This section keeps you up-to-date on the latest news and upcoming public appearances of Lavery professionals.
News
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Lavery assists Stornoway in developing agreements with the Government of Quebec for the extension of Highway 167
Lavery is pleased to announce that its Energy and Natural Resources team counselled and assisted the Stornoway Diamond Corporation (hereafter referred to as Stornoway) in the development of two agreements with ministries of the Government of Quebec concerning a 243-kilometer extension of Highway 167 to connect the communities of Chibougamau and Mistissini with the Renard Diamond Project, which could become Quebec’s first diamond mine.The signing of the two Stornoway agreements with, on the one hand, the ministère des Ressources naturelles et de la Faune and, on the other, the ministère des Transports was announced in Chibougamau on August 1st. These agreements set out the terms for Stornoway’s financial participation in the construction and maintenance costs for the Highway 167 Extension.This is one of the five major infrastructure projects announced on May 9, 2011 by the Government of Quebec as part of its Plan Nord and designed to provide access to areas with the greatest potential for economic development.Lavery’s Energy and Natural Resources Law team consists of 20 lawyers who complementary expertise makes it possible to respond to the needs of energy, mining and other natural resource companies in Quebec.
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Michel Blouin becomes a member of the Board of Stornoway Diamond Corporation
Mr. Michel Blouin, partner at Lavery, was appointed to the Board of Directors of Stornoway Diamond Corporation, one of Canada's leading diamond exploration and development companies. Michel Blouin specializes in securities law for the mining industry and, more specifically, he handles incorporations, mergers and acquisitions and reorganizations of mining companies. He is listed in The Canadian Legal LEXPERT® Directory 2011 in the field of Mining, and the 2010 edition of The Best Lawyers in Canada directory recognizes Mr. Blouin as one of Canada's best lawyers in Natural Resources Law.
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Lavery represents IAMGOLD Corporation in a private placement of flow-through shares in the amount of $43.3 million
On February 24, 2011, IAMGOLD Corporation closed a private placement of flow-through shares at the price of $25.48 per share for a total amount of $43.3 million.IAMGOLD was represented by a team from Lavery consisting of Michel Servant and Guillaume Lavoie (corporate and securities) and Philip Nolan (tax).IAMGOLD is a leading mid-tier mining company producing approximately one million ounces annually from six gold mines (including current joint ventures) on three continents.
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Lavery welcomes Émilie Duguay to its Business Law Group in Montreal
Montreal, July 20, 2011 - Lavery is pleased to welcome Ms. Émilie Duguay to the Business Law Group of its Montreal office. Ms. Duguay has specialized in Securities Law throughout her career, and her specific experience was representing a financial institution and a public corporation as in-house counsel. She will provide Lavery’s clients with legal advice in matters pertaining to securities law, corporate law and governance, capital restructuring and commercial transactions, including mergers and acquisitions. Ms. Duguay received her Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) from the Université de Montréal and has been a member of the Quebec Bar since 2006. She has also completed a CSI (Canadian Securities Institute) training program in securities trading.
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Sophie Prégent and Frédéric Pagé, co-authors of an article in the June issue of the Industrie & Commerce magazine
Lavery associates Sophie Prégent and Frédéric Pagé have co-authored an article entitled “Développement des ressources: l’enjeu autochtone” (Resource Development: the Aboriginal Question), published in the Industrie & Commerce magazine. In this article, Ms. Prégent and Mr. Pagé discuss natural resource project development and the aboriginal law issues it raises. What should businesses know? How should they proceed? We invite you to read the article by clicking here. It is only available in the French language.
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The cabinet council renews Olga Farman's term on the Board of Directors of the Québec City Convention Centre
Last June 22, the cabinet council of the Government of Québec nominated Olga Farman to serve on the Board of Directors of the Corporation of the Québec City Convention Centre. Olga, who is a partner and a member of the firm's Business Law and Life Sciences groups, sits on the Board since 2007. The Corporation of the Québec City Convention Centre administers and manages the Québec City Convention Centre, with a mission to attract conventions and international events, and position the Québec region as a destination of choice for business events.
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Jean Martel Becomes President of BDC’s Governance/Nominating Committee
Last June 8, Mr. Jean Martel, associate at Lavery, was elected President of the Governance/Nominating Committee of the Board of Directors of the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC). The Committee advises the Board of Directors of the BDC in matters of corporate governance. It also makes recommendations to the Board on questions such as the composition and mandates of the Board and its committees, and on the appointment or reappointment of the Chairperson, the directors, and the President and CEO.The Chairpersons of the other main BDC committees of the Board, i.e. the Audit Committee, the Human Resources Committee, the Credit/Investment and Risk Committee and the Pension Funds Investment Committee, currently sit on the Governance/Nominating Committee of the BDC.
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Special Dinner for CFOs raises $225,000 for young victims of child abuse
Nearly 40 CFOs from the Quebec business community and over 100 professionals participated in the third fundraising dinner organized by the Marie-Vincent Foundation on May 19. The event was part of the 2011 fundraising campaign presided by Mr. Claude Mongeau, President and Chief Executive Officer of the CN. Lavery was among the sponsors of the event. Mr. Jean Saint-Onge, one of the firm’s Partners, is Chair of the Board of Directors of the Marie-Vincent Foundation, which is dedicated to supporting Québec children under 12 who are victims of child abuse, more specifically of sexual abuse. The funds donated will help finance prevention, education and support programs for young victims and their families. From left to right | Denis Pétrin, Transat AT, Jocelyn Lauzière, Agropur, Denis Mathieu, Uni-Select, Jean Saint-Onge, Chair of the Board of Directors of the Marie-Vincent Foundation, Pierre Despars, Gaz Metro, Sylvain Gascon, Desjardins Marché des capitaux, Luc Jobin, CN, Lucie Joyal, Executive Director Marie-Vincent Foundation, Pierre Alary, Bombardier et Georges Pothier, host for the evening.
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Frédéric Pagé Becomes a Member of the Board of Directors of the Young Bar Association of Montréal
Last May 20, the Young Bar Association of Montréal (YBAM) chose the members of its new Board of Directors for 2011-2012. Mr. Frédéric Pagé, a lawyer at Lavery, was elected Administrator of the YBAM and he will take on the Presidency of the Continuing Education Committee. Founded in 1898, the Young Bar Association of Montreal (YBAM) represents lawyers with 10 years or less of practice, registered in the Montreal area. The mission of the YBAM is to defend and promote its members’ interests. It also offers various segments of the population consulting and legal information on a volunteer basis, besides organizing charitable activities. Overall, the YBAM seeks to improve access to justice and to contribute to the well-being of the community.
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230 Corporate Counsels Attend the Lavery Seminar on Litigation Risk Management
Last June 14, Lavery held a seminar on litigation risk management for corporate counsels at Le Centre Sheraton Montréal. Besides a plenary assembly and a lunch and learn session, this event – which is accredited by the Barreau du Québec in the context of Mandatory Continuing Education – offered no less than six workshops on a variety of themes: an overview of litigation management; inquiries and inspections; communicating with the media; litigation alternatives; injunctions and safeguard orders; and litigation allowances. The fact that 230 corporate counsels attended was a clear indication of the relevance of the seminar, offered as a courtesy of Lavery.
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A Successful Annual Cocktail
Last June 8, some 150 people, including 95 clients and 40 lawyers at Lavery, gathered for the firm’s traditional summer cocktail. Triple World Champion and Olympic Medalist Alexandre Despatie – who was actually celebrating his birthday – paid the guests a visit. Every year, Lavery lawyers and partners invite present and prospective clients to this event, which took place this year at the Ex-Centris, on St. Lawrence Boulevard, in Montréal, amidst the F1 festivities.
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Another Lavery Partner Has Been Awarded the Title of Avocat émérite (Ad. E.)
Montréal, June 22, 2011 – Lavery is pleased to announce that the Barreau du Québec has awarded Mr. Raphaël Schachter, Q.C. the title of Avocat émérite (Ad.E.). This honour was created in 2007 to recognise sustained and outstanding contributions made by a select group of lawyers to the advancement of the profession, the work of the Barreau or their social or professional environment. Mr. Schachter joins an elite group of recipients, nine of whom are partners at Lavery. “We are honoured that the Barreau du Québec has awarded the distinction of Avocat émérite to our colleague, Raphaël Schachter, who has had a remarkable career in criminal and penal law. Because of his commitment, professional rigor and a set of strong personal values, he has provided our clients, often under difficult circumstances, with counsel and services of the highest quality,” Élise Poisson, Managing Partner, stressed. From the beginning of his career, Mr. Schachter has practised exclusively in the areas of criminal law, penal law and the penal aspects of competition law. He has appeared before courts of every level in Canada, including the Supreme Court of Canada on numerous occasions. After practicing as a Quebec Crown Prosecutor from 1969 to 1972 and Federal Crown Prosecutor from 1972 to 1976, Mr. Schachter became a senior partner in the law firm of Lapointe, Schachter, Champagne & Talbot. He later joined Lavery, de Billy as a partner and created the first criminal and penal law department in any major law firm in the Province of Quebec to serve the business community. Appointed Queen's Counsel in 1986, and inducted as a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers in 1994, Mr. Schachter was President of the Quebec Section from 2006-2008. He also authored an article on criminal law ethics and published in a textbook entitled Taking the Law Into Your Own Hands: Child Abduction and the Defence of Necessity, which compiled the texts of eight guests of honour who lectured at the University of Windsor Law Faculty during the previous eight years. Mr. Schachter is listed in the 2010 edition of Best Lawyers in Canada in the area of criminal law. On April 8, 2011, the Université de Montréal launched the Raphaël Schachter, Q.C., Scholarship Fund that will be administered by its Faculty of Law. This fund will provide support to students, organisations or initiatives associated primarily with the Université de Montréal’s Faculty of Law and aimed at promoting or improving various aspect of criminal law including the fight against judicial mistakes.