This section keeps you up-to-date on the latest news and upcoming public appearances of Lavery professionals.
News
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Guillaume Lavoie interviewed regarding the creation of the Lavery AI Grant
Guillaume Lavoie interviewed regarding the creation of the Lavery AI Grant. To watch the television report, click here and reach 8:34 (In french only).
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Lavery and the Fondation Montréal inc. launch a $15,000 grant for artificial intelligence
Lavery and Fondation Montréal inc. are pleased to announce the creation of the Lavery AI Grant offered to start-ups in the field of artificial intelligence (AI). Valued at $15,000, grant winners will also have access to the full range of services provided by Fondation Montréal inc., as well as legal coaching by Lavery, tailored to the needs of young businesses in the artificial intelligence industry. The Lavery AI Grant is an annual grant and will be awarded each spring by Fondation Montréal inc. and Lavery to the start-up that has made the biggest impact in the area of artificial intelligence and that demonstrates great potential for growth. “With each passing day, Montréal is becoming the world city for artificial intelligence and six months ago, Lavery created an AI legal laboratory to analyze and predict the impact of AI in specific areas of the law, from intellectual property to the protection of personal information, including corporate governance and every aspect of business law. Our intention in creating this grant was to resolutely propel start-ups working in this activity sector and offer them legal guidance using the knowledge we developed in our laboratory,” stated Guillaume Lavoie, a partner and head of the Lavery CAPITAL group. “Young entrepreneurs are increasingly incorporating artificial intelligence into the core of their business model. We are happy that we can offer, in addition to the grant, services specific to this industry, thereby strengthening the role of Fondation Montréal inc. as a super connector with the business community,” remarked Liette Lamonde, Executive Director of Fondation Montréal inc. Applicants can submit an application starting today through the Fondation Montréal inc. website (http://www.montrealinc.ca/en/lavery-ai-grant)
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Étienne Brassard and Guillaume Synnott mentors at the Parcours Entrepreneurial Rémi-Marcoux
Once again this year, Étienne Brassard and Guillaume Synnott, respectively a partner and a lawyer of the Business Law group, delivered two workshops on May 16 and June 19 to students participating in the Parcours Entrepreneurial Remi-Marcoux of the HEC Montréal on governance, financing, corporate law, and other issues for young entrepreneurs. Students were also offered one-on-one consulting time to discuss their specific cases and establish a solid legal base for both their business model and the future of their company.
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Guillaume Lavoie participates in Rendez-vous Montréal inc.
On June 14, Guillaume Lavoie, a partner and head of the Lavery CAPITAL group, presented the LAVERY grant to Les matériaux Redwood inc., represented by its founder Marc Elliott, during the Rendez-vous Montréal inc. The event, organized by Fondation Montréal Inc. and presented by the National Bank, was held in the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec Parquet. Fondation Montréal inc. is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to encourage the success of a new generation of Montréal entrepreneurs with the help of donors and experienced volunteer business people. Guillaume Lavoie has volunteered with Fondation Montréal inc. for many years.
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Guillaume Lavoie participates in a McGill-HEC Montréal EMBA panel on governance
On June 13, Guillaume Lavoie, partner and head of the Lavery CAPITAL and Mergers and Acquisitions groups, will participate in a panel on governance organized by McGill-HEC Montréal EMBA being held at the HEC Montréal. Entitled Les défis et enjeux de la gouvernance, the panel will address the various issues and challenges faced by different industries and types of organizations to stimulate a discussion on governance based on concrete examples experienced by the panelists. The panel will also include Louise St-Pierre, former CEO of Cogeco Connexion, Josée Duplessis, Chief of Staff for the Federal Minister of Family, Children and Social Development and Ginette Mailhot, founder of Capital Humain Plus and a director of Anges Québec. All profits will be donated to Women in Governance and its president and co-founder, Caroline Codsi, will moderate. Click here to register.
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Guillaume Lavoie selected as finalist at the ARISTA 2017 Provincial Contest
On March 30, the ARISTA Provincial Contest announced that Guillaume Lavoie, a partner and head of the Lavery CAPITAL and mergers and acquisitions groups, has been selected as one of three finalists in the Quebec Young Professional category. The name of the winner will be revealed at the ARISTA Gala on May 29, 2017, to be held at the Marché Bonsecours. As a finalist, Guillaume Lavoie will also be eligible for the Hydro-Québec "Coup de cœur”, which is awarded to the finalist who receives the most votes from the public. The public can vote by clicking “Like” under the finalist’s picture (to visit the page, click here). The ARISTA Provincial Contest is organized by the Junior Chamber of Commerce of Montreal and is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. ARISTA rewards and showcases young business leaders from Quebec who stand out and demonstrate leadership and innovation, whether by their professional success or by their contribution to the community. For more information about this contest, click here.
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Sébastien Vézina, Guillaume Synnott and Guillaume Lavoie represent Quebec Silicon in signing an agreement with the Government of Quebec
Sébastien Vézina, Guillaume Synnott and Guillaume Lavoie, members of the Business Law Group, represented Quebec Silicon Limited Partnership in the signing of an agreement with the Government of Quebec that was announced on January 17, 2017. The agreement provides for shared risk energy pricing for Quebec Silicon in consideration of a commitment to operate its silicon production plant at maximum capacity and an investment of a minimum of $12.6 million over the next four years. This will enable Quebec Silicon to preserve 175 jobs in the Centre-du-Québec region. For more information, click here to read the Government of Quebec news release relating to this announcement.
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André Vautour and Guillaume Lavoie publish two articles on the marketing rules for Canadian investment funds in Europe in the International Journal for Financial Services
André Vautour and Guillaume Lavoie, two partners from Lavery, co-authored two articles published in the November 2016 issue of the International Journal for Financial Services in collaboration with lawyers from the French firm Jeantet Associés (a fellow member of the World Services Group). The articles were respectively titled “Impact of the Possible Extension of the European Passport Regime on Canadian Fund Managers” and “Options Available to Canadian Managers under the European AIF Marketing Rules”. The articles discuss the impact of European Union Directive 2011/61/EU on Canadian investment fund managers who want to raise funds from investors in EU member states. The authors, more specifically, address the conditions of a possible extension of the European passport regime to Canada, the obligations of Canadian managers who would like to take advantage of any such regime, and the options currently available to Canadian managers under private placement regimes in EU member states.
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Guillaume Synnott and Marie Catherine Ducharme act as coaches at Startup Weekend Montreal 2016’s FinTech edition
Guillaume Synnott, lawyer, and Marie Catherine Ducharme, articling student, in Lavery’s Business Law Group acted as coaches at the Startup Weekend Montreal 2016 - FinTech an entrepreneurship competition that was held in November. Participants had 54 hours to develop a viable FinTech business proposal, which they then presented to a panel made up of industry professionals. In their role as coaches, Guillaume and Marie Catherine advised participating entrepreneurs on legal issues regarding their business concepts. Lavery also handed out a prize to the winning team.
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Louis Charette, Guillaume Lavoie, Judith Houle-Couture and Guillaume Synnott participate in the Fondation Montréal Inc.’s speed-coaching event
Louis Charette, Guillaume Lavoie, Judith Houle-Couture and Guillaume Synnott participated in a speed-coaching event on December 8 during which volunteers provided quick consultations to entrepreneurs. During the evening, our lawyers acted as coaches to answer questions related to business financing, commercial law, insurance law, commercial litigation and franchise law. This approach, suggested by the Fondation Montréal Inc., is greatly appreciated by all participants as it is tailored to their specific needs. The goal is to match the questions of one person with the relevant expertise of the other. Louis Charette Guillaume Lavoie Judith Houle-Couture Guillaume Synnott
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Marie-Hélène Jolicoeur and Judith Houle-Couture attend the Fondation Montréal Inc. benefit soirée
Marie-Hélène Jolicoeur, partner and Judith Houle-Couture, lawyer, attended this annual celebration of entrepreneurship in Montréal. Thanks to participants, the Soirée Montréal Inc. raised $200,000 that will be redistributed in grants and services in the form of advice to young Montréal entrepreneurs. Martin Roldan of Phazon also received the Prix Montréal Inc., awarded to the most outstanding entrepreneur. Fondation Montréal Inc. is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to encourage the success of a new generation of Montréal entrepreneurs through donations and volunteers from the business community. Lavery is very active in this organization and has contributed $25,000 ($5,000 annually for five years) in addition to providing the services of seven lawyers who volunteer as coaches (Louis Charrette, Judith Houle-Couture, Marie-Hélène Jolicoeur, Nicolas Joubert, Tereza Kristic, Guillaume Lavoie and Guillaume Synnott). Tom Little, President of Bell Business Markets, and Marie-Hélène Jolicoeur, a partner with Lavery, at the Fondation Montréal Inc. benefit soirée.
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Lavery acts on behalf of Vert Médical within the scope of its acquisition by Canopy Growth Corporation
On November 1, 2016, Canopy Growth Corporation acquired Vert médical, a Quebec-based producer of medical marijuana. Lavery represented Vert médical in this file. Vert médical is a company that’s currently awaiting an authorized producer permit from Health Canada that will allow it to legally grow medical marijuana in its ultramodern plant in Saint-Lucien. In return for Vert médical’s shares, Canopy Growth assumed a debt of approximately $500,000 and acquired the lease and the right of purchase on 90 acres of land and a 7,000-sq.-ft. administrative center and indoor growing plant. Moreover, it will issue Canopy shares – close to 300,000, to be issued progressively as a function of reaching certain milestones – to former shareholders. Canopy also simultaneously acquired 75 % of the issued and circulating shares of Groupe H.E.M.P.ca, in return for a payment $300,000, the issuance of close to 260,000 capital shares and the assumption of certain debt obligations. Lavery’s team consisted of Marilyn Paré and Alicia De Praeter, lawyers in the Business law group. Over the course of the mandate, they were supported by Vincent Towner and Mylène Boisvert (Real estate), Dave Bouchard (Employment law) and Guillaume Synnott and Josianne Beaudry (Securities).