Lexpert reveals Québec’s top infrastructure lawyers based on our comprehensive annual peer survey. You can view the full roster of the province’s most recommended lawyers and law firms in the field on our practice area rankings list.
Infrastructure law covers all regulatory aspects impacting development projects, including municipal law and land-use planning. Infrastructure lawyers provide advice and counsel on infrastructure development, including public-private partnerships, as well as procurement, alternative financing, and corporate, construction, commercial and litigation considerations.
Consistently recommended infrastructure lawyers
Philippe Bourassa
Law firm: Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
Year called to the Bar: 1997
Philippe Bourassa is a partner at Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP. He boasts extensive domestic and international experience in advising corporations and financial institutions on mergers and acquisitions, private equity, joint ventures and commercial law matters. Bourassa has acted as counsel to numerous investors on structuring and developing their investments, including in the context of regulated industries. As part of his M&A and private equity practice, he is routinely involved in fund investments and acting for bidders and sellers in auction and conventional purchase and sale transactions. Bourassa has experience in a wide range of industries, including financial services, food and beverage, mining, real estate and retail and consumer products. His expertise also includes negotiations, agreements and strategic problem-solving in the power industry.
Read more about Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP restructuring in a challenging economy
Marc Dorion
Law firm: McCarthy Tétrault LLP
Year called to the Bar: 1979
Marc Dorion is a partner in the business law group and co-leader of the national energy and infrastructure law groups at McCarthy Tétrault LLP. He also supervises the firm’s natural resources group in Québec and is responsible for its activities in relation to the development of Northern Québec. Dorion devotes his practice to the development and financing of major projects and other financing operations and privatizations. He advises companies, lending institutions and other interveners on the steps of development, financing, construction and operation of projects in the energy, infrastructure, natural resources and industrial sectors. Dorion also acts as strategic counsel for companies in connection with the development of Northern Québec and boasts extensive experience in commercial negotiation and public affairs. He was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1992 and awarded the title Advocatus Emeritus by the Québec Bar in 2007.
Read more about McCarthy Tétrault LLP on the growing capital markets amid the pandemic
Mathieu Dubord
Law firm: McCarthy Tétrault LLP
Year called to the Bar: 2003
Mathieu Dubord serves a partner at McCarthy Tétrault LLP’s business law group in Montréal. He specializes in local and cross-border financing, with a focus on project and infrastructure finance, public and private partnerships, acquisition financings, equipment finance and regulation of financial institutions. His recent project and project finance transactions include advising the lenders to the successful bidder for the Sorel-Tracy Detention Center project, advising the promoters of a $725-million financing of a 270-MW wind farm project, advising the lenders to the successful bidder for the Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CHUM) project and advising the successful bidder for the McGill University Hospital Centre, Glen Campus project. Dubord also sits on the board of the Conseil des Infrastructures.
Read more about McCarthy Tétrault LLP on infrastructure investments during the pandemic
Ilan Dunsky
Law firm: Dentons Canada LLP
Year called to the Bar: 1994 (QC); 1995 (New York)
Ilan Dunsky serves as national co-chair of the infrastructure and public-private partnerships (PPP) group at Dentons Canada LLP’s Montréal office, where he is a partner. He also plays a leading role in the firm’s global transportation and infrastructure practice. Dunksy represents domestic and international clients in the development of infrastructure, PPP and project finance, particularly in the energy, transportation and health sectors. He also advises governments and government agencies on the procurement of major global projects.
Alain Massicotte
Law firm: Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
Year called to the Bar: 1985
Alain Massicotte is a partner at Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP, where he heads the firm’s infrastructure and public-private partnerships group in Montréal. He has substantial experience in project financing and PPP, as well as corporate and commercial law. Massicotte has acted as counsel for governments and agencies, including Morocco, Hungary, Bulgaria, Chad, Cameroon, Senegal, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, India and Guinea. He has advised the successful consortiums on the Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal’s (CHUM) hospital complex and research center PPP projects. He has also advised the lenders to the consortium that won the autoroute 25 PPP project and has acted for the government of Québec in connection with the Montréal Symphonic Orchestra Concert Hall and the long-term-care facilities. Massicotte is president of the research and publications committee and vice-president of the executive committee of the Institut pour le partenariat public-privé du Québec (IPPPQ). He also speaks on issues affecting his practice area at conferences and seminars.
Richard O’Doherty
Law firm: McCarthy Tétrault LLP
Year called to the Bar: 2000
Richard O'Doherty is a partner at McCarthy Tétrault LLP. He devotes his practice to projects, project financing and corporate lending. O’Doherty has acted for various lenders and developers in the power, mining, transportation and logistics, manufacturing, retail, telecommunication and agribusiness sectors. He also regularly advises clients on multicurrency cross-border transactions, private equity transactions and other acquisition financings.
Repeatedly recommended infrastructure lawyers
Yannick Beaudoin
Law firm: Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
Year called to the Bar: 1998
Yannick Beaudoin is the head of the Montréal commercial real estate group at Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP, where he also serves as partner. He specializes in local and cross-border real estate, banking and structured finance, infrastructure and project financing and asset-based financing. His expertise in real estate law includes the financing, acquisitions and dispositions of property, and the development and leasing and management of commercial property. Beaudoin advises developers, lenders and investors. He also regularly advises proponents of infrastructure projects throughout Canada, including in the transportation, social infrastructure, alternative energy, power and health-care sectors. Beaudoin acts for local, national and international banks, financial institutions, asset-based lenders and borrowers. He is also involved in securitization programs of every significant asset class involving Québec assets, including trade, credit card and other retail receivables, lease or installment receivables, commercial loans and commercial and residential real estate loans. Beaudoin advises clients on issues relating to the exploration and the operation of energy-related projects.
Read more about Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP on managing ESG issues in corporate Canada
Louis-Nicolas Boulanger
Law firm: McCarthy Tétrault LLP
Year called to the Bar: 2006
Louis-Nicolas Boulanger is partner at McCarthy Tétrault LLP’s business law group in Montréal. His practice focuses on the mining, power and infrastructure industries. Boulanger advises clients on a range of mergers and acquisition, joint venture, project development and project financing transactions, representing strategic stakeholders and utilities and financial investors such as pension and investment funds. He has significant domestic and global experience in iron ore, renewable energy projects and secondary market transactions.
Mathilde Carrière
Law firm: Dentons Canada LLP
Year called to the Bar: 1987
Mathilde Carrière leads the corporate group at Dentons Canada LLP’s Montréal office, where she is also a partner. She is also one of the leaders of the firm’s infrastructure and public-private partnership and construction groups in Canada. For the last few years, Carrière has been focusing her practice on large scale construction and infrastructure projects but she has also dealt extensively with mergers and acquisitions and venture capital investments. Carrière has developed an expertise in procurement, construction and infrastructure in the energy, manufacturing and transportation sectors. She has acted as lead counsel for the public authorities for the New Bridge for the St. Lawrence River project (Champlain) and for the Turcot interchange project. Carrière also represents private and public owners, construction companies, engineering firms and suppliers of equipment or materials. She assists them with risk analysis (cost, delay and quality), and negotiates and drafts PPP and turnkey contracts, EPC and EPCM agreements and contracts for project management, engineering services, construction, consulting or procurement services.
Read more about Dentons Canada LLP on Indigenous consultation standards
Jean-Pierre Dépelteau
Law firm: Dentons Canada LLP
Year called to the Bar: 1970
Jean-Pierre Dépelteau is a partner and a member of the construction and infrastructure groups of Dentons Canada LLP’s Montréal office. He boasts more than 40 years of experience in the construction industry. Dépelteau provides legal and strategic advice to a variety of public, semi-public and private sector owners, as well as construction contractors, specialized construction companies and material and equipment suppliers. He participates in the contract award process in the public and para-public sectors in Canada and advises on matters relating to compliance, governance, conflicts of interest and unfair advantages. Dépelteau is well-versed in risk assessments, the drafting and negotiation of PPP, EPC and EPCM arrangements and all related engineering, supply, construction, operations and maintenance and equipment purchase contracts. He also advises clients on preparing calls for tender, interpreting specifications, preparing and examining claims, drafting legal hypothecs, litigation before civil courts or arbitration tribunals, mediation, bonds and insurance. Dépelteau is a go-to person for matters involving the Bureau des soumissions déposées du Québec, the Régie du bâtiment du Québec and any legislation specific to the construction industry.
Read more about Dentons Canada LLP on financing the mining industry
Jean-Sébastien Desroches
Law firm: Lavery, de Billy, L.L.P.
Year called to the Bar: 2000
Jean-Sébastien Desroches is a partner at Lavery, de Billy, L.L.P. He specializes in business law, primarily commercial transactions, mergers and acquisitions, corporate reorganizations and statutory arrangements on behalf of public and private companies. Desroches has represented Canadian, American and European clients in several large-scale transactions, complex legal operations and private placements, involving particularly manufacturing, pharmaceutical, finance and technology corporations. He often advises boards of directors, management teams and shareholders on cross-border and foreign transactions. Desroches represents entrepreneurs in the development and implementation of commercial projects and joint ventures, with a focus on the transportation, infrastructure, aeronautic and energy sectors. He also advises clients in matters involving venture capital, investments and transfer of businesses.
Read more about Lavery, de Billy, L.L.P. on rewriting the business play book during the pandemic
Philipp Duffy
Law firm: De Grandpré Chait LLP
Year called to the Bar: 1998
Philipp Duffy is a partner at De Grandpré Chait LLP. He devotes his practice to real estate and infrastructure, including public-private partnerships and alternative procurement methods. His real estate expertise extends to project development, acquisitions and divestitures of single assets and asset portfolios, land assembly, leasing and real estate financing for a wide range of asset classes, including industrial properties, office towers, resorts, custom-built buildings, residential condominiums and retail centres. With respect to infrastructure and public-private partnerships, Duffy has represented clients in a variety of projects, including highway, rail and light rail projects, new hospitals and medical research and detention centres. He also has in-depth knowledge of the selection and contracting process of the Société québécoise des infrastructures. As co-leader of the firm’s construction law team, Duffy represents developers, builders, project owners, managers, investors and sponsors in a range of real estate and infrastructure-related matters. He has been involved in several major projects, including Bell Canada’s Nun’s Island Campus, the Cité du Multimédia, the CRCHUM, the three phases of the Tours des Canadiens and the new Turcot Interchange construction project.
Yvan Houle
Law firm: Borden Ladner Gervais LLP (BLG)
Year called to the Bar: 1986 (ON); 1989 (QC); 2012 (NU)
Yvan Houle is a partner at Borden Ladner Gervais LLP. He is also a fellow and governor of the Canadian College of Construction Lawyers. Houle advises clients on all aspects of the procurement process, including proper procurement models, drafting of tender documents and negotiating construction contracts. He is an expert in the application of the legislative and regulatory regimes governing the construction industry and public procurement of construction projects in the province of Québec. Houle has argued numerous cases before the Québec, Ontario and Federal Courts relating to procurement, construction, surety, professional and product liability matters. He also has extensive experience in Indigenous procured projects, particularly in Nunavut and Nunavik. Houle is actively involved in the construction sector as a member of the executive committee of the Canadian Construction Association. He also acts as an arbitrator in construction-related disputes.
Maxime Jacquin
Law firm: Stikeman Elliott LLP
Year called to the Bar: 2009
Maxime Jacquin is a partner at Stikeman Elliott LLP’s corporate group. His practice is focused on corporate financings, mergers and acquisitions and infrastructure and energy projects. He regularly acts for institutional lenders, private equity funds, project sponsors and public and private companies in a variety of corporate transactions, including acquisition financings, project financings, public debt offerings and M&A. Jacquin has also acquired extensive experience in renewable energy, infrastructure and utilities.
David B. Kierans
Law firm: Gowling WLG
Year called to the Bar: 1980 (QC); 1983 (ON)
David B. Kierans is a partner in Gowling WLG’s Montréal office. He practises corporate and commercial law, with an emphasis on secured lending, project finance, aviation finance, real estate finance and acquisition and asset-backed financing. Kierans has acted for financial institutions with respect to mortgage loan investments in both term and construction financing, equity investments in real estate, disposition of assets, structured financing transactions involving aircraft, public and para-public infrastructure programs, financing of renewable energy projects, consumer-oriented financing products (credit cards, leasing and condition sale contracts), inventory financing, cross-border transactions involving financing of equipment and syndication of financial product portfolios. In the past few years, he has delivered seminars on trust and contracts of leasing (crédit-bail) in the province of Québec and rights of secured creditors under the Civil Code of Québec.
Read more about Gowling WLG on renewable energy sources
Luc Lissoir
Law firm: Gowling WLG
Year called to the Bar:1977
Luc Lissoir is a business transaction partner primarily based in the Montréal office of Gowling WLG. His practice focuses on private equity, mergers and acquisitions, corporate law and corporate counselling. Lissoir has acted for corporate and government issuers and underwriters in public and private offerings of equity, debt and synthetic securities in Canada, the US and internationally. He has also acted for privatizations of Crown corporations and public and private M&A transactions. Lissoir acts on behalf of institutional investors and major pension funds in the formation and downstream investments of various funds in Canada and internationally. He has spent much of the last 15 years on infrastructure projects, including PPP and public procurement, having led teams advising procuring authorities, developers, equity consortiums, bank and bond lenders, construction and operations joint ventures and other participants in projects across Canada and internationally. Lissoir has also acted on numerous secondary market and monetization of PPP asset transactions across Canada and infrastructure investment platforms.
Read more about Gowling WLG on new infrastructure delivery models
Anca Neacsu
Law firm: McCarthy Tétrault LLP
Year called to the Bar: 1977
Anca Neacsu is a partner at McCarthy Tétrault LLP’s infrastructure group in Montréal. Her practice focuses on all aspects of the implementation of large-scale infrastructure and similar projects in a wide range of industries, including health care, transportation, mining and energy. Neacsu has acted for private developers, public authorities, construction contractors and service providers on projects developed in various jurisdictions within Canada and the US.
Marc Novello
Law firm: Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP
Year called to the Bar: 1989
Marc Novello is a partner at Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP. He specializes in bank financing. Novello oversees the implementation of all types of bank financing in Québec, Canada and cross-border. He represents primarily lending syndicates and investors in relation to every type of corporate financing. He also acts on behalf of borrowers in relation to their financing transactions. Novello represents clients in the negotiation, preparation and implementation of every aspect of the financing transaction, including credit agreements, intercreditor agreements, investment contracts and security documents, debt refinancing and restructuring documentation.
Angela C. Onesi
Law firm: Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP
Year called to the Bar: 1992
Angela C. Onesi is a co-leader of Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP’s banking and finance group. She has extensive experience in infrastructure and project financings, notably in the energy industry. Onesi represents Canadian and foreign banks and other financial institutions, large lending syndicates, corporate debtors and public authorities. She advises clients in a wide array of industries on corporate and commercial financing, capital markets, private placements, project development and financing, public and private takeovers, asset acquisitions, asset financing and leasing. Onesi also structures, negotiates, documents, finalizes and manages all aspects of these financing transactions, including leading the teams required to close them. Her recent significant transactions include advising Nalcor Energy on the $7.9-billion project financing of the Muskrat Falls hydroelectric project, advising Parkland in connection with its financing of the $965-million acquisition of the Canadian business and assets of CST Brands, advising the co-lead arrangers in connection with the US$800-million financing of Bombardier Inc. and advising the lending syndicate in a $344-million project financing of a Québec wind farm.
Daniel Picotte
Law firm: Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP
Year called to the Bar: 1978
Daniel Picotte serves as a partner at Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP. He has been practising business law for more than 30 years. His practice covers the industrial sector, infrastructure, public-private partnerships, mergers and acquisitions, reorganizations, corporate governance and financing both in Canada and internationally. Picotte represents public bodies, private companies and institutional investors. He is skilled at coordinating professional teams from different practice areas during multi-jurisdictional transactions.
Alain Ricard
Law firm: Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP
Year called to the Bar: 2000
Alain Ricard is a member of the corporate commercial group and the leader of the infrastructure and transportation practice in the Québec region at Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP, where he also serves as partner. His practice is focused on commercial transactions in the areas of infrastructure, transportation and project financing. Ricard has significant experience in commercial law and frequently acts for developers, owners, borrowers, financial institutions and investors in commercial transactions and project financings in a variety of industries, especially in infrastructure and transportation. His practice also includes corporate finance, acquisitions, monetization, securitization, factoring, structured finance and debt restructuring both locally and internationally.
Erik Richer La Flèche
Law firm: Stikeman Elliott LLP
Year called to the Bar: 1979 (QC); 1987 (ON)
Erik Richer La Flèche is a partner in the corporate group and key contact of the project development and finance, First Nations, India and Japan practice groups at Stikeman Elliott LLP. He is a well-established mergers and acquisitions and project finance lawyer, who has advised corporations, lenders and governments on M&A transactions and large capital projects, including infrastructure, mining, energy and electricity, in more than 35 countries. Richer La Flèche has also acted on more than 10 wind power projects in Québec representing more than 50 per cent of the wind power MW built in the province.
Read more about Stikeman Elliott LLP on special purpose acquisition corporations (SPACs)
Clémentine Sallée
Law firm: Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
Year called to the Bar: 2006
Clémentine Sallée is a partner at Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP. She practises in the areas of public procurement and infrastructure and project development, including project finance. Sallée has extensive experience in advising domestic and international private and public entities and financial institutions in infrastructure projects in a variety of industries and asset classes, including social, health, cultural infrastructure, transportation and renewables. Her expertise covers a full range of commercial matters, including procurement processes, engineering, procurement and construction agreements, major equipment supply agreements and operation and maintenance agreements. Sallée regularly assists in project administration and management, including construction, interface and operational issues. She also advises on governance and integrity, which has led her to extend her practice to environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues and strategies and compliance with emerging legal and regulatory requirements. Sallée presides in the steering committee of the Montréal chapter of the Women's Infrastructure Network. She is also a director on the board of Blue Metropolis and has been volunteering for Lawyers Without Borders Canada.
Maxime Turcotte
Law firm: Stikeman Elliott LLP
Year called to the Bar: 2001
Maxime Turcotte is a partner in the corporate group at Stikeman Elliott LLP. He has a diverse national and cross-border practice supporting clients, their boards and special committees in complex and strategic transactions, including private and public mergers and acquisitions and corporate and fund finance and project development. Turcotte has developed industry experience in various sectors, including professional services, infrastructure and renewable energy, financial services and insurance.
Read more about Stikeman Elliott LLP on recognizing Canada’s stake in leading the energy transition
Sébastien Vilder
Law firm: Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
Year called to the Bar: 1998
Sébastien Vilder is a partner and the regional practice group leader of the financial services group at Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP. He specializes in bank financing, project financing and asset-based financing. Vilder has been involved in numerous bank and project financings in Canada, Europe, Africa and Asia. His other areas of expertise include energy and infrastructure projects. Vilder acts for financial institutions, investment funds, development banks, sponsors and companies. He is a member of several organizations, including the Barreau du Québec, the Bar of the State of New York and the International Bar Association.