Lavery provides support as La Presse navigates transformation

October 30, 2023

In December 2020, Montreal-based La Presse became one of the first media outlets in Canada to obtain registered journalism organization (RJO) status.

The special status, introduced by the federal government and granted by the Canada Revenue Agency, is intended to provide alternative funding options for news organizations hit hard by declining revenues, enabling them to fund themselves through donations.

Lavery had the privilege of helping La Presse reorganize its corporate structure, so it could meet all the criteria for the designation and enjoy advantages such as tax-exempt status and the ability to issue donation receipts.
We also represented La Presse in talks with the Canada Revenue Agency, emphasizing the distinct nature of a mass media outlet like La Presse and the highly competitive environment in which the organization operates. As a result of our representations, La Presse was able to secure RJO status.

La Presse subsequently sought our guidance on establishing new governance rules to meet its obligations as an RJO and on creating a second social utility trust.

The Lavery team was led by Luc Pariseau and Audrey Pelletier.

Back to the news list

Consult our professionals’ biographies

Latest news

April 26, 2024

On April 26th let’s celebrate World Intellectual Property Day!

The protection of intellectual property plays an essential role in driving innovation and economic progress, including for innovations having a positive impact on the environment. Indeed, intellectual property provides innovators with the legal protection they need to develop and market their innovations, thus y fostering economic and social growth. Protecting green innovations By protecting environmentally-focused innovations through intellectual property, we create an environment conducive to the emergence and development of sustainable solutions to environmental challenges. These green innovations aim to reduce the harmful effects of human activity on the planet and its inhabitants. Innovation at the core of our ecosystem With intellectual property protection, innovators can reap the benefits of their hard work by gaining a competitive edge, which in turn encourages investment in research and development. This protection also fosters the development of an innovation culture within organizations and drives economic progress. In short, protecting intellectual property is an incentive to build a better future! For more information on this yearly celebration, go to: https://www.wipo.int/web/ipday/2024-sdgs/index

Read more
April 17, 2024

Finance and M&A: Lexpert Recognizes Four Partners as Leading Lawyers in Canada

On April 17, 2024, Lexpert recognized the expertise of four of our partners in its 2024 Lexpert Special Edition: Finance and M&A. Josianne Beaudry, Étienne Brassard, Jean-Sébastien Desroches and Édith Jacques now rank among Canada's leaders in the financial sector and in M&A. Josianne Beaudry’s practice is primarily focused on securities law, investment funds and mining law. She also advises financial sector participants on the application of regulations relating to securities and corporate governance. Josianne assists clients carrying out public and private financings, corporate reorganizations, as well as mergers and acquisitions. She also helps publicly traded companies maintain their reporting issuer status. Étienne Brassard practices business law, more specifically corporate financing, mergers and acquisitions and corporate law. In his practice, he advises local and international businesses in relation to all forms of private financing, from traditional or convertible debt to equity investments. He has thus developed extensive expertise in setting up complex financing structures, in both operational and transactional contexts. Jean-Sébastien Desroches practices 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. Édith Jacques is a partner in Montréal's Business law group. She specializes in mergers and acquisitions, commercial law, as well as international law and acts as business and strategic consultant to mid- and large-size companies.

Read more
April 12, 2024

Two new members join Lavery’s ranks

Lavery is delighted to welcome Kathryn Cahill and Christian Chidiac to its Business Law group. Kathryn CahillKathryn is a member of our Business Law group and practices primarily in areas related to financing.She has distinguished herself in a number of ways throughout her university studies. Kathryn is a two-time recipient of the University of Ottawa Merit Scholarship for academic excellence. In March 2022, she had the opportunity to take part in the 49th Gale Cup Moot competition. "I decided to start my career as a lawyer at Lavery mainly because of the value the firm places on mutual support and collaboration, as well as its focus on supporting young lawyers in their professional development." Christian ChidiacChristian Chidiac is a lawyer in the Business Law group of the Montréal office and practices primarily in commercial and transactional law. Before joining Lavery, Christian worked as a Foreign Service Officer at Global Affairs Canada, the department of the Government of Canada that to manages Canada's diplomatic and consular relations. In this position, he worked in the division dealing with bilateral relations between Canada and Western Europe. Christian also worked as a legal counsel for an international manufacturing company. Through these work experiences, he developed a perspective focused on clients' specific issues and needs, as well as a sensitivity to international issues. "It was the aspiration to return to the practice of law that motivated me to return to a private practice, and it was the quality of the cases and professionals, the work environment and the relationships with my colleagues that convinced me to make a return to Lavery."

Read more
March 26, 2024

Bernard Larocque appointed a Judge of the Superior Court of Québec

We were very pleased to learn of the announcement of the Minister of Justice confirming the appointment of Bernard Larocque as a Judge of the Superior Court of Québec for the district of Montréal. The Superior Court of Québec is an ordinary court of law in Quebec hearing all disputes that a formal provision of law has not assigned to the jurisdiction of another court. The Superior Court plays a key role in Quebec's justice system. Bernard Larocque joined the firm in 1998 as a member of the litigation group and became a partner in 2003. His practice focused mainly on civil litigation, including defamation, insurance law, class actions, professional liability and administrative disputes. He has frequently appeared before the courts, including the Supreme Court of Canada and the Court of Appeal of Quebec.?His excellence and reputation as a litigator earned him the title of Fellow by the prestigious American College of Trial Lawyers in March 2020. Bernard has also always been active in the community and has been deeply involved with the Justice Pro Bono Board of Directors for over twenty years, which he has chaired since 2020. "Bernard will be serving on the bench with several of his former colleagues and friends from the firm. He embodies Lavery's values, driven by excellence, diligence, a deep sense of duty and a desire to give back to society. These are all qualities that will carry him through this next important chapter in his legal career," concludes Anik Trudel, CEO at Lavery.

Read more