Mélissa Devost

Mélissa Devost has extensive experience in environmental law. She provides legal and strategic advice on environmental matters concerning Quebec, federal, and municipal legislation. She also advises clients on obtaining environmental permits and authorizations and verifies environmental compliance in their operations. Devost conducts a number of environmental due diligence reviews in order to assess the environmental risks and compliance in connection with mergers and acquisitions and representations and warranties liability. Devost also has experience in energy law, municipal law, agricultural law and, more generally, administrative law. Prior to joining the firm, Devost worked for over eight years in the legal affairs directorate of the Quebec Department of Environment and Fight against Climate Change, where she was responsible for major files. She was the lawyer responsible for the July 2013 Lac-Mégantic rail accident file and the 2010 restructuring of Abitibi-Bowater. Devost has developed particular experience in orders under the Environment Quality Act and the Dam Safety Act. She also acted for the department in several contaminated site files and was responsible for the department's environmental liability team from 2009–14.