ms. Marie-Josée Hétu and Ms. Myriam Lavallée, respectively Labour and Employment Law partner and lawyer, gave a conference on the recent developments in this field of practice to members of Drummondville’s HR Network. Over 40 human resources managers attended this breakfast-meeting which showcased this year’s important decisions in labour and employment law. This activity has been held in Drummondville for the past few years and is always greatly appreciated by the participants.The speakers have in fact been asked to come back next year.
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Members of the Lavery GO inc. Committee participate in the 48h Entrepreneurs event
Numerous Committee members of the Lavery GO inc. Program took part on May 1st and 2, 2015 in the 48h Entrepreneurs, an initiative of the Jeune Chambre de commerce de Montréal and the Regroupement des Jeunes Chambres de commerce du Québec whose program is entirely dedicated to Quebec entrepreneurship. On May 1st, Lavery held a stand throughout the day at the Salon des entrepreneurs of the Palais des congrès de Montréal, where they presented the Lavery GO inc. Program to the many participants of the 48h Entrepreneurs. Four teams comprised of Committee members of the Lavery GO inc. Program held the fort in rotation: Guillaume Synnott and Judith Houle-Couture, Étienne Brassard, Raphaël Bacal and Élodie Brunet, Ariane Lauzière and Anne-Sophie Lamonde as well as Jean-Philippe Latreille and Rhonda Grintuch. On May 2, Mr. Brassard, a Business Law partner and Coordinator of the Lavery GO inc. Program, took part in the Startup Next Demo Night, which was held at La Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec in Montreal. On this occasion, four tech startups presented their businesses to a panel of four judges comprised of Mr. Brassard, Ty Denco (Director, Techstars), Maryse Gingras (Director, Futurpreneur Canada), Alexandre Guertin (Investment Associate, Teralys Capital) and Simon Lapointe (Audit Director, Richter). Following the judges’ deliberations, the startup MakerBloks was crowned winner of the competition. During the day, Mr. Latreille, Business Law lawyer, was co-responsible for the Relève d’affaires course during which were discussed issues relating to the transfer, the change of ownership and the start of a business. From left to right : Maryse Gingras (Director, Futurpreneur Canada), Étienne Brassard (Partner, Lavery), Simon Lapointe (Audit Director, Richter), Alexandre Guertin (Investment Associate, Teralys Capital) and Ty Denco (Director, Techstars)
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Benjamin David Gross, discussion leader and speaker at ELFA’s Legal Forum 2015
On May 3, 2015, Benjamin David Gross, a Business Law partner at Lavery, acted as discussion leader and speaker during a roundtable entitled “How U.S. Lawyers view Canada” which took place at the Legal Forum 2015 in Nashville, Tennessee. Organized by the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association (ELFA), this forum gathered over 250 attorneys specialized in the field, each benefitting from interactive updates on legal issues impacting their practice or businesses, as well as providing them with networking opportunities. Conferences were given on key issues in the leasing industry: motor vehicles; syndications; bundled solutions; agriculture; mining; construction; bankruptcy; fraud; energy; conflicts with leasing companies and manufacturers; and foreign laws, including Canada, Mexico and Europe, only to name a few.
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Lavery organizes the Annual Conference on Labour and Employment Law in Trois-Rivières
Lavery’s Annual Conference on Labour and Employment Law took place on May 5, 2015 in Trois-Rivières. Close to 100 poeple gathered at the Delta Hotel to attend the various conferences presented by Mr. Jean Boulet, Mr. Nicolas Courcy and Ms. Myriam Lavallée. The speakers discussed different subjects, from the recent developments in labour and employment law, to analyzing the place social media holds in a disciplinary process, and finally, the study of the extent of an employer’s obligation to accommodate in 2015. The Conference was a big success and greatly appreciated by all participants! Mr. Jean Boulet, Ms. Myriam Lavallée and Mr. Nicolas Courcy
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Four Lavery lawyers participate in CCIQ’s Foire des entrepreneurs
On April 30, 2015, Valérie Belle-Isle, Catherine Gendron, Karine Pelletier and Marie-Hélène Riverin participated in the event Foire des entrepreneurs, organized by the Chambre de commerce et de l’industrie de Québec (CCIQ). Over 130 exhibitors were present at this event, which gathered the expertise of organizations and professional firms under the same roof, offering specific services in business development, no matter the stage the businesses are in: start-up, growth or succession. Crash conferences unfolded throughout the day. Ms. Belle-Isle, Ms. Gendron, Ms. Pelletier and Ms. Riverin took part in them by presenting a conference entitled “Le jour où tout a déboulé” (The Day everything snowballed). Through a story line about the Sansoucie brothers, fictional characters, the four lawyers discussed the legal issues of their respective fields to make the public aware that prevention is better than cure. Numerous visitors of Lavery’s stand were thrilled by the special service proposal offered by these four professionals during the Foire des entrepreneurs ! Valérie Belle-Isle Catherine Gendron Karine Pelletier Marie-Hélène Riverin Karine Pelletier, Catherine Gendron, Marie-Hélène Riverin and Valérie Belle-Isle
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The Lavery GO inc. Program, proud partner of a conference on crowdfunding
On May 1st, the Lavery GO inc. Program partnered with Pléiade Capital to present a conference on crowdfunding at HEC Montreal. During the event, investor David Nault of iNovia Capital, serial entrepreneur Benoît L’Archevêque and Marc-Olivier St-Jacques of the Autorité des marchés financiers discussed the evolution of crowdfunding in Quebec. The Lavery GO inc. Program team is proud to be the main partner of this event and will closely follow the developments of the highly anticipated Regulation 45-108 respecting Crowdfunding.
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Étienne Brassard, Marie-Hélène Jolicoeur, Guillaume Lavoie and Jonathan Warin appointed partners at Lavery
Lavery is pleased to announce the appointment of Étienne Brassard, Marie-Hélène Jolicoeur, Guillaume Lavoie and Jonathan Warin as partners of the firm. Étienne Brassard practises business law with the firm and is a member of the Private Financing Group. His main areas of practice are business finance, banking law and commercial law and, in particular, the negotiation and drafting of credit, the related movable and immovable security agreements, as well as the documentation required for lease financing and installment sales. He has also acted in several major crossborder syndicated and non-syndicated financings during his practice, or relating to specific assets such as aircraft financing, rolling stock and heavy machinery. He is also the Lavery Go inc. Program Coordinator. Marie-Hélène Jolicoeur has particular expertise in the areas of labour and employment law, health law and the law of occupational health and safety. She pleads before administrative tribunals and courts of law, particularly the Commission des lésions professionnelles. She also acts as an employer spokesperson for collective agreements. Guillaume Lavoie practises in private equity, venture capital and securities law and mergers and acquisitions. He acts as a legal advisor to various Canadian and foreign corporations and private equity and venture capital funds in connection with asset purchases and sales and the acquisition of public and private corporations. He has extensive experience with respect to international transactions. He also advises Canadian issuers and their boards of directors on corporate governance issues and advises some clients on competition law, foreign investment and regulatory matters. Jonathan Warin is a member of the firm's Commercial Litigation Group and specializes in bankruptcy and insolvency, extraordinary remedies and realizing on security. He regularly intervenes in various insolvency cases, whether to represent institutional lenders, trustees or debtors in a restructuring and liquidation context. He also handles commercial litigation cases of all kinds, particularly shareholder remedies and injunctions. “We are very pleased to welcome Étienne, Marie-Hélène, Guillaume and Jonathan as Lavery partners. Being named partner undoubtedly represents an important milestone in their career as well as a recognition of the quality of their work in representing our clients. Over the years, they have all acquired comprehensive expertise in their respective areas of practice, making them among the best lawyers in their field”, said Don McCarty, Managing Partner of the firm. Étienne Brassard Marie-Hélène Jolicoeur Guillaume Lavoie Jonathan Warin