This section keeps you up-to-date on the latest news and upcoming public appearances of Lavery professionals.
News
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Jean Bélanger gives conference at the request of the Canadian Bar Association
On January 21, 2009 in Montreal and January 28 in Quebec City, 2009, at the request of the Canadian Bar Association, Jean Bélanger gave conferences on the annual review of Quebec case law.
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Lavery, de Billy welcomes a new labour and employment lawyer
Lavery, de Billy is pleased to welcome Valérie Korozs, attorney, to its Labour and Employment Law Group in the firm's Montreal offices. Called to the Quebec Bar in 2004, Ms. Korozs worked previously with Stikeman Elliott L.L.P., where her practice focused on labour and employment law.Ms. Korozs will advise the firm’s clients and represent them before the courts and administrative tribunals in labour relations and individual employment law matters, occupational health and safety, and human rights and freedoms. She will also work closely with the firm’s Business Law Group on the full range of labour and employment law issues involved in various corporate transactions.A graduate of the Université de Montréal in 2003, Ms. Korozs has participated in numerous moot court competitions. She was a member of the winning team that was awarded first prize in the Gale Cup Moot Competition in 2003, and represented Canada at the Commonwealth Moot Competition in Australia in the same year. In 2004, she won the prize for best pleader as a member of the Montreal Bar School team at the Jean-Pictet international moot court competition held in France. In 2002, she also completed an introductory program on the Chinese legal system at the China University of Political Science and Law in Beijing.
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A Lavery, de Billy Partner named Rising Star by Lexpert
Lavery, de Billy is pleased to announce that Sébastien Vézina, a partner and a member of the firm’s Business Law Group specializing in securities law, has been recognized as one of the country’s best young lawyers in the Lexpert’s Rising Stars – Leading Lawyers Under 40 annual competition. This honour was conferred on him during a special event held at the Arcadian Court in Toronto on November 25.The purpose of this annual competition, organized by Lexpert, is to identify and recognize the top young lawyers in the country working as in-house counsel, in government or in private practice. The winners are selected by Lexpert magazine and an advisory board made up of experienced lawyers representing all regions and fields of practice in the country.“We’re proud of Sébastien’s contribution, both working with our clients and within the firm, and of this prestigious recognition by Lexpert”, said Richard Dolan, the managing partner of Lavery, de Billy. “Sébastien is representative of the group of young lawyers who are developing their talents within our firm and continuing the tradition of excellence and attentive service that has built Lavery’s reputation with our clients”.
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Lavery, de Billy represents Industrial Alliance in $100 Preferred Shares Offering
LAVERY, DE BILLY L.L.P. represented Industrial Alliance Insurance and Financial Services Inc. in its $100 million offering of Non-Cumulative 5-Year Rate Reset Class A Preferred Shares Series C that closed on November 25, 2008. The Lavery, de Billy team was composed of Marc Rochefort, René Branchaud, Michel Servant and Guillaume Lavoie (corporate/securities), and Philip Nolan (tax).The syndicate of underwriters was led by Scotia Capital Inc. and included National Bank Financial Inc., RBC Dominion Securities Inc., BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc., CIBC World Markets Inc. Desjardins Securities Inc., Industrial Alliance Securities Inc., Dundee Securities Corporation, HSBC Securities (Canada) Inc. and Laurentian Bank Securities Inc.Founded in 1892, Industrial Alliance Insurance and Financial Services Inc. is a life and health insurance company that offers a wide range of life and health insurance products, savings and retirement plans, RRSPs, mutual and segregated funds, securities, auto and home insurance, mortgage loans and other financial products and services.
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Pamela McGovern, a Partner at Lavery, de Billy, co-chairs the Construction Superconference organized by the Canadian Institute – held last November 25th and 26th in Montreal
An experienced speaker, Pamela McGovern chaired the first day of the conference and gave the opening remarks. In her speech on November 26th, she discussed a subject of great interest to the construction industry: Surety Bonds and Insurance: Critical Issues to consider at the Prequalification Stage and Afterward.
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Pamela McGovern, a Partner at Lavery, de Billy, acts as Course Leader at the Construction Claims Conference organized by Federated Press – held last November 13th and 14th
Pamela McGovern shared her expertise on insurance law, surety bonds and construction law with an audience of lawyers, engineers and corporate executives in the field of risk management, as well as construction, insurance and other fields. Ms. McGovern’s presentations dealt with Surety Bonds and Environmental Responsibilities.
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Lavery represents the Quebec Railway Corporation Inc. in sale of Railway Subsidiaries to CN and Logistec Corporation
On November 1, 2008, the Canadian National Railway Company acquired the three principal railway subsidiaries of the Quebec Railway Corporation Inc. and its rail-freight ferry operation for an aggregate purchase price of $C49.8 million. Prior to such transaction, Logistec Corporation and Logistec Stevedoring (Atlantic) Inc. acquired from the Quebec Railway Corporation Inc. all of the shares and inter-company debt of Sydney Coal Railway Inc. for an aggregate net cash disbursement estimated at $C11 million. The Quebec Railway Corporation Inc. was represented in all the transactions by Lavery with a team led by André Vautour and that included Jean-Sébastien Desroches, Sarah Talpis-Guillet, Jamil Chammas (corporate) and Dominique Bélisle (financial services).
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Lavery, de Billy represented the syndicate of dealers in Gaz Métro inc.’s $150 million offering
LAVERY, DE BILLY L.L.P., represented the syndicate of dealers in the Gaz Métro inc.’s $150 million offering of 5.40% Series L First Mortgage Bonds closed on October 14. The Lavery, de Billy team was composed of Marc Rochefort, Michel Servant and Guillaume Lavoie (corporate/securities), and Philip Nolan (tax).On October 14, 2008, Gaz Métro inc. announced the closing of its $150 million of 5.40% Series L First Mortgage Bonds (the “Series L Bonds”) guaranteed by Gaz Métro Limited Partnership (“Gaz Métro”).The dealers’ syndicate was led by BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc., and included Desjardins Securities Inc., National Bank Financial Inc., Scotia Capital Inc., CIBC World Markets Inc., RBC Dominion Securities Inc., TD Securities Inc., Laurentian Bank Securities Inc. and Casgrain & Company Limited.The Series L Bonds, bearing interest at the rate of 5.40% per annum, will mature on April 15, 2013. Standard & Poor’s Rating Services and DBRS Limited have each assigned an “A” rating to the Series L Bonds.Gaz Métro is a leading Quebec energy company and one of Canada’s largest natural gas distributors. Gaz Métro serves some 171,000 customers through an underground pipeline network of almost 10,000 km.
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Top Aboriginal Law and Energy lawyer joins Lavery, de Billy
Montreal, September 10, 2008 – Lavery, de Billy is pleased to announce that Ann Bigué has joined the firm as a partner and a member of its Environment, Energy and Natural Resources law team.Her practice focuses on administrative, constitutional and regulatory law, with an emphasis on matters related to natural resources, energy and aboriginal rights. Prior to joining Lavery, de Billy, she practiced at McCarthy Tétrault for more than 25 years.Ann is frequently called upon by corporate clients to deal with issues relating to aboriginal and treaty rights in connection with energy and natural resources development projects. She has assumed leadership in complex litigation matters relating to aboriginal rights in the context of hydroelectric and forestry development projects in Quebec. She also has extensive experience in the development and realization of Canadian energy, mining and industrial projects as well as in forestry development activities.She is recognized in the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory as a leading lawyer in the field of aboriginal law. She is also named in the Best Lawyers in Canada directory as a leading lawyer in the area of regulatory matters relating to energy.Ann is a governor of the Association Pipeline Longitude 75o. She is a member of the U.S. Energy Bar Association, the Quebec Mineral Exploration Association, the Canadian Aboriginal Minerals Association, the Association québécoise pour l’évaluation d’impacts and the Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation.She is also member of the National Council and of the Quebec Branch Council of the Canadian Bar Association and a past member of the Executive Committee of the Quebec Division. Over the years, she has represented the Barreau du Québec on the Federal Judicial Advisory Committee for Québec (Québec-West).
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Four business law attorneys join Lavery, de Billy
The law firm of Lavery, de Billy is pleased to announce that four new lawyers, Nicolas Dufresne, Catherine Rioux, Valérie Martin and Louis-Philippe La Rocque, have joined its Business Law Group. Nicolas Dufresne, specializing in commercial law, was called to the Quebec Bar in 2000. He has a Bachelor of Law Degree (LL.B.) from the Université du Québec à Montréal and a Bachelor of Commerce Degree from Concordia University. In addition to corporate financing and the taking of security, which form the cornerstone of his practice, he has related experience in corporate restructuring, intellectual property and real estate. Catherine Rioux has been a member of the Quebec Bar since 2005 and earned her Bachelor of Law Degree (LL.B.) from the Université de Montréal. Most of her practice centers on mergers and acquisitions, commercial contracts and corporate reorganizations. Valérie Martin has been a member of the Quebec Bar since 2004 and earned her Bachelor of Law Degree (LL.B.) from the Université de Montréal. She joins the Financing Group. She also brings experience in commercial leases, mortgage documentation and commercial contracts of every kind. Louis-Philippe La Rocque was called to the Quebec Bar in 2008 and has a Bachelor of Law Degree (LL.B.) from the Université de Montréal and a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from McGill University. A member of the Business Law Group, developing his practice primarily in the areas of commercial transactions and mergers and acquisitions.
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Lavery, de Billy has two new Avocats émérites (Ad.E.)
The law firm of Lavery, de Billy is pleased to announce that lawyers Raymond Doray and Louis Payette have been named Avocats émérites (Ad.E.) following a decision by the General Council of the Bar of Quebec. The title of Avocat émérite was created in 2007 to recognize the exceptional contribution of certain lawyers to the advancement of the profession or the work of the Bar. Raymond Doray heads the information law practice and, more particularly, is involved in issues pertaining to access to information, privacy and defamation, as well as the application of the Canadian and Quebec charters of rights and freedoms. He also specializes in administrative and constitutional law. He represents several public and private corporations as well as media organizations in matters relating to the confidentiality of documents, the validity of certain government decisions and the right to one’s reputation and privacy. He is legal counsel for a number of major corporations, professional orders, public bodies and media organizations in matters relating to administrative and constitutional law. In 2002, Mr. Doray published a 2,000-page treatise on access to information rights and the protection of personal information with Éditions Yvon Blais/Carswell and wrote a chapter of the book entitled Droit du commerce électronique published by Les Éditions Thémis. On June 1st, 2004, he was awarded the Quebec Bar Foundation's Prix Répertoire for his book Accès à l'information – Loi annotée, jurisprudence, analyse, commentaires. He is also the author of the chapters on professional confidentiality and conflicts of interest in a guide published by the Quebec Bar of which he is the Vice-President. Mr. Doray is listed in The Canadian Legal LEXPERT® Directory in the field of public law litigation. Louis Payette practises commercial law, particularly in the areas of secured transactions (mortgage financing, equipment financing, structured finance) and loan syndications, real estate trusts and other commercial trusts, and implementation of securitization programs in Quebec for pools of loans and receivables. In recent years, he served on the Canadian delegation to the Organization of American States in connection with the preparation of a model Personal Property Security Act for the Latin American states and recently participated in the implementation of mortgage financing programs in countries in Africa and Eastern Europe. Mr. Payette taught at the Faculty of Law of the Université de Montréal for many years and prepared the proficiency course on the subject of several transactions for judges and legal practitioners in Quebec in connection with the coming into force of the Quebec Civil Code in 1994. These courses resulted in the publication of a book entitled Les sûretés réelles dans le Code civil du Québec (Walter Owen Book Prize 1996 and 2002) which is now in its third edition and is a reference book widely used by both practitioners and all levels of courts The Lexpert/American Lawyer Media Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada and The Best Lawyers in Canada list Mr. Payette as a leading practitioner in the field of banking law. In 2007, he received the Canadian Bar Association’s Paul André Crépeau Medal awarded to a jurist who has contributed to the advancement of the international aspects of private law and commercial law in Canada. The firm already had five Avocats émérites—attorneys Odette Jobin-Laberge, Pierre Bourque, J.-Vincent O’Donnell, Jean Saint-Onge and Michel Yergeau.
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Canadian Royalties conclut son financement de 137 500 000 $
On March 18, 2008, Canadian Royalties Inc. completed a short form prospectus offering of $137,500,000 aggregate principal amount of convertible senior unsecured debentures due March 31, 2015, including the exercise of the over-allotment option of $12,500,000 aggregate principal amount of debentures granted to the syndicate of underwriters led by BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc. and including Raymond James Ltd and Desjardins Securities Inc.Canadian Royalties Inc. was represented by in-house counsel Luciana Zanella who was assisted by Lavery, de Billy, with a team composed of Sébastien Vézina, Josianne Beaudry, David Pineault, Benoît Mallette and Michèle Gamache (Translation).