This section keeps you up-to-date on the latest news and upcoming public appearances of Lavery professionals.
For all media inquiries, please contact Jean-François Lemieux:
- jflemieux@lavery.ca
- 514 877-3002
News
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Lavery advises Thermos Rive Nord
Lavery has had the privilege of assisting Thermos Rive Nord, a fast-growing Quebec-based business, during a pivotal phase in its development—it has optimized its management structure, marking a new chapter in its history. Thermos Rive-Nord Inc. specializes in manufacturing glass products tailored to the needs of its clientele, which includes door and window manufacturers, local glazing companies and replacement specialists. Lavery acted as legal counsel to the buyer, Jean-Sébastien Basilico, in this strategic transaction, guiding him through every step of the process. In particular, the Lavery team structured the transaction in the most optimal manner possible, negotiated key agreements and coordinated all legal aspects. The transaction was unique in that it had particularly tight deadlines, a complex transaction structure and financial and legal issues requiring swift execution and close coordination between the various stakeholders. In this context, the Lavery team showed how agile and precise it can be by anticipating risks, proposing pragmatic solutions and maintaining a high level of control throughout the process. The transaction was closed successfully, ensuring the business’s continued operation and favourably positioning it for future growth. It will benefit both employees and customers, and it has laid the groundwork for the company’s long-term operability.
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Eight partners recognized as leaders in Canada for their expertise in infrastructure, according to Lexpert
On May 6, 2026, Lexpert recognized the expertise of five of our partners in its 2026 Lexpert Special Edition:Infrastructure. Laurence Bich-Carrière, Jean-Sébastien Desroches, Christian Dumoulin, Nicolas Gagnon, Édith Jacques, Marc-André Landry, Ouassim Tadlaoui and André Vautour now rank among Canada’s leaders in supporting economic players in the infrastructure industry. Laurence Bich-Carrière, is a member of the Quebec and Ontario Bar Associations, Laurence Bich-Carrière practices within the Litigation and Dispute Resolution group, in a versatile civil and commercial litigation practice specializing in complex litigation (class actions, appeals, extraordinary remedies, private international law). Jean-Sébastien Desroches practises business law and focuses primarily on mergers and acquisitions, infrastructure, renewable energy and project development as well as strategic partnerships. He has had the opportunity to steer several major transactions—complex legal operations, cross-border transactions, reorganizations, and investments—in Canada and at an international level on behalf of Canadian, American, and European clients and international corporations and institutional clients in the manufacturing, transportation, pharmaceutical, financial, and renewable energy sectors. Christian Dumoulin is a partner in the firm’s Business Law Group. He served as Managing Partner of the Sherbrooke office from 2015 to 2023 and sat on the firm’s Board of Directors from 2015 to 2017, and again in 2024. He specializes in mergers and acquisitions, commercial law and real estate law, and acts as a business and strategic advisor to clients of all sizes. Recognized for his rigour and practical approach, he supports clients in complex transactions (reorganizations, financings, sales and acquisitions, shareholder disputes). He has also been advising on infrastructure projects for more than fifteen years, including public-private partnerships, as well as on all aspects of commercial real estate law. Nicolas Gagnon focuses his practice on construction law and suretyship. He counsels contractors, public and private sector clients, professional services firms as well as surety companies at every stage of construction projects. He advises clients on the public bidding and procurement processes and participates in the negotiation and drafting of contractual documents involving various project delivery methods, such as public-private partnership projects and design, construction, financing and maintenance contracts. In addition to advising various construction industry stakeholders on construction management and any claims that may arise, he also assists them with dispute resolution processes. Édith Jacques is a partner in the Business Law Group in Montréal. She specializes in mergers and acquisitions and commercial and international law. Édith acts as strategic business advisor for medium to large private companies. Marc-André Landry is a member of the Litigation and Conflict Resolution group and focuses his practice on commercial litigation. He frequently assists his clients in resolving their disputes through negotiation, mediation or arbitration, or before the various courts of law. Over the years, he has represented businesses in many sectors, including construction, real estate, renewable energy, conventional energy, new technologies, financial services and pharmaceuticals. Ouassim Tadlaoui is a partner in the firm’s Litigation and Dispute Resolution Group and focuses his practice on banking litigation, restructuring, bankruptcy and insolvency, as well as construction surety. He represents chartered banks and other financial institutions and alternative lenders as creditors, as well as certain debtors, in bankruptcy and restructuring proceedings. He also represents and advises surety companies, as well as national and international businesses, in insolvency, bankruptcy and restructuring matters in the construction industry. André Vautour practises corporate law and commercial law, and is specifically interested in corporate governance, strategic alliances, joint ventures, investment funds, and mergers and acquisitions of private companies. He also practises technology law (drafting technology development and transfer agreements, licensing agreements, distribution agreements, outsourcing agreements, and e-commerce agreements). 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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Lavery welcomes Catherine as lawyer
Lavery is pleased to announce the arrival of Catherine LaRose, a lawyer in the Litigation group whose practice focuses on health law. With five years of experience in the health care system, including three years as a clinical nurse, she now brings her expertise to institutions and organizations in the sector, advising and representing them on all matters related to their activities, including hospital liability and class actions. Her nursing studies at Université Laval enabled her to develop a strong interest in issues relating to access to care and in improving Québec’s health care system. Recognized on several occasions during her legal studies, Catherine is known for her rigour, professionalism, and deeply human approach. “I am very proud to be joining Lavery, whose extensive experience and depth of expertise in health law are widely recognized. I look forward to putting my skills to work for the institutions, organizations, and businesses that form essential links in the health and social services network.” We warmly welcome Catherine to our teams!
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Lavery welcomes Myriam as lawyer
Lavery is pleased to announce the arrival of Myriam Chapdelaine, a lawyer in the Litigation and Dispute Resolution group whose practice focuses on civil and commercial litigation. A graduate of the Université de Sherbrooke, she distinguished herself early in her academic career, notably through an internship at the Centre québécois du droit de l’environnement. Since being called to the Barreau du Québec in 2023, she has gained extensive experience in civil and commercial litigation, labour and employment law, and family law. Her rigour and commitment to access to justice make her a valuable addition to our firm. “I was looking for a firm where I could take on real challenges while being supported day to day. Lavery won me over with the quality of the discussions, its commitment to work well done, and the way the team approaches files: with judgment, efficiency, and humanity. It’s a motivating setting for the next stage of my litigation practice.” We warmly welcome Myriam to our teams!
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Lavery further accelerates its AI adoption with the appointment of Philip Louis as Senior Director, Innovation and Digital Transformation
Montréal, April,29 2026 — Lavery is pleased to announce the appointment of Philip Louis as Senior Director, Innovation and Digital Transformation, further strengthening the firm’s ability to develop and deploy AI-powered and emerging technology solutions. Prior to joining Lavery, Philip Louis served as Advisor, Predictive Technologies and Artificial Intelligence at the Barreau du Québec. In that role, he monitored technological developments, analyzed their impact on the profession, helped develop organizational guidelines, and advised decision-makers on issues related to professional ethics and access to justice. He also designed tools, guides, and training programs on the responsible use of AI. His distinctive background, combining in-depth knowledge of the legal sector with a strong understanding of emerging technologies' challenges, will support the firm’s ambition to accelerate innovation in a structured and responsible manner. At the crossroads of law, ethics and innovation In his role, Philip Louis will play a central part in shaping and implementing the firm’s innovation and digital transformation strategy. He will work closely with legal, technology and compliance teams to structure and lead a portfolio of technology initiatives. He will draw on his experience at the Barreau du Québec and his strategic thinking on the ethical and responsible use of artificial intelligence in the legal sector. He will also maintain active monitoring of technological developments and assess their impact on the profession, contributing to the firm’s strategic direction. “Innovation in the legal field truly comes into its own when it tangibly enhances professionals’ ability to better serve their clients. When properly managed, artificial intelligence becomes a powerful tool for improving the quality of analysis, accelerating information processing, and refocusing lawyers’ work on higher value-added issues. Lavery offers a unique environment for transforming these possibilities into concrete solutions that benefit clients,” said Philip Louis. A rigorous, responsible and value-driven approach Lavery has adopted a thoughtful and disciplined approach to AI, choosing to develop internal tools in a controlled environment rather than relying on generic commercial solutions. In this context, the arrival of Philip Louis enhances the firm’s capacity to innovate responsibly, embedding considerations of compliance, professional ethics, confidentiality and user acceptability into solutions from the outset. With his specialized training in responsible AI, combined with technical expertise in programming and emerging technology, he will be able to act as a true bridge between the legal, technological and operational dimensions of innovation. “Integrating AI into a law firm like ours requires a structured, well-governed approach aligned with our professional obligations.Philip’s expertise allows us to go further, more efficiently, while maintaining the highest standards of quality and protection for our clients,” said Loïc Berdnikoff. Part of a broader strategy This appointment follows a series of recent initiatives aimed at accelerating the integration of AI within the firm, including the rollout of its closed-loop generative AI interface, “Billy,” and the strengthening of its innovation leadership. Together, these initiatives mark the beginning of a sustained transformation, positioning Lavery as a leading player in the responsible adoption of AI in the legal sector.
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Seven partners named as Canadian leaders in finance and mergers and acquisitions by Lexpert
On April 15, 2026, Lexpert recognized the expertise of seven of our partners in its 2026 Lexpert Special Edition: Finance and M&A. René Branchaud now ranks among Canada’s leaders in the area of finance and Étienne Brassard, Jean-Sébastien Desroches, Alexandre Hébert, Édith Jacques, Paul Martel and André Vautour are among Canada’s leading lawyers in mergers and acquisitions. Finance René Branchaud practises in the fields of securities, mergers and acquisitions, as well as corporate law. With more than thirty years’ experience, he advises companies on matters such as incorporation and organization, the drafting of shareholder agreements, private placements, public issues, going public, dispositions, and takeovers. M&A Étienne Brassard practises business law, more specifically corporate financing, mergers and acquisitions and corporate law. He advises local and international businesses in relation to all forms of private financing, from traditional or convertible debt to equity investments. Jean-Sébastien Desroches practises business law and focuses primarily on mergers and acquisitions, infrastructure, renewable energy and project development as well as strategic partnerships. Alexandre Hébert is a partner in the Business Law group, focusing on mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance and venture capital. He advises SMEs and investment funds, particularly in the innovation and technology sectors, including on cross-border transactions. Known for his business-minded approach, he supports clients with pragmatic legal and strategic guidance aligned with their growth objectives. Édith Jacques is a partner in our Business Law Group in Montréal. She specializes in mergers and acquisitions, commercial law and international law. Édith acts as strategic business advisor for medium to large private companies. Paul Martel is a partner in the Business Law Group. He practises primarily in the area of corporate law, focusing on corporations, not-for-profit corporations and general partnerships. He is also an expert in commercial contracts. Paul is recognized for his ability to find effective, innovative solutions to the most complex legal issues in corporate law. André Vautour practises corporate law and commercial law, and is specifically interested in corporate governance, strategic alliances, joint ventures, investment funds, and mergers and acquisitions of private companies. 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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Lavery is accelerating its integration of artificial intelligence into its practices and asserting its position as a leader in innovation
Montreal, April 15, 2026 — Lavery is taking another step in its integration of artificial intelligence into the legal and intellectual property practices by announcing a series of strategic initiatives that will significantly precipitate its technological shift. Invested in artificial intelligence since 2017 with the launch of its Lavery Legal Lab on Artificial Intelligence (L3AI), Lavery has made the bold decision not to use commercial solutions, but rather to develop custom internal tools as part of a unique, well-thought-out and controlled approach, resolutely focused on creating value for its clients. By developing unique solutions to support the legal and intellectual property practices, Lavery is providing its professionals with the means to concentrate their efforts where it counts the most—serving clients. A clear vision: innovating without compromising rigor To realize this ambition, Lavery is announcing that it has named Loïc Berdnikoff as its new Chief Innovation Officer. Mr. Berdnikoff is thus adding this innovation role to his responsibilities as General Counsel and Chief Privacy Officer. This nomination reflects a clear vision: integrate innovation and the highest industry standards as well as the rigor that the practice of law requires. “In our profession, innovation, and in particular the use of artificial intelligence, must coexist with a number of compliance parameters aimed at ensuring the highest confidentiality and quality standards. My role is to allow our firm to take bold steps forward, while ensuring security and quality and meeting our professional obligations,” says Loïc Berdnikoff. With the appointment of a new Chief Innovation Officer and the unique expertise of Benoit Yelle, Éric Lavallée and Gaspard Petit, the members of L3AI, the firm will be better able to: translate technological challenges into concrete solutions for the practice of law roll out capacity-building initiatives more rapidly closely align innovation with industry standards and our day-to-day work “This is the beginning of a movement. Our firm’s ambition is clear: We want to build a model where artificial intelligence spurs excellence and is at the service of both our clients and our profession. Innovation is at the heart of our strategic trajectory, and we are making every effort to hold our position as a leader in technological development in the legal industry in Quebec. This new appointment aims to solidify our commitment in this regard,” says the firm’s CEO, Anik Trudel. Lavery is rolling out a tool called “Billy,” a closed-loop generative artificial intelligence interface Since 2023, Lavery has been developing an internal generative artificial intelligence tool for all of its members to access, in a controlled environment, different versions of its chatbot designed specifically for the Quebec legal context. Today, Lavery is rolling out a new assistant for its members, called “Billy” as a tribute to the firm’s heritage. It is entirely secure, ensuring that no information entrusted to it or produced by it can be transmitted or accessed by a third party. With the creation of this new personalized interface, Lavery is consolidating its position as a pioneer in artificial intelligence applied to legal and intellectual property services, combining innovation and security. Designed by the L3AI in collaboration with our members and professionals from our IT group, the interface illustrates the firm’s commitment to remaining a leader in the responsible adoption of new technologies, for the benefit of its clients. Innovation to serve our clients Billy will host the artificial intelligence tool on dedicated Lavery servers. It therefore no longer depends on an interface from an external provider, making it possible to use the assistant without exposing client data to a third party. To our knowledge, it is the first tool that can offer such a guarantee in the Quebec legal services market. The tool assists with legal and intellectual property work, but the work remains entirely guided by the expertise of our legal and intellectual property professionals. We are integrating artificial intelligence to focus more of our energy on what really creates value for our clients: strategic analyses, risk anticipation, negotiations and decision-making assistance. Our new personal assistant will coexist with Lavery’s artificial intelligence tool, built on the most powerful external language models. We will continue to actively develop our tool to stay ahead of artificial intelligence technological developments. The starting point of an ongoing transformation These announcements are part of a broader effort. They are the starting point of a series of initiatives aimed at responsibly integrating artificial intelligence into all of the firm’s activities, for the long term. Lavery intends to continue not only to invest, but also to deepen its collaboration with various organizations involved in artificial intelligence development and actively contribute to the evolution of legal and intellectual property services in the age of artificial intelligence.
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Repreneurship business transfers: not just transactions, but strategic, people-centric adventures
At Lavery, we help businesses through pivotal moments in their life cycles every day. During the recently held Sommet du repreneuriat 2026, our partner Alexandre Hébert shared the stage with Daniel Valois for a talk on how to close the key stages of a business transfer, covering everything from letters of intent to indemnification clauses. Their talk brought a fundamental reality to light: A business transfer is not just another commercial transaction. It’s a complex process where transactional law and its technical language comes face-to-face with the emotional realities of those involved. Here is a summary of what we see as necessary for a successful transfer, inspired by the talks given at the aforementioned summit. Each business transfer is unique Unlike traditional institutional transactions, business transfers often involve sellers who will only ever go through one such transaction in their lifetime. They are entrepreneurs who know every employee involved in their business, from their own administrative assistant to the photocopier repairperson, and have for decades. Success begins by knowing that business transfer transactions require the use of a special language. Often, the seller’s advisors their lawyer or general accountant, for example do not know this “transactional language,” which adds a layer of complexity. Our role is to translate technical challenges such as these into solutions that truly help those involved. The foundations of a successful transaction To make the transaction successful, we recommend doing the following: Put people first: It’s important to understand how the seller, who is about to part with their “baby” feels, and how they see things. Show your competence but leave your ego behind: Technical expertise is quite necessary, but connecting with the people on the other side of the table by communicating in simple terms and putting one’s ego aside is just as important. Be as open as possible: Proactivity is key. The earlier things are said, the greater the chances of success. Manage fatigue: A transaction is a marathon. Fatigue, if not anticipated, can derail a project a few feet from the finish line. The Letter of Intent (LOI): more than a tacit agreement Although a letter of intent is technically non-binding where business terms are involved (price, structure), it will inevitably create expectations for both the buyer and the seller. Any attempt at making changes later on creates tension. A common mistake is neglecting the transition period. We have seen transactions fall through because a seller suddenly realized they had no plan for their life after the sale, just days before closing. To allay such emotional fears, it is crucial to disclose all information we have and determine what the parties want after the business purchase or sale, right from the LOI stage. Due diligence: the analogy of the three drawers Daniel Valois has a powerful analogy for due diligence: that of the three drawers. The top drawer: What you know for sure. Middle drawer: What you think you know but has yet to be confirmed. Bottom drawer: What you don’t know you don’t know. This is where major risks hide. The goal of the due diligence process is to move the contents of the lower drawers to the upper ones. Today, we have artificial intelligence as an increasingly valuable ally in identifying sectoral blind spots that experience alone cannot always detect. Although eliminating all risk is impossible, the buyer must make every effort during due diligence to confirm whether they are comfortable with identified risks. The art of compensation and the role of experts The final phase consists of allocating identified risks. This is where representations, guarantees, limits and indemnification deductibles come into play. This is also the stage where fatigue peaks. This climate is tense, requiring lawyers and experts to act as “shields.” Rather than letting the buyer and seller argue over technical indemnification clauses and risk damaging their future relationship, it is often preferable to let the professionals negotiate among themselves to come up with a balanced solution. Towards collaborative negotiation The negotiation process has changed. Today’s “discussions” often take place through intermediary versions of documents rather than with the parties at the same table. Negotiating this way can be impersonal and cause misunderstandings, or even frustration, for a seller who sees dozens of versions without understanding the nuances of each one. The speakers recommend a collaborative approach. It is important to know when to step out of the formal setting to make a direct call and defuse an emotional crisis or the overreaction of an advisor. The ultimate goal is to keep the business in operation and ensure the transition goes smoothly. In conclusion, a successful business transfer requires not only legal acumen, but also great emotional intelligence. By keeping people at the heart of every step and surrounding ourselves with experts who can speak the entrepreneurs’ language, we can transform complex transactions into a lasting success.