This section keeps you up-to-date on the latest news and upcoming public appearances of Lavery professionals.
News
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Gérard Coulombe to receive the Lawyer Emeritus distinction from the Barreau du Québec
Lavery is pleased to announce that Mr. Gérard Coulombe, Q.C., a Business Law partner at Lavery, will receive the Lawyer Emeritus (Ad. E.) distinction from the Barreau du Québec during a ceremony that will be held on September 23, 2013 at the Montréal Science Centre.Gérard Coulombe belongs to a short list of Lavery lawyers who have previously received this prestigious honorary distinction in recognition of an exceptional legal career. Called to the Barreau du Québec in 1969, Mr. Coulombe was, from 1972 to 1977, a special advisor to the Minister of Finance of Canada. This professional experience enabled him to develop thorough understanding of Canadian and international taxation.In the last 35 years, Mr. Coulombe has carried on a general practice in business and commercial law where he represents more specifically financial institutions, Crown corporations and multinational companies. He sits on the boards of directors of several corporations, including National Bank of Canada, Cominar Real Estate Investment Trust and Club de hockey Canadien, Inc."Lavery is delighted that Gérard Coulombe is the recipient of the Lawyer Emeritus (Ad. E.) distinction. In a career that spans more than 40 years, Gérard has made a significant and multifold contribution to the legal profession: as a specialist in certain areas of practice, a skillful negotiator and dedicated mentor to young lawyers", said Don McCarty, Managing Partner of the firm.
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Odette Jobin-Laberge and Jonathan Lacoste-Jobin co-authors of a textbook published in the Thema Collection
Ms. Odette Jobin-Laberge, Ad. E., and Mr. Jonathan Lacoste-Jobin, Litigation partner and associate at Lavery respectively, are among the co-authors of a textbook on damage insurance that was published in June 2013 in the Thema Collection. Thema includes integrated and thematic publications that are drawn from encyclopedia JurisClasseur Québec, published by LexisNexis. Ms. Odette Jobin-Laberge and Mr. Jonathan Lacoste-Jobin wrote Fascicle 3 with respect to property insurance. More specifically, the text covers topics such as insurable interest, scope of coverage, insurance carried as well as notice of loss and payment of indemnity.
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Lavery Represents the Syndicate of Agents in the Re-opening of Cominar's 4.23% Series 2 Debentures in the Principal Amount of $100 Million
On February, 8, 2013, Cominar Real Estate Investment Trust completed the re opening of its 4.23% Series 2 senior unsecured debentures due December 4, 2019 in the principal amount of $100 million. The debentures were offered to the public by a syndicate of agents led by National Bank Financial Inc. and BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc., including Desjardins Securities Inc., RBC Dominion Securities Inc., CIBC World Markets Inc., Scotia Capital Inc., TD Securities Inc., HSBC Securities (Canada) Inc., Canaccord Genuity Corp., Dundee Securities Ltd. and Macquarie Capital Markets Canada Ltd. The syndicate of agents was represented by a team from Lavery consisting of Marc Rochefort, Michel Servant, Guillaume Lavoie and Geneviève Fournier (corporate and securities), and Philip Nolan (tax). Cominar is the third largest diversified real estate investment trust in Canada and the largest commercial property owner in the Province of Québec.
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Bridge Loan by SIDEX
Geomega Resources Inc. (“Geomega”) announced the grant of a $750,000 loan (the “Loan”) by SIDEX, Limited Partnership (“Sidex”) on May 10, 2013. The Loan is secured by Geomega’s tax credits receivable from Revenu Québec for the fiscal year ended in 2012 and related to mineral exploration. In connection with the Loan, Geomega issued 250,000 common shares to Sidex. The proceeds will be allocated to general and administrative purposes. Geomega, which owns 100% of the Montviel Rare Earths/Niobium project, is a Québec mineral exploration and development company focused on the discovery and sustainable development of economic deposits of minor metals, such as Rare Earth Elements, Niobium and Graphite, in Québec. Geomega is committed to meeting Canadian mining industry standards and distinguishing itself with its expertise, know-how and its support and respect for local communities and the environment. Geomega was represented by a team of Lavery, de Billy, L.L.P. comprised of Sébastien Vézina, Maxime Bergeron (securities) and Benjamin Gross (financing).
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René Branchaud recognized for his expertise in corporate law
The June 2013 issue of the Globe and Mail’s Report on Business includes an insert entitled 2013 Lexpert/Report on Business Special Edition – Corporate (ROB Corporate) in which René Branchaud, a Business Law partner at Lavery, is recognized as a leading corporate law practitioner in Canada.More precisely, this publication recognizes the scope of Mr. Branchaud’s mining law practice, which includes asset purchase, option and joint venture agreements, private placements, public offerings, mergers and acquisitions and corporate governance.To read this insert, please click here.
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Marie-Claude Armstrong appointed head of a committee of the Bar of Montreal
Lavery is pleased to announce that Ms. Marie-Claude Armstrong, a Litigation partner at the firm, has been appointed Chairperson of the Liaison Committee with the Superior Court, Family Matters of the Bar of Montreal. In that capacity, Ms. Armstrong will act as liaison between the judiciary and lawyers practising in family law so as to improve the judicial system with respect to family law to ensure the proper administration of justice and promote the interests of the litigant.
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Marie Cossette on RDI Matin Week-End to comment on the Ménard Commission
Ms. Marie Cossette, Litigation partner at Lavery, appeared on the TV program RDI Matin Week-End on Sunday, June 9 to discuss the mandate of the Special Commission of Inquiry on the Spring 2012 Events, which began its activities under the chairmanship of former minister, Serge Ménard.Appearing as a guest on the program because of her comprehensive knowledge of commissions of inquiry and crisis management expertise, Ms. Cossette said that the Ménard Commission has a far-reaching mandate that could be difficult to fulfill considering the many guidelines governing this mandate. Commenting on the absence of certain key actors from the work of the Commission, Ms. Cossette argued that participation should be fostered despite the problems already identified to enable the Commission to release a sound report.To watch the video of the interview, click here.
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Lavery, sponsors an award of the Association québécoise d’établissements de santé et de services sociaux (AQESSS)
During the Annual AQESSS Convention, Lavery was the sponsor of the 2013 AQESSS Award in Human Resources. Ms. Zeïneb Mellouli, a Labour and Employment Law associate at Lavery, handed out the $5,000 award to the prize-winner, the Institut universitaire de gériatrie de Montréal (IUGM) for a project entitled Nos bons coups en valeurs. More than 100 people were present during the awards ceremony and more than 400 attended the annual congress.The Prize in Human Resources is awarded to a AQESSS member that has put together a development project designed to include good human resources management practices into the work organization or the process of employee development, recruitment, recognition and retention.From left to right: Mr. Michel Gervais, chairman of the AQESSS Board of Directors; Ms. Micheline Noël, member of the IUGM Board of Directors; Ms. Diane Lavallée, director general of the AQESSS; Ms. Annick Branchaud, human resources advisor, IUGM; Ms. Marie-Élaine Proulx, host of Télé-Québec and head of the jury for the 2013 AQESSS Awards; Ms. Frédérique Laurier, executive assistant to the general manager, communications and public affairs, IUGM; Mr. Jean-François Miron, Director of Human Resources, IUGM; Ms. Geneviève Desrosiers, communications advisor, IUGM; and Ms. Zeïneb Mellouli, associate at Lavery
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Jacques Perron, mentor of Droit de Cité’s grand finale winning team
Lavery is pleased to announce that Mr. Jacques Perron, a Litigation partner at Lavery, acted as a mentor to a team made up of two Université de Montréal law students, Dominique Noel and Frédérik Forget, who won Droit de Cité’s grand finale that was held on May 30, 2013 during the Barreau du Québec Annual Congress. The winning team received a $5,0000 scholarship awarded by the Minister of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology, Mr. Pierre Duchesne.Co-produced by the radio station CIBL 101,5, Juripop and the Barreau du Québec, Droit de Cité is a 30-episode radio broadcast series enabling young university or Cégep students to discuss major social issues within an open debate formula. Lavery is pleased to have taken part in an activity supported by the Barreau du Québec. Considering his long-standing teaching experience, Mr. Perron was the right choice to act as mentor.
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A significant pro bono partnership agreement between the firm and YWCA Québec
Lavery is pleased to announce the completion of a pro bono partnership agreement between the firm and YWCA Québec. Ms. Marie-Hélène Riverin, associate at Lavery’s Quebec City office, was actively involved in the negotiations leading up to the agreement, which represents one of the first partnerships under the auspices of Pro Bono Québec between a law firm and a community organization located in the Greater Quebec City Area.The partnership agreement provides that Lavery shall give YWCA Québec beneficiaries free lectures on various legal issues. The agreement also provides that free legal services shall be made available to YWCA Québec.Lavery and YWCA Québec already have an excellent working relationship. For the last three years, the firm has been offering volunteer training courses through the YWCA Québec program Leader et décisionnelle. The program offers beneficiaries and women in general valuable information on the operations of boards of directors."This partnership agreement between Lavery and YWCA Québec speaks eloquently to our firm’s commitment in the community. Even though we fully support the long-standing community involvement of several of our lawyers, we sincerely believe that pro bono initiatives at the firm level go hand in hand with various individual initiatives", said Don McCarty, Managing Partner of the firm.
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Marie-Hélène Jolicoeur, speaker at a seminar of the Éditions Yvon Blais
Ms. Marie-Hélène Jolicoeur, a Labour and Employment Law associate at Lavery, gave a conference entitled “Faire face à la responsabilité accrue en matière de santé et sécurité du travail” (Facing growing occupational health and safety liability claims) during a one-day seminar organized in Quebec City on May 15, 2013 by the publisher Éditions Yvon Blais as part of its training activities. The seminar drew some 50 people.The conference of Ms. Jolicoeur focused on penal fines imposed to employers under An Act Respecting Occupational Health and Safety as well as on criminal negligence. Ms Jolicoeur also provided a summary of the recent case law in that regard.
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Pierre-L. Baribeau recipient of the 2013 pro Bono-Rajpattie-Persaud Award
Lavery is pleased to announce that Mr. Pierre-L. Baribeau, a Labour and Employment Law partner at Lavery, has received the 2013 Pro Bono-Rajpattie-Persaud Award during the Annual Presidential Dinner of the Québec Branch of the Canadian Bar Association (ABC-Québec) that was held on May 23, 2013 at the Hotel Hyatt Regency Montreal.This award recognizes each year the exceptional contribution of a member of ABC-Québec to the community. Mr. Baribeau’s long-standing community involvement is expressed by his commitment in various foundations and non-profit organizations. He is currently Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Quebec Lung Association and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Boscoville 2000, a troubled youth help centre."Pierre Baribeau fully deserves this award handed out by ABC-Québec. Lavery is proud to have such a distinguished lawyer within its ranks. Whether he is representing important clients or doing community work, Pierre always stays true to his values. When a cause is dear to his heart, he wholeheartedly embraces it. For instance, in 2012, he reached the top of Island Peak in the Himalayas (Nepal) that stands at 6 189 m, to raise funds for research on respiratory diseases", said Don McCarty, Managing Partner of the firm.