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The eight "JBM Lawyers of the Year 2022" unveiled at the 16th anniversary Gala

18 November 2022 News

The Young Bar of Montreal (JBM) proudly announces the eight winners of the title "JBM Lawyer of the Year 2022", unveiled yesterday at the 16th anniversary of the JBM "Leaders of Tomorrow" Gala. As usual, this year's event was brilliantly hosted by the incredible Me Joey Hanna, a lawyer with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. This 16th edition of the Gala was attended by over 300 guests.

Congratulations to the winners!

On November 17, eight young Montreal lawyers distinguished themselves in their respective fields of law by the excellence of their cases, their social involvement, their personal and professional achievements, and their vision and perspectives. The JBM extends its warmest congratulations to the " JBM Lawyers of the Year 2022":

Pro bono / Social involvement category

Sydney Warshaw, Blake Cassels & Graydon

Sydney is a technology lawyer at Blakes, where she advises clients on contractual and commercial agreements. Sydney is also a passionate advocate for equity issues. She is co-founder and director of The Wandering Chew, and sits on the boards of the Jewish Public Library and the Montreal Restaurant Workers Relief Fund. Sydney is the mother of Ara and Jonathan.

Category Family law

Marianne Brouillet, Novalex

Marianne is a lawyer specializing in family and medical law. She recently completed her master's degree in health law and policy (LL.M.). She is also an accredited family law mediator and has completed over 100 mediation mandates. Marianne is also involved in making justice more accessible in Nunavik, offering pro bono legal services to Nunavik residents. To date, she has helped more than 50 clients, and will be visiting Inukjuak, Nunavik, in May 2022.

Category Litigation practice / Government lawyer

Me Sean Doyle, Counsel for the Attorney General of Canada

Sean Doyleis a lawyer in the litigation department of the Attorney General of Canada. A general public law litigator, his practice includes complex and lengthy trials in various fields, including constitutional and aboriginal law. He clerked for Justices Nicholas Kasirer and Robert M. Mainville at the Quebec Court of Appeal. He teaches the courses Interprétation des lois and Introduction au droit at the Université de Sherbrooke, where he also coaches a moot court competition.

Category Civil and commercial litigation

Virginie Dufresne-Lemire, Arsenault Dufresne Wee avocats s.e.n.c.r.l.

Ms. Dufresne-Lemire acts in high-profile cases of sexual violence and police brutality, particularly for families whose members have been killed by the police. She works to make the justice system more accessible by accompanying her clients, representing them in civil proceedings and coroner's inquests, and publicizing various issues in the media. Her aim is to develop their agentivity, i.e. to give them back a share of control, and a sense of justice.

Category Corporate law

Laure Fouin, Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt

Laure is a partner at Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt and co-chairs its Digital Assets and Blockchain Group. Her practice focuses on financial institutions, financial products and services, and the regulation of securities and investment products (including cryptoactives). She is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Site historique Marguerite-Bourgeoys and an ambassador for the Canadian Blockchain Consortium in Quebec.

Category Criminal and penal law

Me Jean-Philippe MacKay, Director of Criminal and Penal Prosecutions

Mr. MacKay is a criminal prosecutor. He specializes in firearms, pimping and drug trafficking prosecutions.Mr. MacKay is a versatile and industrious prosecutor, simultaneously leading numerous complex prosecutions at the trial level, while conducting several cases at the appellate level. He is a lecturer at McGill University's Faculty of Law, where he teaches criminal procedure.

Alternative career category

Me Geneviève Thériault-Lachance, Rio Tinto Alcan

Geneviève Thériault-Lachance specializes in corporate ethics and integrity. She has advised several organizations on complaints mechanisms and respect for stakeholder rights. She has conducted numerous investigations in the Middle East, Africa and Asia. Geneviève holds a master's degree in law from London University College, is Vice-President of Amnesty International Canada and a member of the Comité de protection l'intégrité du Réseau Loisir et Sport du Québec.

Category Labor and administrative law

Me Coline Bellefleur, Coline Bellefleur Lawyer .

Coline Bellefleur is a lawyer specializing in prison and immigration law. Her practice focuses on complex cases often involving serious crime or security issues. A lecturer at UdeM and a recognized speaker, she regularly takes part in public debates on issues of rights and freedoms. In 2014, she co-founded the Quebec chapter of the Canadian Muslim Lawyers Association. She now sits on CARL's national executive committee.

More than a hundred lawyers submitted excellent applications, which were first analyzed by an independent pre-selection committee made up of prominent members of the legal community.lection Committee made up of leading members of the legal community, who were responsible for selecting the finalists in each category:

  • The Honourable Sophie Bourque, Québec Superior Court Judge
  • The Honourable Sylvain Lussier, Québec Superior Court Judge
  • The Honourable Catherine Pilon, Justice of the Court of Québec
  • MePhilippe-AndréTessier, President of the Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse
  • MeCatherineOuimet, Executive Director of the Quebec Bar
  • MeTamaraDavis, Executive Director of the Bar of Montreal
  • MeAlainRicard, President, CAIJ
  • MeArianeCharbonneau, Executive Director, Éducaloi
  • Me Frederick William Headon, Lawyer,Air Canada
  • Me Élizabeth Corte, Lawyer andChief Justiceof the Court of Quebec 2009-2016
  • Me Michel Laroche, Miller Thomson Avocats
  • Julien Beaulieu, Vice-President of the Quebec Bar, DPCP
  • Luc Deshaies, Partner, Gowling WLG

For the final selection of the winners in each category, the JBM calls upon its Board of Governors, which includes the following admirable legal personalities:

  • The Honourable Lucie Rondeau, Chief Justice of the Court of Québec
  • The Honourable Julie Veilleux, President of the Professions Tribunal
  • Catherine Claveau, Bâtonnière du Québec, Québec Bar
  • Ms. Julie Mousseau, Bâtonnière de Montréal, Barreau de Montréal
  • Me Robert Leckey, Dean of the Faculty of Law, McGill University
  • Me Jonathan Gordon, President of the Lord Reading Law Association
  • Sylvain Bourassa, President and Director of the Tribunal administratif du Québec
  • Me François D. Ramsay, Chief Counsel - Legal Affairs - Hydro-Québec
  • Me Yves St-Arnaud, Yves St-Arnaud Consultant Inc.
  • Caroline Ferland, Regional Director, Legal and External Affairs, BAT

The importance of recognition

The Gala is an evening designed to showcase members of Montreal's up-and-coming legal community, while encouraging them to surpass themselves in their professional and personal achievements, as well as in their social involvement. The JBM is proud to perpetuate this tradition since 2007.

The JBM wishes to highlight and congratulate the 24 finalists on the excellence of their cases. Every day, young lawyers demonstrate creativity, flexibility and resilience. The JBM congratulates its members on their constant efforts, and invites you to take the time to recognize the work of the people around you.

In the photo, from left to right: Me Sydney Warshaw, Me Élizabeth Ménard-Laberge (Executive Director of the JBM), Me Jean-Philippe Mackay, Me Laure Fouin.Me Sean Doyle, Me Marianne Brouillet, Me Geneviève Thériault-Lachance, Me Alexandra Paquette (President of the JBM), Me Virginie Dufresne-Lemire, Me Coline Bellefleur.

The Young Bar of Montreal (JBM)

Founded in 1898, the JBM brings together over 5,000 members of the Montreal Bar who have been practicing for ten years or less. These young lawyers work in all areas of law, making their mark professionally. They are the next generation of lawyers, both nationally and internationally. They form an influential group, involved in the community, and are destined to become leaders in all spheres of society. When it comes to public affairs, the JBM's mandate is to position itself as a key player in the popularization of current legislation. https://ajbm.qc.ca/

For further information, please contact

Adam Alaoui | Communications and Public Relations Manager

aalaoui@ajbm.qc.ca | 514 954-6936 | www.ajbm.qc.ca