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Lavery is pleased to announce the arrival of three lawyers: Jean-François Bigras, a member of the Family Law group, Nicolas Bonhomme, a member of the Litigation and Dispute Resolution group, and Natalia Leon, a member of the Labour and Employment Law group. Jean-François holds an LL.B. from the Université de Montréal, a J.D. in common law, as well as a bachelor’s degree in economics and political science. He brings a multidisciplinary background to his family law practice. He assists clients in often complex matters involving intersecting legal, financial and human issues, particularly in cases involving significant assets. Rigorous, dedicated and attentive to the realities of each situation, he stands out for his strategic approach and his ability to provide tailored support. Trilingual, he serves clients with ease in French, English and Italian. I am excited to be joining Lavery’s Family, Personal and Estate Law team. The quality and rigour of its practice, as well as the reputation of its members, make it an environment in which I am particularly proud to continue my professional journey and to put my skills to work for clients. A member of the Litigation and Dispute Resolution group, Nicolas Bonhomme advises clients on contractual matters and dispute resolution with a pragmatic, personalized approach. His practice leads him to work on a variety of commercial matters, particularly shareholder disputes, where his understanding of business issues is a significant asset. Drawing on experience gained at a boutique firm in Montréal, he has been involved in a broad range of files in commercial law, civil law and employment law, and has appeared before various judicial and administrative bodies. Nicolas holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from HEC Montréal, with a specialization in finance. He stands out for his practical mindset and his ability to propose concrete, effective solutions. I am embarking on this new stage of my career at Lavery with great enthusiasm. The diversity and complexity of the mandates entrusted to the firm represent a stimulating opportunity to take on new challenges and to further develop my practice in a collaborative environment. I also look forward to putting my experience to use alongside a team of seasoned professionals and contributing to delivering solutions tailored to clients’ business issues. Natalia advises employers on all matters related to the employment relationship, including hiring, working conditions, termination of employment and labour standards. She also assists clients with the development and implementation of internal policies, as well as with the interpretation and application of employment contracts. In the event of a dispute, Natalia represents employers before judicial and quasi-judicial bodies in Quebec. I chose to continue my professional journey at Lavery because of the firm’s culture, which values collaboration, knowledge sharing and the development of its emerging talent. This spirit of collegiality, combined with the diversity of the files and the expertise of the firm’s lawyers, convinced me that Lavery was the right place to advance my career! We warmly welcome Jean-François, Nicolas and Natalia to our teams!  

In September, Montréal hosted the 2026 World Services Group (WSG) Annual Meeting, organized this year by Lavery. More than 100 professionals from leading independent firms around the world gathered around a shared observation: businesses now operate in an environment where geopolitical, technological, climate and economic risks can no longer be considered in isolation. Under the theme “Navigating a Fractured World – Geopolitics, Resilience, and the Future of Legal Advisory,” the program brought together business leaders, diplomats, academics, entrepreneurs and legal professionals to exchange perspectives on some of the transformations currently reshaping the business environment. From the geopolitics of the North and artificial intelligence to the energy transition, mergers and acquisitions and supply chain security, a common thread emerged. As uncertainty becomes structural, the ability to anticipate change, adapt and make decisions despite unpredictability is becoming a strategic advantage. Arctic Sovereignty and Critical Minerals: The North at the Centre of New Global Power Dynamics Long perceived as a peripheral region, the North is emerging as an area where national security, strategic resources, new trade routes and the energy transition increasingly converge. Moderated by André Vautour, Partner at Lavery, the discussion brought together Nikolaj Harris, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Denmark to Canada; Timothy Naftali, Director of the Arctic Task Force at Columbia University’s Institute of Global Politics; and Killian Charles, President and CEO of Brunswick Exploration, to explore the implications of this transformation. The development of critical minerals illustrates this new reality particularly well. Western economies’ efforts to reduce certain strategic dependencies are creating significant opportunities, but having resources in the ground is not enough. Access to infrastructure, capital and processing capacity, as well as the global competitiveness of individual projects, will ultimately determine their viability. New navigation opportunities in the North could also reshape certain trade routes and, with them, considerations of sovereignty and security. The future of the North will therefore be determined well beyond its borders. What happens there could reshape supply chains, strategic dependencies and international alliances. Energy Transition and Infrastructure: Moving from Ambition to Execution The tension between ambition and the ability to execute was also at the heart of the discussion on infrastructure and the energy transition. Moderated by David Tournier, Partner at Lavery, Dominique Anglade, Executive Director and Adjunct Professor, Executive Education, HEC Montréal; Éric Lachance, President and CEO of Énergir; and Alex Petre, CEO of Deep Sky, approached the transition from a pragmatic perspective. For organizations, the challenge is no longer simply determining whether they should participate in the transition, but rather how to deploy the technologies, infrastructure and business models needed to support it at scale. This transformation also requires a different relationship with risk, including a shift toward a portfolio approach that allows organizations to experiment with different solutions while accepting that some initiatives may fail. Panelists also emphasized that reducing future emissions addresses only part of the challenge: emissions already accumulated in the atmosphere will require solutions of their own. For major projects, success will depend as much on economic and regulatory feasibility as on the ability to engage the various stakeholders from the earliest stages of development. Montréal and Québec: Turning Economic Disruption into Investment Opportunities The Annual Meeting also provided an opportunity to examine Montréal and Québec through the lens of their economic potential and their ability to attract investment in a changing international environment. In a discussion moderated by Selena Lu, Partner at Lavery, Alexandre Lagarde, Vice-President, Impact Investment and Major Projects at Montréal International, and Véronique Proulx, President and CEO of the Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec, shared their perspectives on Montréal and Québec’s strengths, the sectors driving their economic vitality and the conditions required to remain competitive. Geopolitical and economic shifts are creating a new dynamic. Major public investments, particularly in infrastructure, energy and defence, can serve as powerful catalysts for private investment and the development of new industries. Public procurement can therefore help create the conditions for businesses to establish and expand their operations, particularly in the manufacturing sector. The discussion also highlighted opportunities that extend beyond traditional investment. Aging infrastructure across North America creates opportunities to bring in capital and expertise from other markets. At the same time, the wave of business transfers associated with Québec’s aging entrepreneurial population could create acquisition opportunities for companies seeking to establish a presence in Canada. Artificial Intelligence, Data Governance and Technology Providers: Strategic Issues for Organizations The discussion on artificial intelligence moved beyond the question of technology adoption to address a much more strategic issue: to what extent should an organization control the technologies, data and provider ecosystem on which its use of AI depends? Moderated by Benoit Yelle, Partner at Lavery, the panel brought together Sophie Fallaha, Executive Director of CEIMIA; Alejandro Padin, Partner at Garrigues; and Loïc Berdnikoff, Chief Legal and Innovation Officer at Lavery. The choice between developing proprietary capabilities and purchasing existing solutions, the “build vs. buy” decision, served as the starting point for the discussion, but its implications extend much further. An organization entrusting its data to a technology provider must understand not only where that data is hosted, but also who can access it, which subcontractors are involved in the technology chain and which jurisdictions may apply. As the discussion highlighted, even when a provider claims that data remains within a particular jurisdiction, its infrastructure, redundancy mechanisms or own service providers may create much more complex data flows. AI governance is therefore becoming inseparable from data governance. Data is a strategic asset that organizations cannot expose without understanding the associated risks, particularly in sectors where confidentiality is fundamental. For law firms, this issue takes on an additional dimension because of the very nature of the information entrusted to them. This discussion ultimately raised the broader question of what will an organization that has truly integrated AI look like ten or twenty years from now. The challenge will not simply be to have the best tools, but to establish the governance, skills, culture and control mechanisms required to use them responsibly and create value. In M&A, Value Is Shifting Toward Intangibles: Intellectual Property, Data, Software and Human Capital Technological transformation is also changing what companies buy and sell. Moderated by Selena Lu, Partner at Lavery, the panel brought together Steven Wang, Heather Buchta and Raimondo Premonte, providing perspectives from Australia, the United States and Europe, respectively. The discussion highlighted the growing importance of intellectual property, data, algorithms, software, brands, know-how and human capital in determining enterprise value. In some transactions, these assets no longer simply support the value of the business: they are the business itself. This shift is necessarily transforming how buyers assess targets and conduct due diligence. Questions no longer focus solely on historical liabilities, but increasingly on a company’s ability to protect its data and intellectual property, the robustness of its AI governance, its technology dependencies, its cybersecurity posture and its ability to retain the people who hold its critical know-how. This new reality is also reshaping negotiations and the allocation of risk. When a significant portion of a target’s value depends on data, algorithms or digital infrastructure, representations and warranties, indemnities and post-closing obligations must evolve accordingly. Supply Chains, Geopolitics and Resilience: Turning Uncertainty into a Business Capability The closing discussion on supply chain security brought together several of the themes that had emerged throughout the Annual Meeting. Moderated by Anik Trudel, CEO of Lavery, the panel brought together former Canadian Ambassador to China Guy Saint-Jacques; Pierre Gabriel Côté, former Québec Delegate General in London and former President and CEO of Investissement Québec; and Guillaum W. Dubreuil, Director, Government and External Affairs at CSL Group. Together, they examined a business environment in which supply chains themselves are becoming instruments of economic and geopolitical power. Trade wars, industrial policies, rapid regulatory changes, aging infrastructure, climate events and emerging economic alliances are making investment decisions increasingly difficult. Yet standing still is not an option. As the discussion highlighted, organizations will need to develop contingency plans, diversify certain dependencies and improve their ability to rapidly interpret political and regulatory developments. This reality is also transforming the role of legal advisors. Understanding the applicable law remains fundamental, but it is no longer enough. Organizations increasingly expect advisors to understand their business models, anticipate risks and help them make decisions in situations where there may not always be a clear or certain answer. An International Conversation That Will Continue: Global Perspectives and Business Resilience Beyond the diversity of the topics discussed, the WSG Annual Meeting highlighted a common reality: the traditional boundaries between legal, business, technological and geopolitical risk are becoming increasingly difficult to draw. By welcoming legal professionals from around the world and distinguished guest panelists to Montréal, Lavery sought to create a forum where these different perspectives could come together. In a more fragmented world, the quality of legal advice will increasingly depend on the ability to look beyond one’s own jurisdiction, understand the forces reshaping markets and bring together the right perspectives to help organizations move forward despite uncertainty.

Exceptional leadership elevates an entire firm. Lavery is proud to announce that Anik Trudel has been named one of Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100 Award winners in the Canada’s Most Powerful CEOs category, presented by the Women’s Executive Network (WXN). This prestigious distinction celebrates women leaders whose vision, influence and ability to engage and mobilize leave an enduring mark on their organizations and push Canada’s business community forward. This recognition speaks directly to the strength of Anik’s leadership. Her commitment, rigour and strategic insight play an active role in the firm’s growth, market position and standing. Lavery takes immense pride in Anik’s achievement. Congratulations, Anik!

Lavery is pleased to announce that 80 of its lawyers have been recognized as leaders in 44 areas of expertise in the 21th edition of The Best Lawyers in Canada in 2027. This ranking is based entirely on peer recognition and rewards the professional achievements of the country's top lawyers. Two partners from the firm were named Lawyer of the Year in the 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in Canada directory: Jean Legault : Insolvency and Financial Restructuring Law Judith Rochette : Insurance Law See below for a complete list of Lavery lawyers and their areas of expertise. Please note that the practices reflect those of Best Lawyers. Geneviève Beaudin : Employee Benefits Law and Labour and Employment Law Josianne Beaudry : Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Mining Law and Securities Law Geneviève Bergeron : Intellectual Property Law Laurence Bich-Carrière : Administrative and Public Law, Class Action Litigation, Construction Law, Corporate, Commercial Litigation and Product Liability Law Dominic Boisvert : Insurance Law Étienne Brassard : Aviation Law, Corporate Law, Equipment Finance Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Project Finance Law, Real Estate Law and Venture Capital Law Myriam Brixi : Class Action Litigation and Product Liability Law Benoit Brouillette : Labour and Employment Law Marie-Claude Cantin : Construction Law and Insurance Law Brittany Carson : Labour and Employment Law André Champagne : Corporate Law and Mergers and Acquisitions Law Chantal Desjardins : Advertising and Marketing Law and Intellectual Property Law Frédéric Desmarais : Employee Benefits Law and Labour and Employment Law Jean-Sébastien Desroches : Corporate Law and Mergers and Acquisitions Law Raymond Doray : Administrative and Public Law, Defamation and Media Law and Privacy and Data Security Law Alain Y. Dussault : Intellectual Property Law Isabelle Duval : Family Law and Trusts and Estates Philippe Frère : Administrative and Public Law and Professional Malpractice Law Simon Gagné : Labour and Employment Law Nicolas Gagnon : Construction Law and Corporate and Commercial Litigation Richard Gaudreault : Labour and Employment Law Julie Gauvreau : Biotechnology and Life Sciences Practice and Intellectual Property Law Caroline Harnois : Family Law, Family Law Mediation and Trusts and Estates Ali El Haskouri : Banking and Finance Law and Venture Capital Law Alexandre Hébert : Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law and Venture Capital Law Édith Jacques : Corporate Law, Energy Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law and Natural Resources Law Marie-Hélène Jolicoeur : Labour and Employment Law and Workers' Compensation Law Isabelle Jomphe : Advertising and Marketing Law and Intellectual Property Law Nicolas Joubert : Labour and Employment Law Josiane L'Heureux : Labour and Employment Law Guillaume Laberge : Administrative and Public Law Jonathan Lacoste-Jobin : Insurance Law Awatif Lakhdar : Family Law Jean Legault : Banking and Finance Law and Insolvency and Financial Restructuring Law Carl Lessard : Labour and Employment Law and Workers' Compensation Law Paul Martel : Corporate Law Zeïneb Mellouli : Labour and Employment Law and Workers' Compensation Law Marc Ouellet : Labour and Employment Law Luc Pariseau : Tax Law and Trusts and Estates Ariane Pasquier : Labour and Employment Law Martin Pichette : Corporate and Commercial Litigation, Insurance Law and Professional Malpractice Law François Renaud : Banking and Finance Law and Structured Finance Law Marc Rochefort : Securities Law Ouassim Tadlaoui : Construction Law and Insolvency and Financial Restructuring Law David Tournier : Banking and Finance Law André Vautour : Corporate Governance Practice, Corporate Law, Energy Law, Information Technology Law, Intellectual Property Law, Private Funds Law, Technology Law, Transportation Law and Venture Capital Law Bruno Verdon : Corporate and Commercial Litigation Jonathan Warin : Insolvency and Financial Restructuring Law Québec, QC Jules Brière : Aboriginal Law / Indigenous Practice, Administrative and Public Law and Health Care Law Élisabeth Pinard : Family Law and Family Law Mediation Judith Rochette : Alternative Dispute Resolution, Insurance Law and Professional Malpractice Law Sherbrooke, QC Luc R. Borduas : Corporate Law et Mergers and Acquisitions Law Christian Dumoulin : Mergers and Acquisitions Law Éric Lavallée : Privacy and Data Security Law and Technology Law Isabelle P. Mercure : Tax Law and Trusts and Estates Vincent Towner : Commercial Leasing Law Yanick Vlasak : Banking and Finance Law, Corporate and Commercial Litigation and Insolvency and Financial Restructuring Law Trois-Rivieres, QC Marie-Josée Hétu : Labour and Employment Law and Workers' Compensation Law   We are pleased to highlight our next generation, who also distinguished themselves in this directory in the Ones To Watch category: Montréal, QC Frédéric Bolduc : Labour and Employment Law Rosemarie Bhérer Bouffard : Labour and Employment Law Céleste Brouillard-Ross : Construction Law, Corporate and Commercial Litigation et Insurance Law Karl Chabot : Construction Law, Corporate and Commercial Litigation, Medical Negligence and Personal Injury Litigation David Choinière : Corporate and Commercial Litigation Marie-Claude Côté : Mergers and Acquisitions Law James Duffy : Intellectual Property Law Francis Dumoulin : Corporate Law and Mergers and Acquisitions Law Joseph Gualdieri : Corporate Law and Mergers and Acquisitions Law Katerina Kostopoulos : Banking and Finance Law, Corporate Law and Real Estate Law Despina Mandilaras : Construction Law et Corporate and Commercial Litigation Jean-François Maurice : Corporate Law Jessica Parent : Labour and Employment Law Audrey Pelletier : Tax Law Camille Rioux : Labour and Employment Law Chantal Saint-Onge : Corporate and Commercial Litigation Bernard Trang : Banking and Finance Law and Project Finance Law Mylène Vallières : Mergers and Acquisitions Law and Securities Law Québec, QC Jean-Philippe Abraham : Corporate and Commercial Litigation Marc-André Bouchard : Construction Law et Corporate and Commercial Litigation Trois-Rivieres, QC Justine Chaput : Labour and Employment Law Alexandre Pinard : Labour and Employment Law

Josianne Beaudry and Valérie Belle-Isle are recognized among Canada’s leading lawyers supporting participants in the mining industry. Josianne Beaudry is a partner and Head of the Business Law Group at Lavery. Her practice focuses primarily on securities, investment funds and mining law. She advises participants in the financial sector on the application of securities regulations and governance matters. Valérie Belle-Isle is a partner in Lavery’s Administrative Law Group. Her practice focuses primarily on environmental law, urban planning, land use planning and territorial development. She advises and represents public- and private-sector clients on matters involving, in particular, environmental obligations, obtaining authorizations and permits, the application and contestation of urban planning by-laws, as well as expropriation matters. She also advises municipalities on the legal validation of their decisions and on the planning of their projects. Recognized for her strategic and practical approach, she also practises in municipal taxation and property assessment, in addition to contributing regularly to publications and training activities. About Lavery Lavery is the leading independent law firm in Quebec. It has more than 200 professionals based in Montreal, Quebec City, Sherbrooke and Trois-Rivières, who work every day to offer 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 the business community and are actively involved in their communities. The firm’s expertise is frequently sought by numerous national and international partners to assist them with matters governed by Quebec law.

Lavery is pleased to announce that Myriam Brixi has been recognized by Benchmark Litigation’s Top 100 Women in Litigation in Canada for 2026. This prestigious achievement honours Canada’s 100 best female litigators who have achieved professional distinction via their recent involvement in key cases and have forged a solid reputation in the eyes of their peers and clients. As a partner in the Litigation and Dispute Resolution group, Myriam Brixi focuses her practice primarily in the areas of class actions, product liability, consumer law and insurance law. She has participated in complex class actions raising important legal issues, including a wide range of multi-jurisdictional class actions.   About LaveryLavery 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

Lavery is pleased to announce that our partner, Karl Chabot, has been recognized in Benchmark Litigation’s annual 40 & Under List Canada 2026. This prestigious directory recognizes leading litigators involved in the country’s most significant litigation matters and who have distinguished themselves within the legal profession through the outstanding quality of the services they provide. Each ranking is the subject of an exhaustive peer review process and an assessment of the candidates’ professional track records. A partner in the Litigation and Dispute Resolution group, Karl focuses his practice on civil and commercial law, as well as health and social services law. Drawing on broad litigation experience and his former role as Senior Legal Counsel to the largest cooperative financial group in North America, Karl has developed a unique talent for the combined assessment of legal and business risks, as well as for anticipating and preventing potential disputes. He resolutely applies his pragmatism and strategic vision to the prompt and lasting resolution of conflicts, thereby cementing his reputation as an indispensable ally to his clients. Congratulations to Karl on this recognition, which reflects his talent and expertise. About LaveryLavery 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.

Lavery is pleased to announce the arrival of two new lawyers: Élyse Le Quoc, a lawyer in the Labour and Employment Law Group, and Kimberly Vesco, a lawyer in the Business Law Group whose practice focuses on transactional law. Élyse Le Quoc focuses her practice on labour and employment law, where she advises employers on a wide range of matters, including the drafting and review of employment contracts, compliance with employment standards, and the interpretation and application of collective agreements. Her practice also involves reviewing internal policies and managing personnel-related issues in the context of asset or share acquisition transactions. She also has significant experience preparing files for civil and administrative tribunals, enabling her to address the matters entrusted to her with rigour and sound judgment. I was looking for a firm that would allow me to diversify my practice and take part in major mandates within a dynamic team. Lavery stood out as a natural choice because of the quality of its professionals, its reputation in labour and employment law, and its collaborative spirit. I am excited to continue my career there and contribute to the team’s success. Kimberly Vesco practises primarily in transactional law and advises businesses on their commercial transactions, particularly in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, corporate law, and the drafting of commercial agreements. Before joining Lavery, she developed experience in private practice, particularly in mergers and acquisitions, corporate law, and the law of non-profit organizations and charities. Known for her rigour and adaptability, she supports her clients with professionalism and efficiency. I chose to join Lavery because of the quality of its practice and the reputation for excellence of its professionals. My discussions with members of the firm convinced me that it is a welcoming and stimulating environment, where collaboration is at the heart of the practice and is reflected in client relationships. We are pleased to warmly welcome Élyse and Kimberly to our teams!

Valérie Belle-Isle, Jean-Sébastien Desroches, and Édith Jacques are recognized as leaders in Canada, highlighting the firm’s excellence and strategic role in the field of technology law. Valérie Belle-Isle is a partner in Lavery’s Administrative Law group. Her practice focuses primarily on environmental law, urban planning, land use planning, and territorial development. She advises and represents public- and private-sector clients on matters involving, in particular, environmental obligations, the obtaining of authorizations and permits, the enforcement and challenge of urban planning by-laws, as well as expropriation files. She also assists municipalities with the legal validation of their decisions and the planning of their projects. Recognized for her strategic and practical approach, she also practises in the areas of municipal taxation and property assessment, in addition to contributing regularly to publications and training activities. 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. Édith Jacques, partner, lawyer, and trademark agent in Lavery's intellectual property group. Edith Jacques is the Chair of the firm's board of directors and a partner in the Montreal business law group. She specializes in mergers and acquisitions, commercial law, and international law. She acts as a business and strategic advisor to medium and large private companies. She is highly involved with manufacturing companies and energy firms. 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.

Lavery is proud to announce that its Family Law Group has been recognized in Canadian Lawyer magazine’s Top Family Law Firm Teams 2026 ranking. This recognition stems from a rigorous selection process, based on nominations from readers, legal associations and editorial contributors, followed by an evaluation by an independent panel of seasoned family law practitioners from across Canada. This recognition belongs to the entire team. Congratulations to all members of the Family Law group: Victoria Cohene, Isabelle Duval, Caroline Harnois, Awatif Lakhdar, Elisabeth Pinard, Kassandra Roberge, Adnana Zbona, Gabrielle Dickins, Gabrielle Gallio and Aurélie Ouellet