LRMM - Key Persons
Alexa Charbonneau is a lawyer in our Tax, Estate Planning and Tax Litigation Group. She specializes in corporate reorganizations, tax planning and implementation of sales and acquisition transactions, as well as tax, estate and will planning.
Her in-depth knowledge of corporate and commercial law enables her to support clients at every stage of their business projects, whether they are setting up a new company, carrying out mergers and acquisitions, implementing complex restructuring or reorganizing and/or transferring businesses. In this capacity, Alexa plays a key role in drafting and negotiating a variety of commercial agreements, including shareholders' agreements, general and limited partnership agreements and joint venture agreements.
She works closely with the members of the Commercial Group to ensure that all contracts and transactions are tax-optimized for clients.
Brahm M. Gelfand is a counsel to the firm. Brahm commenced his career as the most junior attorney in a boutique firm which was involved in every imaginable type of litigation matter, from automobile accidents to complex commercial disputes. As he gained experience, he was attracted to the area of business law disputes. Consequently, he found himself advising clients on commercial transactions and not just the litigation arising therefrom. By the time Brahm merged his practice with one of the predecessors of Lapointe Rosenstein Marchand Melancon, the volume of his non-litigious commercial practice obliged him to direct his litigation activities to others in the firm. This gave him the opportunity to concentrate his activities on mergers and acquisitions, finance and securities. Today, Brahm's advice and counsel is sought on a wide variety of complex business and strategic issues, on both the national and international levels. Brahm's clientele is many and varied and consists of owner-operated businesses as well as public companies located in Canada, the United States and abroad.
The nature of his practice has resulted in the development of a widespread global network of relationships. He has been an organizer and participant in many conferences which has enabled him to keep abreast not only of the changes in the practice of law domestically, but also of how the law is practiced in many different jurisdictions.
Areas of Expertise
Mergers and Acquisitions
Job Titles:
- Construction Law / Insurance
- Lawyer
Bruno Floriani is a leading practitioner in business law, with a particular focus on franchise, distribution, licensing and technology. For over 30 years, Bruno has advised a wide range of business clients, from large corporations and public companies to SMEs, in various industries including retail, hospitality, manufacturing, professional services and IT.
Bruno has extensive experience in structuring complex franchising, licensing, supply and joint venture arrangements, including in connection with the international expansion of his clients' business operations around the world, as well as advising foreign companies with respect to their entry into the Canadian market and continued compliance with Canadian law.
His experience with general business matters, combined with his expertise in the fields of domestic and international distribution, franchising, licensing and technology, allow him to provide clients with a comprehensive and invaluable perspective on matters which concern them, both locally and abroad. By familiarizing himself with the important aspects of his clients' business operations, Bruno provides practical legal and business advice geared toward each client's specific industry.
Given his proficiency in these areas, Bruno has frequently lectured at various conferences on domestic and international distribution, franchising, licensing and joint ventures, as well as intellectual property issues and privacy law, including at conferences organized by the International Franchise Association (IFA), the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), the Quebec Retail Council (CQCD), the American Bar Association (ABA), the Quebec Bar Association and the Licensing Executive Society (LES).
He has also written extensively on these topics in various national and international legal journals and trade periodicals, and currently writes quarterly for the International Law Office, an Internet newsletter, in the area of Canadian franchise law. Bruno has been the editor (and Canadian co-contributor) of the multinational annual guide for legal practitioners, Getting the Deal Through: Licensing since 2009, and the Canadian co-contributor for Getting the Deal Through: Franchising since 2008 and Getting the Deal Through: Distribution & Agency since 2016.
Bruno is recognized in Canada and abroad as a leading practitioner in the franchise field by Chambers, Lexpert, The International Who's Who of Franchise Lawyers and Who's Who Legal: Canada, and is recognized as an expert in licensing by Global Law Expert, in business law by The International Who's Who of Business Lawyer s and in the technology field by Best Lawyers.
Areas of Expertise
Commercial Law
Carla Maria joined our team as a student in the summer of 2022.
She holds a Bachelor of Science (Major in Biology and Minor in Psychology) from Concordia University and a Bachelor of Laws from the Université de Sherbrooke.
Throughout her studies, Carla has been very involved in the scientific field, taking part in scientific research, and working closely with patients in a medical clinic. She then gained valuable experience in the legal field while working in a legal clinic providing legal information services to university students.
Alongside her studies, Carla is passionate about sports. She participated in several national swimming competitions. In addition, she has a black belt in tae kwon do.
Education
LL.B., Université de Sherbrooke
B.Sc., Major in Biology and Minor in Psychology, Concordia University, 2018
Job Titles:
- Leader of the Labour and Employment Law Group, Has Been Practicing With the Firm since 1995
Christopher Deehy, leader of the Labour and Employment Law group, has been practicing with the firm since 1995.
He represents the firm's corporate clients before all civil and administrative labour tribunals. He advises employers in all matters relating to employment relationships with their employees, whether they be unionized or not, including health and safety issues, collective bargaining, labour relations, sexual or psychological harassment complaints, discrimination, etc.
More specifically, Christopher has substantial experience in collective bargaining, employment litigation, occupational and accommodation health and safety, restructuring and collective dismissals.
Christopher holds a Master's Degree in industrial relations and is a member of the Professional Corporation of Industrial Relations Consultants. He is also a certified mediator. Christopher is also directly involved in the coordination of employment matters in the context of commercial transactions.
Areas of Expertise
Labour and Employment Law
Claude Bergeron began his career as a commercial litigation lawyer and subsequently directed his practice towards transactional business with investment banks, private equity and private companies. At the same time, Claude served as legal advisor to companies such as Industries Lassonde, Culinar, LGL/SNC, Steinberg, various subsidiaries including Smithy's Arizona, Metra Altex Aluminum, Pomerleau Construction, and institutions or investment companies such as SITQ, Investissements Novacap Inc. and the Business Development Bank of Canada. In addition, he helped foreign companies to establish themselves in Canada and the United States, including Lyonnaise des Eaux S.A., Thompson S.A., Alain Manoukian, Groupe Yves Rocher, Bouygues Construction, Simon Mahier and Groupe Le Duff.
In 1997, Claude created the Venture Capital group, whose expertise extends to the life sciences and high technology. His team has been involved in more than 150 investment transactions in Canada and in the U.S. The venture capital sector of Lapointe Rosenstein serves many institutions and venture capital companies in Canada, the United States and France, in particular: Capital CDPQ, CDP Capital Technologies, GemChem Technologies, the Business Development Bank of Canada, Société Innovatech du Grand Montréal, Investissement Desjardins, RBC Financial Group, Société Générale de financement du Québec, Siparex SA, T 2 C 2, TechnoCap, Anthem Capital LP, GTI Capital Inc., Investissements Novacap Inc., Working Venture Investor Limited Partnership, Caisse de dépôt et consignation de France and Thompson Ventures of France.
During this same period, Claude executed numerous private and public financings for biotechnology and high-tech companies, including DSM Pharmaceuticals and Prométic. With an excellent reputation for his expertise in the life sciences sector, Claude worked as a strategic advisor on behalf of Québec institutions such as the Institut de recherche en biotechnologie de Montréal, the Centre de recherche de Saint-Hyacinthe, Université Laval, and Université du Québec à Montréal. Finally, he served as a special advisor to the SEPEQ program with the ministère du Revenu.
From 1985 to 2004, he carried out business transactions in more than 20 countries while remaining very active In the Canadian and U.S. markets.
Between 1999 and 2002, as a transaction advisor, Claude completed, on behalf of CDPQ, the SGF and various European companies, several sales and merger transactions of companies in their portfolios. His main achievements included the sale of RTP Pharma to Elan Pharmaceuticals and a major Bio-Inova transaction carried out as part of a merger with an American company.
Through 25 years of experience working with entrepreneurs, company founders, managers of large or medium-sized corporations or institutions, operators, financiers and members of boards of directors, Claude has gained exceptional experience in understanding the fundamentals of leadership, management, finance and entrepreneurship.
A transaction carried out in 2002 on behalf of Groupe Le Duff, namely the acquisition of a large restaurant chain in the United States, La Madeleine, in Dallas, Texas, led to Claude becoming a co-investor and board of directors member. This was followed in 2005 by the creation of a partnership with Louis Le Duff, founder of Groupe Le Duff. In 2005, Claude officially became Chairman of the Board and CEO of the newly formed Groupe Le Duff America, and focused on the expansion and management of the Group's activities, which he led from 2005 to 2016.
During this period, Claude maintained relations with the law firm, but devoted himself to his new duties as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer for the North American activities of Groupe Le Duff. From his Montreal base (Bridor Canada), and Dallas (La Madeleine), Claude led the Group's accelerated growth, organic and through acquisitions, both on the industrial side (Bridor) and in the restaurant segment. From 2005 to 2016, the Group's North American activities increased from $30 million to $1 billion, and in 2016, the company had more than 15,000 employees in North America between its industrial and food service activities in North America.
Cyntia Bedrossian joined our team as a student in the summer of 2019 and has been with our firm since the completion of her training at the École du Barreau and articling in 2022.
Cyntia is a member of our commercial and real estate law group, and has handled a number of mergers, acquisitions and sales of businesses. Cyntia has also acquired experience in drafting, negotiating and concluding various commercial contracts, including share and asset purchase agreements, commercial leases, shareholders' agreements, as well as employment, licensing, services and consulting mandates.
Since the start of her practice, Cyntia has worked closely with her clients, developing an understanding of their needs and supporting them through all phases of the transaction to better meet their needs.
Cyntia has also been involved with the legal community, namely by assisting in the foundation of the Comité Avocat sans frontières UQÀM.
Areas of Expertise
Commercial Law
Denis Bernier is our firm's Executive Director. In this capacity, he is responsible for general management, participates in strategic management and ensures its implementation. Denis is a member of the Executive Committee, as well as various committees of the firm.
He holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and is a member of the Quebec Chartered Professional Accountants Order. He has over 25 years of experience in finance, information technologies, operations management and strategic procurement. He has worked in the insurance and professional services industries.
Denis is a member and president of the Finance committee of the Association québécoise des administrateurs juridiques (AQAJ). This association brings together managers from all legal administration areas and is a unique platform for discussions, a vast network for sharing knowledge and experience, and an unparalleled source of ideas, resources, and training.
Denis is known for his leadership, negotiation and interpersonal skills.
Education
MBA, UQAM, 2002
BAA (Accounting, Finance and Operations Management), Laval University, 1995
Eugene Czolij is a partner at Lapointe Rosenstein Marchand Melançon, one of the largest independent law firms in Quebec.
François Haché has been with our firm since his call to the Bar. He focuses his practice on insurance law and its related fields, notably contract and tort liability. He is regularly called to plead civil liability and insurance matters before all courts, including the Court of Appeal, the Superior Court, the Court of Quebec and administrative tribunals. Throughout the years, François has developed extensive expertise in matters of insurance fraud, contract invalidity, fire causes and personal injury.
Areas of Expertise
Insurance Law
Education
LL.L., University of Ottawa, 1989
Harry H. Dikranian joined our firm as partner in early 2016. He is a civil, corporate and commercial litigator with pleading experience before administrative, provincial, superior and appellate courts in Quebec. He has also successfully brought to term a class action, as plaintiff, before the Supreme Court of Canada. Harry has developed a clientele where he is recognized for his knowledge in commercial leasing matters, labour law, estates and successions, national and international asset recovery with a practical, cost conscious and effective approach to litigation in Quebec.
Howard Dermer is counsel to the firm having retired from active practice on December 31, 2009. He joined the firm in April 1975 and was a member of the Litigation Practice Group with an important focus on leasing, real estate and commercial litigation matters. He headed up the Litigation Practice Group until 1996 when he was elected Managing Partner of the firm. He has attended and participated in numerous conferences in both Canada and the U.S. on litigation matters, including franchising, leasing and real estate, construction law and financial accountability. As well, he completed a certified course on Mediation offered by the Quebec Bar Association and at Harvard Law School.
Education
B.C.L., McGill University, 1969
B.A. (Psychology), McGill University, 1966
Iman Hachmi joined our Labour and Employment Law group in 2024.
In her role, she advises and represents clients in various aspects of employment law, with a particular focus on grievance arbitration, collective agreement interpretation, labour relations, employment standards and contract drafting. Iman also provides support to the firm's Commercial Law team, assisting them with their mergers and acquisitions mandates.
After graduating in law from the Université de Sherbrooke, Iman completed a master's degree in business administration, where her passion for the business consultancy came to the fore.
During her university studies, Iman was included in the Dean's Honours List, underlining her academic excellence and commitment. Her passion for the law is also expressed through her contributions as a research and teaching assistant on a number of civil law projects.
Areas of Expertise
Labour and Employment Law
From the outset of his career, Jacquelin Caron has been focusing his practice on labour law and banking law.
Within his labour law practice, Jacquelin advises clients, negotiates agreements and collective agreements, and pleads objections, complaints of dismissal, psychological harassment, and extraordinary procedures, in front of administrative and legal courts.
Within the scope of banking law, he advises and represents various financial institutions and lending companies in the framework of the publication and realization of securities and mortgages.
He also has expertise in debt collection, whether with individuals in financial difficulty or with respect to bankruptcy or insolvency matters. He represents the trustee or the creditor in front of the courts in bankruptcy matters.
Jean-François Dorais is the leader of our Tax group since 2013. Made partner in 2011, he has also been a member of the Executive Committee since 2017.
Jean-Roch Boivin has extensive experience, particularly in the areas of corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions. Over the years, he has been involved in a variety of commercial transactions, including the purchase, sale, financing and reorganization of businesses, whether publicly traded or privately held.
He skillfully draws on his knowledge and creativity to develop and implement business proposals, address new issues and solve complex legal matters.
Areas of Expertise
Commercial Law
Julia De Rose joined our team in 2009, after having completed her articling with the firm. Her practice encompasses all aspects of civil litigation, with a primary focus on insurance and liability matters. Julia is called upon to provide legal opinions on various litigation matters and represents the interests of insurers and their insureds before Quebec courts.
Areas of Expertise
Insurance Law
Julien Grenier joined our firm in 2014 as a lawyer in the Civil and Commercial Litigation Group. As well as a law degree from McGill University completed in 2013, he holds a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from the École Polytechnique de Montréal.
Recognized for his rigorous approach, Julien is involved in a multitude of cases encompassing a wide range of legal matters, including banking, construction, labour, bankruptcy and insolvency, and co-ownership law. He is frequently called upon to plead before various legal bodies. His oral advocacy skills have been recognized on numerous occasions in the context of public speaking competitions.
As an author of various publications, a regular guest speaker, and a mentor for those entering the profession, Julien is a role model for his peers. In his capacity as a member of the firm's Recruitment Committee and as a maître de stage, he actively contributes to the development of the next generation of lawyers.
Areas of Expertise
Asset Recovery and Banking Litigation
Karl Ferland joined our team as an attorney in the fall of 2023.
A graduate of the Université de Sherbrooke, he began his career as a legal counsel in a large Quebec-based telecommunications company after completing his internship in 2020. During the three years he spent at this firm, he primarily practised in civil and commercial litigation, specifically in the field of media law.
In addition to his involvement in various defamation and freedom of the press cases, Karl was also called upon to work on litigation cases in real estate and commercial law, among others. In the context of these cases, he represented the company before various judicial bodies, including the Commission d'accès à l'information, the Court of Quebec, the Superior Court of Quebec, the Court of Appeal of Quebec, and the Federal Court of Canada.
His versatility and ability to find effective solutions make a significant contribution to the success of the cases entrusted to him.
Areas of Expertise
Civil and Commercial Litigation
Education
LL.B., Université de Sherbrooke, 2019
Louis P. Brien practices with the firm's Litigation, Insurance and Professional Liability Law group. His expertise covers general and professional liability, product liability, as well as directors and officers liability. He is also active in the construction industry, where he is called upon to represent various stakeholders.
Louis acts for manufacturers and their insurers in a broad range of complex product liability disputes in the construction sector, chemicals and adhesives, and other industries at all levels of the supply chain, including raw material suppliers, component manufacturers, original equipment manufacturers, distributors and sellers.
His areas of interest further include personal injury claims as well as municipal liability litigation. In addition, his insurance litigation practice extends to subrogation recoveries and advising clients on coverage issues.
Louis acts before all Quebec courts.
Areas of Expertise
Construction Law
Marc Beauchemin is a partner of the firm and a member of the Commercial group. His practice is primarily focused in the area of corporate, commercial, financial institution and distribution of financial products and services, with emphasis on mergers and acquisition and commercial agreements.
More particularly, Marc worked on several private mergers and acquisitions in the financial sector, the creation of innovative financial products, the implementation of strategic alliances and distribution, reinsurance and outsourcing arrangements.
He assisted some financial institutions to obtain regulatory approvals and comfort or when new bills or regulations governing them or relating to their activities and products were proposed. He worked on a lot of private bills passed by governments.
His broader experience in corporate/commercial law has permitted him to be well versed in related practice areas applicable across a broad spectrum of his clients' business needs such as corporate governance, private mergers and acquisitions and corporate reorganizations, non-competition rules and joint ventures.
Finally, during his years of practice with the Chambre de la sécurité financière (CSF), he was able to develop knowledge in new areas of practice, namely disciplinary law in his role as Secretary of the Disciplinary Committee and information protection law in his role as Access to Information Officer for the CSF.
Marissa Carnevale practices commercial and international business law and is co-chair of our Commercial Law practice group. She has extensive experience in franchising, licensing and technology, supply and distribution matters, as well as related financing and investments, with a particular focus on international arrangements.
Marissa specializes in negotiating and drafting complex legal agreements relating to licensing, franchising and distribution, as well as technology-related agreements. Her skilled expertise allows her to regularly advise businesses of all sizes in various industries, including retail, manufacturing, and the technology sector, in connection with matters such as franchising, licensing, e-commerce, intellectual property matters, privacy, social media, contests, product labelling, marketing and advertising, consumer protection, French language matters, and other regulatory areas. She also advises foreign businesses with respect to their entry into the Canadian market and continued compliance with Canadian legal requirements, including those specific to the province of Quebec.
Marissa's experience has provided her with the opportunity to co-author publications on franchising in Canada for the International Law Office, an online periodical, as well as Getting the Deal Through, which publishes a series of guides for legal practitioners worldwide, in their Franchise, Licensing, Distribution & Agency and Practice Guides editions. She has had several speaking engagements, both locally and abroad, principally focused on technology and advertising.
Areas of Expertise
Commercial Law
Job Titles:
- Construction Law / Insurance
Michael Kaylor practices in the fields of international trade law and commodity taxes. He has been involved with international trade law issues for more than 45 years.
Michael has recognized expertise in the fields of tariff classification, customs valuation, export controls, resolution of seizures and assessments at the Recourse Directorate, duty relief programs, the Goods and Services Tax, the Quebec Sales Tax and the rules of origin under the North American Free Trade Agreement.
He represents clients in these areas with the Customs and Excise branches of the Canada Border Services Agency (the "Agency") and has an established record of successful resolution of complex trade and tariff issues with Customs and Excise officials at both the regional and national levels. He appears frequently before the Canadian International Trade Tribunal, the Tax Court, the Federal Court of Canada, and the Federal Court of Appeal. He has also appeared before the Supreme Court of Canada.
Michael represents importers and exporters in anti-dumping and countervailing trade investigations. He assists foreign exporters and Canadian importers in the completion of questionnaires issued by the Anti-dumping and Countervailing Directorate of the Agency. He represents such companies before the Canadian International Trade Tribunal.
He represents clients on trade issues and strategies before officials of numerous government departments, including the Agency and Global Affairs Canada.
Michael served as Chairman and speaker at several Customs Update Seminars held by The Canadian Institute. He has also been an invited speaker at meetings of the Canadian Society of Customs Brokers and the Canadian Association of Importers and Exporters. He acted as Chairman of the International Trade Committee of the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal.
Over the years, Michael has acquired a detailed understanding of the Customs and Excise branches of the Agency and has a full appreciation of the working relationship between these branches and the business community.
He has been a member of the Minister of National Revenue's Advisory Committee, as well as the Minister of National Revenue's Voluntary Disclosure and Fairness Committee.
Michael is a member of the Canadian International Trade Tribunal Advisory Committee. He has been ranked in Chambers Canada, 2016 to 2021 editions.
Areas of Expertise
Customs and International Trade
Education
B.C.L., McGill University, 1974
LL.B., McGill University, 1972
B.A., McGill University, 1969
Mireille Fontaine joined our Commercial Law group in 2023.
Job Titles:
- Construction Law / Insurance
A member of the firm's Commercial Law Group, Nicholas Backman advises his clients at every stage of the life cycle of a company, from start-up to growth and sale or succession of the business. His main practice areas include mergers and acquisitions (M&A) law, general corporate and commercial law services, and regulatory compliance advice.
Nicholas's clients range from early-stage start-ups to public companies with a global presence. In all his work, he is focused on leveraging his legal experience and MBA to help clients advance their goals and identify practical solutions to complex challenges affecting their business, always with a view to delivering high-quality, efficient, and cost-effective legal representation.
Whether you are starting a new venture and seeking to implement a shareholder agreement, buying or selling a business, or requiring general corporate and commercial services for a mature business on an ongoing basis, Nicholas looks forward to meeting you and understanding your needs.
Nicholas is a member of the Barreau du Québec and the Law Society of Ontario.
Perry Kliot has a diverse commercial practice, with specific expertise in mergers and acquisitions, licensing and distribution, venture capital and traditional debt financing. He also has extensive experience dealing with start-up companies and has counselled such companies through their various stages of development. In so doing he has drafted numerous complex shareholder and joint venture agreements, and been involved in many international expansions.
Perry's clientele is broad based, ranging from large institutional clients involved in both equity and debt financing to private enterprises in the biotechnology, information technology, energy, shipping, meat processing and manufacturing sectors.
Mergers and acquisitions: He has handled numerous asset and share purchase transactions in Quebec, Ontario and the U.S. for private companies, which included drafting letters of intent, purchase agreements and confidentiality and non-competition agreements.
Licensing and distribution: He has worked on numerous licensing and distribution agreements for companies in many sectors, including manufacturing and technology.
Job Titles:
- Construction Law / Real Estate
From 1980 to 1989, Serge Boucher acted as senior partner of the Boucher, Gariépy and Moreault law firm. He joined our team in 1989.
His areas of expertise include mergers and acquisitions, and business restructuring. Serge is personally involved in the real estate industry, and possesses in-depth understanding of the business community, of which he is a member. He is a trade-mark agent and has been developing an international business practice since 1985.
Areas of Expertise
Commercial Law