This section keeps you up-to-date on the latest news and upcoming public appearances of Lavery professionals.
News
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The Marie-Vincent Foundation thanks
Jean Saint-Onge for his 25-year commitmentIn a recent issue of the magazine Les Affaires, the Marie-Vincent Foundation paid tribute to Jean Saint-Onge, Ad. E., partner at Lavery, for his involvement of more 25 years with this organization, a resource for children aged 12 and younger who have been victims of sexual abuse.The Foundation pointed out that Mr. Saint-Onge had acted as Chairman of the Board of Directors for a total of 16 years. It also stated that his perseverance and determination for all those years had largely contributed to the growth of the Foundation and the creation of the Centre d’expertise Marie-Vincent. Lavery also wishes to salute Jean Saint-Onge for his long-standing community involvement.
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André Vautour appointed Denmark’s Honorary Consul
André Vautour, partner at Lavery, has been appointed Denmark’s Honorary Consul for the province of Quebec on October 31, 2012. Mr. Vautour is replacing his colleague, Michel Blouin, partner at Lavery, who held this diplomatic function for more than 23 years. Mr. Vautour’s main responsibilities will revolve around consular, commercial and cultural matters. They will include issuing provisional passports replacing a lost or stolen one, greeting Danish business people or government representatives in Quebec, establish contacts between Danish and Quebec cultural representatives or represent Denmark during events involving the Montreal consular corps.
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Sébastien Vézina appointed Corporate Secretary of Fancamp Exploration Ltd.
Sébastien Vézina, partner at Lavery, has been appointed Corporate Secretary of Fancamp Exploration Ltd., a Canadian-based mineral exploration company, which manages several natural resources projects at different stages of development in Quebec, particularly in the regions of Fermont (Côte-Nord), the Gaspé Peninsula and Beauce.Fancamp is pleased with the appointment of Sébastien Vézina: " The experience of Mr. Vézina in governance, in financing for public corporations, in negotiating business agreements and development agreements in connection with the Plan Nord will significantly contribute to the evolution of Fancamp for years to come."Click here to read Fancamp’s press release.
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Lavery hosts a Premières en affaires conference lunch with Gérald Fillion
Lavery is honoured to have hosted, on Thursday, October 25, 2012, a conference lunch entitled "A Book, An Author" presented by the magazine Premières en affaires. Mr. Gérald Fillion, a journalist for Radio-Canada since 2001, discussed the book "The Price of Civilization" from the American economist, Jeffrey D. Sachs.Gérald Fillion covers the economy and hosts " RDI économie", where he presents and analyzes economic news. The conference lasted one hour and involved Gérald Flllion, Ms. Margarita Lafontaine, editor of Premières en affaires, and 50 participants in a spirited exchange.
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Marie Cossette, cochairperson of the November 27, 2012 Crisis Management Conference
Under the cochairmanship of Marie Cossette, partner at Lavery, the firm will be the sponsor of a conference entitled "Crisis Management: The legal advisor’s survival guide", that will take place on November 27 at the InterContinental Montreal Hotel. This major event is designed to offer practical tools and advice to better understand and then align the respective work of lawyers and public relations officers in crisis management situations. The Crisis Management Conference will include renowned speakers who are active in business, law, communications and media. Lavery will be well represented at this event. In addition to Ms. Cossette, who will give the opening speech along with Ms. Marie Grégoire as well as a conference on the "lawyer and public relations officer duo", Mr. Jean Saint-Onge, Ad. E., partner at Lavery, will inform the participants about some conflicts that were efficiently managed from a public relations standpoint. The Conference organizer, Insight Information, will ensure that this activity is recognized for Continuing Legal Education purposes by the Quebec Bar. The clients of Lavery who want to take part in this event are entitled to a 10% refund. To take advantage of this offer, please call the toll-free number 1 888 777-1707 and mention that Lavery is the event sponsor.
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Appointment of Jean Martel to the Board of Directors of Oceanic Iron Ore Corp.
Lavery is pleased to announce that Jean Martel, Ad. E., has been appointed on October 19, 2012 to the Board of Directors of Oceanic Iron Ore Corp. Oceanic is a Vancouver-based mining corporation that is active in the territory covered by Plan Nord, particularly with regards to the development of iron properties in Ungava Bay. This new appointment adds to the various responsibilities already assumed by Mr. Martel as a member of other corporate boards.
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The Lavery Conference Lunch: A successful event!
The firm’s Conference Lunch, which was held on October 24 and 25, 2012 at the Lavery Conference Centre, has gathered more than 130 people, most of whom work in the insurance industry. This event was held under the theme " Greatness and miseries of the insurer’s obligation to defend". For the benefit of the participants, the two speakers, Mr. Bernard Larocque and Mr. Jonathan Lacoste-Jobin, discussed the fundamental principles of this obligation.From left to right: Bernard Larocque, partner at Lavery; and Jonathan Lacoste-Jobin, associate at Lavery
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Lavery, host of a business lunch for Bavarian and Quebec businesses
Lavery is pleased to have hosted, on October 23, a networking activity that was part of a business lunch organized by Quebec Manufacturers & Exporters (QME) and the State of Bavaria Quebec Office. This successful event drew some 70 people, including more than 50 business representatives from the Free State of Bavaria in Germany and the province of Quebec.Ms. Édith Jacques, partner at Lavery and Vice-Chairperson of the Board of Directors of QME board of directors, and Mr. Michael Gotschlich from the Department of Economy of Bavaria greeted the participants with a word of welcome. Mr. Frédéric Arsenault from the State of Bavaria Quebec Office and Mr. Simon Prévost from QME presented respectively the Bavarian and Quebec businesses. The presentations were followed by a networking activity.This event enabled the Bavarian delegation to know more about Plan Nord and the business opportunities related to this project, particularly in the areas of construction, infrastructure as well as energy and environmental technology.From left to right: Simon Prévost, President, Quebec Manufacturers & Exporters; Michael Gotschlich, Director of Foreign Trade, Europe and North America, Department of the Economy of Bavaria; Édith Jacques, partner at Lavery; and Frédéric Arsenault, economic and technology advisor, State of Bavaria Quebec Office
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Lavery represents the syndicate of agents in the offering of $125 million of 4.274% series 1 senior unsecured debentures of Cominar Real Estate Investment Trust
On June 15, 2012, Cominar Real Estate Investment Trust completed a public offering of $125 million aggregate principal amount of 4.274% Series 1 senior unsecured debentures due June 15, 2017, for total net proceeds to Cominar of approximately $124.1 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., CIBC World Markets Inc., Scotia Capital Inc., RBC Dominion Securities 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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Lavery represents Intact Insurance regarding the tentative agreement reached with Option consommateurs for the settlement of the 1998 ice storm class action
Intact Financial Corporation announced on October 23 that its insurance subsidiaries operating in Quebec have reached an agreement in principle with Option consommateurs for an out-of-court settlement of a class action lawsuit regarding the 1998 ice storm. This tentative agreement is subject to approval by the Québec Superior Court during the next few months. The class action suit launched by Option consommateurs sought to determine, among other things, whether the insurance companies had an obligation to compensate all policyholders included in the class action for additional living expenses incurred as a result of the power outages as well as the amount to be reimbursed. The 1998 ice storm was Canada’s most costly natural disaster. Approximately $1.6 billion was paid out to consumers by insurance companies, including more than $350 million by Intact subsidiaries. The agreement with Option consommateurs applies to more than 200,000 clients insured with Belair Insurance Company Inc., Allianz Insurance Company of Canada, AXA Assurances inc. and ING Insurance Company of Canada (Commerce Group). This agreement in principle involves only Intact Financial Corporation’s insurance subsidiaries and the class action suit against the 15 other insurance companies is still in progress. The amount of the agreement is $12.5 million. Mr. Jean Saint-Onge and Mr. Jean-Philippe Lincourt from Lavery represent Intact Insurance with respect to the proposed settlement this class action.
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Two new appointments for Marie Cossette
Lavery is pleased to announce that Marie Cossette, partner of our firm, has been appointed as member of the Organizing Committee for the 2013 Congress of the Quebec Bar and as member of the Comité Affaires-Cultures for the Chambre de commerce de Québec. These two nominations represent worthy additions to an already extensive involvement with respect to professional and community activities, particularly in the areas of culture, education and law.
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2012 Lavery Discussion Event: A successful conference!
The 2012 Lavery Discussion Event on the Distribution of financial products and services was a success. Almost 65 people gathered in the Lavery Conference Centre on October 10 to take part in this seminar, which was focused on recent developments and trends with regards to investigations, inspections and remedies. More specifically, the Lavery speakers discussed important concerns related to the growing application of the legislation and power to act of the Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF), including the scope of AMF powers, the role of registered firms and persons and the expectations of the AMF in that regard as well as the best practices and related recommendations. This Discussion Event involved the participation of Ms. Lise Girard, chief prosecutor at the Autorité des marchés financiers. From left to right: Marc Beauchemin, partner at Lavery; Josianne Beaudry, associate at Lavery; Daniel Alain Dagenais, partner at Lavery; Lise Girard, chief prosecutor at the Autorité des marchés financiers; Nathalie Durocher, associate at Lavery; and Evelyne Verrier, partner at Lavery.