Family law is evolving, but not always at the same pace everywhere in Canada.

September 15, 2025

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June 3, 2026

Seven partners recognized as leading lawyers in Canada by Lexpert in its Special Edition in Technology

On June 3, 2026, Lexpert recognized the expertise of three partners in its 2026 edition of the Lexpert Special Edition: Technology. Étienne Brassard, Chantal Desjardins, Alain Y. Dussault, Alexandre Hébert, Isabelle Jomphe, Eric Lavallée, and André Vautour are recognized among Canada’s leading lawyers, highlighting the firm’s excellence and strategic role in the technology law space. Étienne Brassard practises business law, with a focus on corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate law. He advises companies locally and internationally on private financing transactions in all forms, whether traditional or convertible debt or equity investments. Chantal Desjardins is a partner, lawyer, and trademark agent. She supports clients in protecting and defending their intellectual property rights, including trademarks, industrial designs, trade secrets, copyright, and domain names, in furtherance of their business objectives. Ms. Desjardins advises on the protection and management of IP assets and represents clients during application examination, as well as in opposition proceedings and litigation, in Canada and internationally. She also negotiates licences, contracts, and technology transfers, and advises on advertising, labelling, and compliance matters, including with respect to the Charter of the French Language. Alain Y. Dussault is a partner, lawyer, and trademark agent in Lavery’s Intellectual Property group. His practice focuses primarily on intellectual property litigation, and he has extensive experience in patents, trademarks, copyright, and industrial designs. He has acted in large-scale matters, including multi-jurisdictional disputes, for clients across a range of industries, including pharmaceuticals, agri-food, electronics, forestry, and entertainment. He has represented clients in complex disputes before Québec courts, the Federal Courts, and the Supreme Court of Canada, and also advises them on registration matters, Alexandre Hébert is a partner in the Business Law group and specializes in mergers and acquisitions, corporate financing, and venture capital. He advises SMEs and investment funds, particularly in innovation and technology, including in cross-border transactions. Recognized for his business-advisor approach, he supports clients with legal and strategic guidance tailored to their growth objectives. Isabelle Jomphe is a partner, lawyer, and trademark agent in Lavery’s Intellectual Property group. Her expertise includes trademarks, industrial designs, copyright, trade secrets, and technology transfers, as well as advertising law and matters relating to labelling and the Charter of the French Language. She is recognized for her strategic advice and practical approach across all aspects of intellectual property law, primarily in trademarks. She advises clients in particular on search and filing strategies, opposition proceedings, and litigation, both in Canada and abroad. Eric Lavallée is a lawyer and trademark agent at Lavery (Business Law) and co-founder of Lavery’s Legal Lab on Artificial Intelligence (L3IA), to which he contributed by developing internal AI solutions. His practice in intellectual property and technology law leads him to advise businesses on licensing, commercial agreements, and IP protection and due diligence strategies, as well as on legal issues related to the deployment of AI (privacy, governance, and partnerships). He holds a master’s degree in physics and a PhD in electrical engineering, and also has solid experience in quantum technologies and nanotechnology R&D. André Vautour practises in the areas of corporate and commercial law, with a particular interest in corporate governance, strategic alliances, joint ventures, investment funds, and mergers and acquisitions of privately held companies. About Lavery Lavery is Québec’s leading independent law firm. It has more than 200 professionals based in Montréal, Québec City, Sherbrooke, and Trois-Rivières, who work every day to provide the full range of legal services to organizations doing business in Québec. Recognized by the most prestigious legal directories, Lavery’s professionals are at the heart of developments in the business community and are actively involved in their communities. The firm’s expertise is frequently sought by numerous national and global partners to assist them on matters governed by Québec jurisdiction.

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June 2, 2026

Three members from Lavery’s Intellectual Property Group were recognized in the 2026 edition of the IAM Patent 1000 rankings

Three members from Lavery’s Intellectual Property group have been recognized in the 2026 edition of the IAM Patent 1000 ranking, as leading practitioners in the patents field. The firm’s Intellectual Property group supports organizations in developing strategies to maximize the value of their intellectual property assets, in line with their business priorities and objectives. Its professionals advise clients in Canada and internationally on all matters relating to the protection, management, and commercialization of intellectual property rights, including enforcement and defence. Béatrice T Ngatcha is a lawyer and patent agent with Lavery’s Intellectual Property group. She is registered as a patent agent in Canada and the United States and is also a lawyer called to the Ontario Bar and a member of the Barreau du Québec (c.j.c.). Béatrice holds a PhD in Chemistry from Université Laval and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the National Research Council in Ottawa. In addition to a significant practice in patent drafting and prosecution for Canadian and international clients, Béatrice’s expertise is sought in intellectual property litigation, trade secrets, transactional due diligence, the development of patent-related business strategies, patent portfolio value creation, licensing, and arbitration. Serge Shahinian is a partner and patent agent with Lavery’s Intellectual Property group. Registered as a patent agent in Canada and the United States, he has practised in intellectual property since 2000, drawing on doctoral and postdoctoral training in biochemistry, biology, and genetics. He advises clients in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and chemistry on patent strategy and patent procurement in Canada and internationally, as well as on patentability, validity, and infringement matters, and he participates in transactional due diligence. He has been recognized by IAM Patent 1000 since 2019. Gaspard Petit is a lawyer and technical advisor with Lavery’s Intellectual Property group. His practice focuses on copyright and patents, with a particular interest in emerging high-technology fields, including artificial intelligence and automation. He advises on patentability, infringement, and trade secret protection, as well as related areas such as personal data, personality rights, and cybersecurity. Before entering legal practice, he worked as a software engineer and has more than 15 years of experience in programming and in the development and management of technology products and services, including in 3D animation, broadcasting, video games, and cloud computing. About IAMIAM is a leading media platform specializing in intellectual property. Each year, it publishes the IAM Patent 1000, a reference tool for anyone seeking patent law experts. The guide is based on an extensive qualitative research process designed to identify, in key jurisdictions, the firms and lawyers that stand out for excellence in the provision of patent legal services. About LaveryLavery is Quebec’s leading independent law firm. It has more than 200 professionals based in Montréal, Québec City, Sherbrooke, and Trois-Rivières, who work every day to provide the full range of legal services to organizations doing business in Quebec. Recognized by the most prestigious legal directories, Lavery’s professionals are at the heart of developments in the business community and are actively involved in their communities. The firm’s expertise is frequently sought by many national and international partners to support them on matters involving Quebec jurisdiction.

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May 7, 2026

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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May 7, 2026

Long-term incentive plans: What happens to the benefits upon termination of employment?

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