This section keeps you up-to-date on the latest news and upcoming public appearances of Lavery professionals.
News
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Two more Lavery lawyers named Advocatus Emeritus (Ad. E.)
Lavery is pleased to announce that Ann Bigué and Jules Brière will receive Advocatus Emeritus (Ad. E.) awards on May 28th at the Québec Bar’s annual convention in Montreal. The title of Advocatus Emeritus, which follows the names of recipients of this honour, was created in 2007 to recognize the professional excellence and outstanding contribution of a lawyer to the advancement of the profession or of the Bar’s work. Ann Bigué practices administrative, constitutional and regulatory law, with an emphasis on matters related to aboriginal law, as well as energy and natural resources law. She is recognized for her expertise in aboriginal and treaty rights. She has assumed leadership in complex litigation matters and has extensive experience in the negotiation of agreements between governments, Aboriginal communities and developers related to energy and natural resource development projects in Canada. Ms. Bigué is recognized in the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory as a leading lawyer in the field of aboriginal law. She is also named in the Best Lawyers in Canada directory as a leading lawyer in the area of regulatory matters relating to energy. Jules Brière practices constitutional, administrative and social (health) law, as well as public domain law (hydro-electricity production, transportation and distribution, forestry and land management). He has, on many occasions, advised governments as well as various government departments and public and parapublic agencies on the legal aspects of the management and development of resources in the public domain, the legal regime pertaining to the protection of agricultural land, and activities and relations between the government and Aboriginal peoples.As a jurist, Mr. Brière also took part in the planning, drafting and review before parliamentary committees of many government bills introduced in the National Assembly of Québec. He is the author of several publications dealing with administrative law and constitutional law. In addition, he has held the Chaire de rédaction juridique Louis-Philippe-Pigeon de l'Université Laval since 2006. Seven Lavery lawyers have previously been named Advocatus Emeritus: Odette Jobin-Laberge, Pierre Bourque, Raymond Doray, J. Vincent O’Donnell, Louis Payette, Jean Saint-Onge and Michel Yergeau.
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Our class action specialists represent Maple Leaf Foods Inc.
Lavery lawyers represented Maple Leaf Foods Inc. (Maple Leaf) in the class action suits filed in Quebec on behalf of people who were victims of listeriosis during the summer of 2008. On April 3, 2009, the Quebec Superior Court approved a national settlement agreement, which was also approved in Ontario and Saskatchewan. Almost 27 million dollars will be paid to the victims. Jean Saint Onge and Jean-Philippe Lincourt represented Maple Leaf in this matter.
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Four new partners named at Lavery
Montreal, April 7, 2009 – Lavery is pleased to announce that four associates practising in the Montreal office have been admitted into the firm’s partnership, namely Philippe Asselin, Jean-Sébastien Desroches, Josiane L’Heureux and Martin Pichette. Philippe Asselin joined Lavery in 2003 and practises with the Business Law Group, more particularly in tax law. He was called to the Quebec Bar in 2000, has a D.E.S.S. in taxation from the École des Hautes Études Commerciales and practised with a major accounting firm before joining Lavery. Jean-Sébastien Desroches practises with the Business Law Group, primarily in the areas of mergers, acquisitions and corporate reorganizations. He joined Lavery in October 2007. He was called to the Quebec Bar in 2000 and holds a master's degree in business law from the Université Laval. Josiane L’Heureux joined Lavery in 2003 and practises with the Labour and Employment Law Group. She was called to the Quebec Bar in 1998. Prior to joining the firm, she represented various labour unions and practised with the labour relations group of a major Quebec business. Martin Pichette joined Lavery in 2005 and practises with the Litigation Group, more particularly in construction, damage insurance, professional liability and commercial litigation. He was called to the Quebec Bar in 2000 and holds bachelor's and master's degrees in business administration from the University of Ottawa.
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Our specialists in natural resources represent Xstrata
The Court of Québec, in a decision written by the Honourable Mr. Justice François Godbout, has just ordered the Ministère des Ressources naturelles et de la Faune to re-register, in the Register of real and immovable mining rights, the 83 claims that the Ministère had decided to cancel due to noncompliance with a minor formality, that is, because the licence of the person who did the staking was inactive at the time of the staking. Xstrata had argued before the Court that the revocation of the mining rights previously granted was disproportionate and unreasonable and only concerned a mere technicality. Xstrata thus retains the exclusive right to search for mineral substances on the lands that are the subject of the claims. Xstrata was represented by a team composed of Michel Blouin, Mathieu Quenneville and Sophie Prégent (Environment and Natural Resources).
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The Firm's Construction and Surety Law Specialists Give Seminar
On March 24, 2009, a breakfast seminar entitled “Construction Contracts and Performance and Payment Bonds” was given to our clients in the construction and surety industry. The three speakers, Daniel Alain Dagenais, Nicolas Gagnon and Pamela McGovern, discussed key construction issues such as choosing the right type of contract, bonding of projects — advantages and consequences — and recent developments in legal construction hypothecs (builder's liens).
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Appointment to the Class Action Committee
Mtre Jean-Philippe Lincourt has recently been appointed as a member of the Quebec Bar’s committee on class actions.The mandate of this committee is, in particular, to discuss the workings of the courts when dealing with class actions, to reflect on procedural tools that would facilitate their management, to assess the suitability of the rules of practice of the Superior Court that apply to them, and to propose amendments to the Code of Civil Procedure and to the rules of practice. Mtre Jean Saint-Onge chairs the committee.
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Marie-Claude Perreault gives seminar “Dependencies and Productivity”
Marie-Claude Perreault, a Lavery partner, will give a lecture on March 11, 2009 for the Société de développement économique de Drummondville as part of a conference on Dependencies and Productivity. The subject of her lecture will be the management of problems related to dependency (alcohol, drugs, gambling) in the workplace and, more specifically, the legal aspects of policies, screening tests and the handling of such problems.
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Osisko Mining Corporation Closes C$402 Million Bought Deal Financing
On February 25, 2009, Osisko Mining Corporation closed a prospectus offering of 88,550,000 units, which included the exercise in full of the over-allotment option, at a price of $4.55 per unit, for gross proceeds of more than $402 million.Osisko was represented by André Le Bel, Vice President, Legal Affairs and Corporate Secretary, and a team from Lavery consisting of René Branchaud, David Pineault and Benoit Mallette (Corporate and Securities) and Philip Nolan (Tax).The securities of Osisko are listed on the TSX (OSK) and the Deutsche Boerse (EWX). Osisko holds a 100% interest in the Canadian Malartic gold deposit in Quebec, Canada through a wholly owned junior explorer. Canadian Malartic, one of the world’s largest undeveloped gold resources, is located in a mining district near an extensive, existing mining infrastructure.
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Dina Raphaël gives conference at the request of the Canadian Insurance Claims Managers Association
On February 18, 2009, at the request of the Canadian Insurance Claims Managers Association, Dina Raphaël gave a conference entitled "Automobile insurance policy: endorsements 5a and 23b – scope and consequences of these endorsements in the light of recent case law".
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Lavery, de Billy welcomes a new partner in Labour and Employment Law
Lavery, de Billy is pleased to announce that Guy Lavoie has joined the firm as a partner and member of its Labour and Employment Law Group. Mr. Lavoie will practise in the firm's Montreal offices. Called to the Quebec Bar in 1986, Mr. Lavoie was previously with a national firm, where his practice was focused on labour and employment law.Mr Lavoie has extensive expertise and experience in labour and employment law and occupational health and safety. He will advise the firm’s clients and represent them before various administrative tribunals in labour relations and employment law matters, occupational health and safety, discrimination and harassment. He will also work in conjunction with the firm’s Business Law Group on the full range of labour and employment law issues related to mergers and acquisitions.Mr. Lavoie has been listed as a recommended lawyer since 2002 in the Labour and Employee Benefits Handbook published by the Practical Law Company of London, in the United Kingdom.
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Anne-Marie Lévesque, Jean-Philippe Lincourt and Jean Saint-Onge gave a conference regarding class actions competition law and product liability
On January 28, 2009 Anne-Marie Lévesque, Jean-Philippe Lincourt and Jean Saint-Onge gave a conference entitled "Class actions, competition law and product liability: Continuing causes of concern for manufacturers"
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Ian Rose gives seminar to AGRAQ
Ian Rose, a partner at Lavery, gave a seminar on January 22, 2009 to the Quebec Risk and Insurance Management Association (QRIMA) on Manufacturer's Liability in Quebec in light of the Supreme Court of Canada Decision in ABB v. Domtar.