This section keeps you up-to-date on the latest news and upcoming public appearances of Lavery professionals.
News
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Lavery supports Moov AI with its sale to Publicis Groupe
On March 27, 2025, Moov AI, Canada’s leading artificial intelligence and data solutions company, announced that it entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by Publicis Groupe. The combination of Moov AI’s best-in-class consulting, proprietary solutions and insights coupled with Publicis Groupe’s CoreAI offering will add a powerful AI-driven engine and set of capabilities for Publicis Groupe Canada to leverage in-market and with its clients. Francis Dumoulin had the privilege of representing and advising Moov AI shareholders in the sale to Publicis Groupe, with Alexandre Hébert’s support and Siddhartha Borissov-Beausoleil’s contribution in closing the transaction. About Lavery Lavery is the leading independent law firm in Québec. Its more than 200 professionals, based in Montréal, Québec City, Sherbrooke and Trois-Rivières, work every day to offer a full range of legal services to organizations doing business in Québec. Recognized by the most prestigious legal directories, Lavery professionals are at the heart of what is happening in the business world and are actively involved in their communities. The firm's expertise is frequently sought after by numerous national and international partners to provide support in cases under Québec jurisdiction.
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Airudi: Rapid, people-centric growth powered by AI
Growth is nothing new at Airudi. This rising AI star has consistently doubled or even tripled its sales every year since its launch in 2019. “We’re HR specialists. Growth is in our DNA,” says Amanda Arciero, Co-founder and VP Operations at Airudi. Airudi’s algorithm automates HR decision-making processes, helping companies make strategic decisions faster. Its AI-powered solution is designed by and for people and is rapidly gaining in popularity. “It’s like a virtual HR manager,” says Pape Wade, CEO and Co-founder of Airudi. Pape was once HR director of a large company with 3,000 employees, and Amanda was his senior advisor when they made the same observation: “HR was essentially a support function. Most professionals were consumed by repetitive tasks and time-consuming processes,” says Amanda. “Plus, we were seeing tons of data accumulate in filing cabinets and spreadsheets that we weren’t using at all.” Amanda and Pape decide to leave their respective jobs to pursue an ambitious goal: to use the data accumulated by HR departments to automate administrative workflows and put people back at the heart of organizations. Thus Airudi was born. The two entrepreneurs landed their first major contract worth $3 million in 2020. Year after year, they continued to gain new customers in Canada, Europe and, more recently, Africa. Their growth has been organic but skyrocketing. In five years, Airudi has become a leader in the AI community and the HR sector. Thanks to strategic partnerships, over 5,000 companies worldwide now use their products. From left to right: Amanda Arciero and Pape Wade. Airudi’s added value With some 50 employees in Quebec, Ontario and Senegal, Airudi currently offers three AI-powered solutions: workforce prediction and allocation, occupational health and safety, and enhanced recruitment. “Our goal is to reach around $100 million in profit by 2028,” says Amanda. The company’s name, Airudi, is pronounced like the word érudit (“erudite” in French). It’s a nod to Airudi’s multi-disciplinary team of artificial intelligence, data science, human resources and business intelligence experts. The secret to their success? According to the two entrepreneurs, it’s a combination of several factors. 1. Putting people first First of all, Airudi’s algorithm addresses a major concern for the HR sector. We’re using digital intelligence to make HR teams more efficient and productive, allowing them to focus on what matters: creating human connections. Amanda Arciero, Co-founder and VP Operations, Airudi Amanda gives the example of the recruitment platform, which helps customers recruit better, faster and on a larger scale by automatically matching profiles to vacant positions and ensuring fast and efficient follow-up and interview scheduling. “By reducing the time spent on recruitment, our customers can spend more time building relationships with candidates and successfully onboarding them into the company,” says Amanda. Two other strengths of the Airudi solution: quality and granularity. “The CFO of a company with 3,000 employees is not at all the same thing as the CFO of a company with 30 employees. Our algorithm captures this kind of nuance.” 80%: Reduction in recruitment time when using Airudi’s enhanced recruitment solution. A people-centric approach guides the company’s own business strategy, not just its product development. The first team that Airudi hired—even before building a technology team and thinking about fundraising—was an advisory board made up of experienced businesspeople including Robert Dutton, ex-CEO of Rona, Frantz Saintellemy, President and CEO of LeddarTech, and Julie Plouffe, Partner, SVP Finance and Chief Accounting Officer at Sagard. “We learned together and built Airudi together,” says Pape. “Our advisory board continues to give us invaluable insight.” Next, the two entrepreneurs established strategic partnerships with researchers working in Quebec’s top AI network. With highly skilled employees ranging from masters-holders to post-docs, Airudi has developed an SaaS (Software as a Service) business model that guarantees financial stability through recurring revenues. 2. Building strategic partnerships Strategic partnerships were also important to the company’s growth. “We operate mainly through redistribution partnerships or marketing agreements,” says Amanda. “We talk more about partners than customers at Airudi.” One of Airudi’s most promising partnerships is with the Maritime Employers Association (MEA), the organization that manages the workforce at the Port of Montreal. Since ship arrivals and departures don’t follow a regular daily schedule, the MEA had to ask terminal operators to determine their labour requirements for the next day. Port employees’ schedules were generated daily at 6 p.m. Taking into account port traffic, weather conditions, and the quantity and type of cargo, Airudi developed an algorithm that optimizes workforce allocation while respecting collective agreements, the availability of port workers and the skills required. “Our solution accurately predicts ship arrival times up to 21 days in advance, ensuring smooth operations in the port and reducing workforce allocation errors from 30% to 15%, generating significant savings in labour costs,” says Amanda. The partnership with the Port of Montreal has opened doors in Europe. The Quebec-based company subsequently developed a strategic partnership with SOGET, a French company specializing in streamlining logistics flows, covering 40 logistics sites in 8 countries. More recently, Airudi has adapted its predictive solution to provide Urgences-santé with a similar paramedical staff planning tool. 3. You’re never too small to go international International expansion is another successful strategy that has put wind in the company’s sails. “Innovation is experienced differently in North America, Europe and Africa,” says Pape. “We’re an innovative company. It’s important to have these different perspectives.” Many companies say to themselves: We’re going to make our name on the Quebec market, then go international. I think this is a mistake. We had five employees and were already developing the international market.” Pape Wade, CEO and Co-founder of Airudi Airudi has already had customers in Europe for two years and has just opened offices in Pape’s native Senegal. The growth and innovation potential of the African market is still underestimated. “Our Cameroonian-born scientific director, Foutse Khomh, ranks as the world’s fourth most prolific researcher in terms of publications in AI, and he ranks first in Canada. There’s a lot of talent and growth potential on the African continent,” says Amanda. Currently, 80% of Airudi’s sales are generated in Canada, 12% in Europe and 8% in Africa. As it expands its international footprint, the SME remains firmly rooted in the Quebec technology community. “When it comes to innovation, we’re very strong in Quebec, with access to the best talent and researchers,” says Pape, who also sits on the board of Mila – Quebec AI Institut. Growth, but not at any price AI is a powerful tool, but one that raises a number of ethical issues. “We’re making the same mistake we made with the environment. If we don’t put the responsible side of AI first, we’ll soon hit a wall.” Pape Wade, CEO and Co-founder, Airudi Each year, Pape and Amanda participate in a strategic planning exercise to ensure that Airudi’s business objectives and technological advancement are aligned with its values. Are we creating a positive impact for the benefit of society, employees and customers? Do we create people-centric products? Are we making good use of technology? “We put a lot of thought into all our decisions. If there’s growth potential, but it’s not aligned with our values, we won’t consider it.” Amanda Arciero, Co-founder and VP Operations, Airudi Pape likes to use the analogy of agriculture when talking about Airudi’s growth strategy: “Seeds are carefully sown and tended until they flower successfully. You have to be patient.” For example, the strategic partnership with SOGET came about after a year and a half of work and meetings. “A partnership that opens the door to 40 ports around the world certainly takes time,” says Pape. Conclusion Putting people back at the centre of organizations. Customers who become partners. Learning from other perspectives and approaches. Growth, but not at any price. In five years, Pape and Amanda have built a winning strategy. Today, Airudi is a solid company rooted in sustainable values. What’s next? According to Amanda, the more we look to the future, the more technology will be part of our lives. It’s essential to shore up companies against current challenges, including labour shortages, the arrival of new generations on the job market and inflation. Airudi is currently looking for ways to further democratize access to its solutions, so that all organizations can benefit from them—while still centring people, being responsible, and creating value for companies and workers. “Our philosophy is not to make money. Our philosophy is to create innovative, caring, people-centred technology that creates a positive impact. Usually, when you focus on good business, success and growth naturally follow,” says Amanda.
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Lavery supports Oliva Capital in its buyout of VoIP.ms
Lavery is pleased to have supported Oliva Capital in its recent acquisition of a majority stake in VoIP.ms, and in the addition of Fondaction to the shareholder base of this innovative IP telephony company. This major transaction had the financial support of Desjardins and BDC Capital and was an important milestone for VoIP.ms; this first institutional partnership is a strategic step towards fast-tracking the company’s growth and expanding its services. Lavery played a key role in the deal, providing legal and strategic expertise on several fronts. In collaboration with KPMG, Lavery helped Oliva Capital set up a pre-closing tax reorganization to optimize the deal’s structure. Our team also led the drafting and negotiation of the main agreements and set up the credit facilities. The Lavery team was spearheaded by our Business Law partner, Étienne Brassard, with support from Bernard Trang, Julie Aubin-Perron, Francis Sabourin and Jen Deruchie. About Oliva Capital Oliva Capital is a private investment firm composed of an ecosystem of diversified companies. Through its financial expertise, as well as its strategic and operational guidance, Oliva elevates promising businesses to sustainable growth. The firm takes a collaborative and proactive approach to investment and aims to have a positive impact on the communities where it operates. About Lavery Lavery is the leading independent law firm in Québec. Its more than 200 professionals, based in Montréal, Québec City, Sherbrooke and Trois-Rivières, work every day to offer a full range of legal services to organizations doing business in Québec. Recognized by the most prestigious legal directories, Lavery professionals are at the heart of what is happening in the business world and are actively involved in their communities. The firm's expertise is frequently sought after by numerous national and international partners to provide support in cases under Québec jurisdiction.
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Lavery Advises Technicolor Canada on the Sale of Mikros Animation
This March 25th, 2025, the Superior Court of Quebec approved the sale of "Mikros Animation", the cartoon animation division of Technicolor Canada, Inc., a Canadian subsidiary of the Technicolor Group. Lavery had the privilege of advising Technicolor Canada on this transaction, which was part of the court-ordered reorganization of the corporations that make up the Technicolor Group. Simultaneously with the acquisition of the assets of the "Mikros Animation" division in Quebec, the buyer, RodeoFx, will also acquire the assets of the "Mikros Animation" division in France. This would greatly facilitate the closing of the transaction, considering that the Technicolor group is an internationally integrated company. Still due to the international component of the "Mikros Animation" division's operations, this simultaneous acquisition of it's assets in Quebec and France required the unprecedented collaboration of the Tribunal des Activités Économiques de Paris and the Quebec Superior Court. Completion of the transaction will ensure the continued operation of the "Mikros Animation" division in both Quebec and France and preserve up to 207 jobs in Montreal in the specialized field of animation, in addition to the 80 jobs in the "Mikros Animation" division in France. The Lavery team led by Sébastien Vézina and Jean Legault also included Martin Pichette, Marc Ouellet, Jessica Parent, Ouassim Tadlaoui, David Tournier, David Choinière, Jean-Paul Timothée and Yasmine Belrachid. About Lavery Lavery is the leading independent law firm in Québec. Its more than 200 professionals, based in Montréal, Québec City, Sherbrooke and Trois-Rivières, work every day to offer a full range of legal services to organizations doing business in Québec. Recognized by the most prestigious legal directories, Lavery professionals are at the heart of what is happening in the business world and are actively involved in their communities. The firm's expertise is frequently sought after by numerous national and international partners to provide support in cases under Québec jurisdiction.
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Lavery supports TerraVest’s refinancing for the acquisition of EnTrans International
On March 17, 2025, TerraVest Industries Inc. announced the acquisition of EnTrans International, a North American manufacturer of tank trailers. To facilitate this major acquisition, TerraVest has amended its credit facility with a syndicate of lenders led by Desjardins Group. The new financing structure consists of a CAN$800 million revolving credit facility, a CAN$200 million term loan and two other CAN$100 million term loans. Lavery played a key tole in advising TerraVest on the financing aspects of this transaction. The team at Lavery, headed by Brigitte Gauthier, including Bernard Trang, Francis Sabourin, Annie Groleau, Ana Cristina Nascimento, Jessy Ménard, Arielle Supino and Yanick Vlasak, worked closely with TerraVest to structure the amended credit facility. Lavery’s involvement allowed TerraVest to secure the funds needed to acquire EnTrans International, thereby reinforcing its position on the North American market. About Lavery Lavery is the leading independent law firm in Québec. Its more than 200 professionals, based in Montréal, Québec City, Sherbrooke and Trois-Rivières, work every day to offer a full range of legal services to organizations doing business in Québec. Recognized by the most prestigious legal directories, Lavery professionals are at the heart of what is happening in the business world and are actively involved in their communities. The firm's expertise is frequently sought after by numerous national and international partners to provide support in cases under Québec jurisdiction.
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Lavery welcomes two new lawyers
Lavery is pleased to announce that two lawyers have joined the firm. Maxime Duval-Charland Maxime is a member of the Business Law group and focuses his practice on commercial law, technology law and real estate. As part of his practice, Maxime negotiates, drafts and revises various legal documents relating to commercial transactions. He is also called upon to support and advise clients on their business and operational activities. In addition, Maxime regularly takes on the role of strategic advisor by collaborating on the development and implementation of legal and business strategies to achieve development and growth objectives for his clients. "From my very first discussions with Lavery, I realized that we shared the vision that conviviality and excellence can go hand in hand in the practice of law. Lavery offers quality inspired by the best, in a firm on a human scale. My legal experience complements the Quebec City business law team, and I'm convinced that our clients will be well supported and advised thanks to Lavery's multidisciplinary platform. After several years in the corporate world, I'm very much looking forward to meeting our customers and contributing to the success of local businesses." Frédéric BolducFrédéric is a lawyer and member of our Labour and Employment Law group. Frédéric's practice encompasses all areas of labour and employment law, including individual employment relations and collective bargaining. Consequently, he supports employers in both litigious and non-litigious matters, with an approach focused on achieving reasonable and satisfactory outcomes for clients. He advises employers at both the federal and provincial levels on a variety of issues, including labour relations, labour standards, collective agreement obligations and human rights. He represents employers before administrative tribunals and courts of justice. « I come to Lavery with the strong conviction that I am becoming part of a team with exceptional expertise in labour and employment law, a team that holds a prominent position within the firm and is well-equipped to address the most complex legal needs of its clients. This is a team that fosters collegiality and encourages thoughtful reflection on the legal challenges impacting our practice. I am also truly pleased to work alongside colleagues who left a strong impression on me during my previous time here, especially due to their warmth and approachability. » About Lavery Lavery is the leading independent law firm in Québec. Its more than 200 professionals, based in Montréal, Québec City, Sherbrooke and Trois-Rivières, work every day to offer a full range of legal services to organizations doing business in Québec. Recognized by the most prestigious legal directories, Lavery professionals are at the heart of what is happening in the business world and are actively involved in their communities. The firm's expertise is frequently sought after by numerous national and international partners to provide support in cases under Québec jurisdiction.
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33 partners from Lavery ranked in the 2025 edition of The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory
Lavery is proud to announce that 33 partners are ranked among the leading practitioners in Canada in their respective practice areas in the 2025 edition of The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory. The following Lavery partners are listed in the 2025 edition of The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory: Advertising Isabelle Jomphe Aviation Étienne Brassard Asset Securitization Brigitte M. Gauthier Class Actions Laurence Bich-Carrière Myriam Brixi Construction Law Nicolas Gagnon Marc-André Landry Corporate Commercial Law Laurence Bich-Carrière Étienne Brassard Jean-Sébastien Desroches Christian Dumoulin Édith Jacques Alexandre Hébert Paul Martel André Vautour Corporate Finance & Securities Josianne Beaudry René Branchaud Corporate Mid-Market Étienne Brassard Jean-Sébastien Desroches Christian Dumoulin Alexandre Hébert Édith Jacques André Vautour Data Privacy Raymond Doray Employment Law Simon Gagné Richard Gaudreault Marie-Josée Hétu Guy Lavoie Josiane L’Heureux Family Law Elisabeth Pinard Infrastructure Law Nicolas Gagnon Insolvency & Financial Restructuring Jean Legault Ouassim Tadlaoui Yanick Vlasak Jonathan Warin Intellectual Property Chantal Desjardins Alain Y. Dussault Labour (Management) Benoit Brouillette Simon Gagné Richard Gaudreault Marie-Josée Hétu Guy Lavoie Litigation - Commercial Insurance Dominic Boisvert Martin Pichette Litigation - Corporate Commercial Laurence Bich-Carrière Marc-André Landry Litigation - Product Liability Laurence Bich-Carrière Myriam Brixi Mergers & Acquisitions Josianne Beaudry Étienne Brassard Jean-Sébastien Desroches Christian Dumoulin Edith Jacques Mining Josianne Beaudry René Branchaud Sébastien Vézina Occupational Health & Safety Josiane L'Heureux Workers' Compensation Marie-Josée Hétu Guy Lavoie Carl Lessard The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory, published since 1997, is based on an extensive peer survey process. It includes profiles of leading practitioners across Canada in more than 60 practice areas and leading law firms in more than 40 practice areas. It also features articles highlighting current legal issues and recent developments of importance. Congratulations to our lawyers for these appointments, which reflect the talent and expertise of our team. About Lavery Lavery is the leading independent law firm in Québec. Its more than 200 professionals, based in Montréal, Québec City, Sherbrooke and Trois-Rivières, work every day to offer a full range of legal services to organizations doing business in Québec. Recognized by the most prestigious legal directories, Lavery professionals are at the heart of what is happening in the business world and are actively involved in their communities. The firm's expertise is frequently sought after by numerous national and international partners to provide support in cases under Québec jurisdiction.
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Lavery welcomes Alexandre Hébert to its Business Law group as partner
Lavery is delighted to welcome Alexandre Hébert to its Business Law group as a partner. Alexandre earned a BFA from Concordia University and has been a member of the Barreau du Québec since 2008. His experience in corporate law and commercial law strengthens the firm's expertise in mergers and acquisitions, financing and venture capital in particular. "Alexandre's expertise and vision fit perfectly with our growth and innovation ambition. His dedication to excellence and his commitment to training the next generation of lawyers are aligned with the firm's values" adds Anik Trudel, Chief Executive Officer. With a diverse client base that includes private investment funds and players from the innovation and technology sector, Alexandre Hébert will help expand Lavery's service offering in key areas. His knowledge of the market outside Quebec will also be a definite asset to support our teams in closing domestic and cross-border transactions for our current and future clients. "I am delighted to be joining Lavery. The firm's reputation for excellence, its culture and vision of the future has me excited. I am looking forward to leveraging my experience for the benefit of my clients and contributing to the growth of the firm in a collaborative and innovative environment.", says Alexandre. About Lavery Lavery is the leading independent law firm in Québec. Its more than 200 professionals, based in Montréal, Québec City, Sherbrooke and Trois-Rivières, work every day to offer a full range of legal services to organizations doing business in Québec. Recognized by the most prestigious legal directories, Lavery professionals are at the heart of what is happening in the business world and are actively involved in their communities. The firm's expertise is frequently sought after by numerous national and international partners to provide support in cases under Québec jurisdiction.
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Lavery's expertise recognized by Chambers Global 2025
We are pleased to announce that Lavery has once again been recognized in the 2025 edition of Chambers Global in the following sector: Intellectual Property (Canada) - Band 4 These recognitions are further demonstration of the expertise and quality of legal services that characterize Lavery's professionals. Two lawyers have been recognized as leaders in their respective areas of practice in the 2025 edition of the Chambers Global guide. Areas of expertise in which they are recognized: René Branchaud: Mining (International & Cross-Border) - Band 5 Sébastien Vézina: Mining (International & Cross-Border) - Band 5 Since 1990, Chambers and Partners' ranks the best law firms and lawyers across 200 jurisdictions throughout the world. The lawyers and law firms profiled in Chambers are selected following through a rigorous process of research and interviews with a broad spectrum of lawyers and their clients. The final selection is based on clearly defined criteria such as the quality of client service, legal expertise, and commercial astuteness. About Lavery Lavery is the leading independent law firm in Québec. Its more than 200 professionals, based in Montréal, Québec City, Sherbrooke and Trois-Rivières, work every day to offer a full range of legal services to organizations doing business in Québec. Recognized by the most prestigious legal directories, Lavery professionals are at the heart of what is happening in the business world and are actively involved in their communities. The firm's expertise is frequently sought after by numerous national and international partners to provide support in cases under Québec jurisdiction.