This section keeps you up-to-date on the latest news and upcoming public appearances of Lavery professionals.
News
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Lavery welcomes Kassandra Roberge as lawyer
Lavery is pleased to announce the arrival of a new lawyer at our Montréal office: Kassandra Roberge. Ms. Roberge focuses her practice on family law and regularly appears before the Superior Court and the Court of Québec. She handles matters involving the international relocation of minor children, recognition of paternity, revocation of parental authority, custody, child and spousal support, divorce, and travel authorizations. She also has expertise in complex cases related to domestic violence and significant financial issues involving multiple corporations, as well as in private international law, including challenges to territorial jurisdiction and matters involving the unlawful international removal of minor children. “I chose to join Lavery to fully thrive professionally within a committed, dynamic, and motivated team. I was particularly drawn to a culture that values continuous skills development, rigor, and structured support for professionals at every stage of their careers. I am very excited to join the Family, Persons and Estates group and to collaborate with lawyers who possess remarkable expertise and exemplary professionalism. Joining Lavery allows me not only to contribute to stimulating mandates, but also to benefit from a collaborative environment that fosters growth, knowledge sharing, and the achievement of my full potential as a family law lawyer.” We extend a warm welcome to Kassandra as she joins our team!
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Landmark Decision from Quebec Superior Court Recognizes Multi-Parent Families
Montreal, May 12, 2025 – Lavery is pleased to acknowledge the landmark decision rendered on April 25 by the Quebec Superior Court, which, for the first time, legally recognizes that a child may have more than two parents. This ruling represents a significant development in Quebec law, introducing a new legal reality in matters of filiation. “This decision shakes the very foundations of filiation law as we know it in Quebec. Not only does it acknowledge the lived reality of many families, it also opens the door to a more inclusive understanding of parenthood,” stated Marc-André Landry, partner at Lavery, who represented one of the families on a pro bono basis. “It’s a crucial step toward greater equality for all children, regardless of the family model they are part of.” The judgment follows a constitutional challenge brought forward by three multi-parent families, represented by several law firms, including Lavery. Justice Andres Garin struck down 44 provisions of the Civil Code of Québec, finding them discriminatory toward families made up of more than two parents. He granted the provincial legislature a 12-month period to amend the Code accordingly. Invoking the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the Court found that the two-parent limit on filiation infringes on the right to equality for children and parents in non-traditional family structures. The judge also ordered that the name of the third parent be added to the birth certificate of the child in question, recognizing the legal, social, and psychological impacts of denying such recognition. Beyond the symbolic inclusion on a birth certificate, filiation establishes access to essential responsibilities and protections: custody, financial support, inheritance, insurance, medical decisions, and more. While Ontario, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and Newfoundland and Labrador already recognize multi-parent families, Quebec is now joining their ranks. Justice Garin emphasized that although the Civil Code does not explicitly prohibit more than two parental links, its structure has effectively blocked recognition of multi-parent filiation. Lavery is proud to have contributed to this groundbreaking legal advancement, which could set a precedent in Canada. This decision — already being compared to the one that opened the door to marriage equality in the early 2000s — highlights the importance of a law that evolves with today’s social realities. About Lavery Lavery is the leading independent law firm in Quebec. 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 Quebec. 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 Quebec jurisdiction.
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Isabelle Duval Named YBM Lawyer of the Year in Family Law
On November 23, Isabelle Duval, an associate in the firm's Family Law Group, was named as YBM lawyer of the year in the category of family law at the 11th edition of the YBM "Leaders of Tomorrow" Gala, held at the St-James Theater. "The naming of Isabelle Duval as YBM lawyer of the year for 2017 reflects the expertise and talent of the firm's next generation of lawyers", said Loïc Berdnikoff, Lavery's Director of Professional Development. "The firm is privileged to be able to count on exceptional professionals such as Isabelle. I would like to congratulate her, both on my own and on the firm's behalf, for this well-deserved distinction!" Note that in choosing the winners, the YBM relies on its Governors Council, consisting, among others, of the deans of three law faculties in Quebec, the Bâtonnier of the Montreal Bar, Brian Mitchell, and the Honourable Justices Nicole Duval Hesler, Lucie Rondeau, Ann-Marie Jones and Bernard Mandeville.
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Caroline Harnois speaker at the Annual Meeting of the IAFL in Reykjavik, Iceland
During the Annual Meeting of the International Academy of Family Lawyers (IAFL) which took place at Reykjavik, Iceland, from September 13 to September 17, 2017, Caroline Harnois, a partner in the Family Law, Personal and Estate Group has delivered a conference on the interplay between return applications filed under the The Hague Convention on International Child Abduction and claims for refugee status. Click here for more information about the IAFL.
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Awatif Lakhdar speaks at a CBA-Québec mini-seminar
On June 7, Awatif Lakhdar, a partner of the Family, Personal and Estate Law group, spoke at a mini-seminar organized by the Wills, Estates and Trusts section of the Canadian Bar Association - Québec Division, held at the Lavery Conference Centre in Montréal and attended by over 45 lawyers. Entitled “Planification successorale et droits matrimoniaux : Avez-vous vraiment tout prévu ?”, Ms. Lakhdar addressed the challenges with foreign-born spouses. She specifically discussed the international jurisdiction of Quebec courts, the doctrine of international litispendence, the application of the rules on family patrimony and the qualification of the matrimonial regime.
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Awatif Lakhdar speaks at an information session for owner-pharmacists
On March 29, Awatif Lakhdar, a partner of the Family, Personal and Estate Law Group, spoke to owner-pharmacists at an information session held at Lavery’s Conference Centre. Me Lakhdar discussed the legal tools and general considerations required to protect the patrimony and business of owner-pharmacists during the seminar, entitled Pharmaciens-propriétaires : soyez à l’affût des meilleures pratiques pour la gestion de votre patrimoine.