The Honourable Paul-Arthur Gendreau, senior counsel at Langlois since 2010, is retiring after an exceptional career spanning private practice, public service and the judiciary.

A member of the Québec Bar for more than 60 years, Justice Gendreau made outstanding contributions to both the law and Québec’s public and institutional life. Over the course of his career, he held several high-profile public roles, including serving as counsel to the Cliche Commission in the 1970s, Associate Deputy Minister of Justice and Deputy Attorney General of Québec appointed by Premier René Lévesque, and later, as a judge of the Québec Court of Appeal, where he served for 24 years.

“On behalf of Langlois, I would like to extend our warmest thanks to Justice Gendreau for his remarkable contributions to the firm and to the profession. A jurist of great rigour, driven by keen intellectual curiosity and a deep sense of justice, he has enriched our practice in lasting ways through the depth of his knowledge and the soundness of his judgment. Throughout his time with us, many have had the privilege of learning from his insight and of benefitting from his thoughtful guidance,” said Sean Griffin, Chief Executive Officer of Langlois.

A passionate advocate of the law known for his attentive listening and thoughtful counsel, Justice Gendreau has long been praised for his integrity, candour and honesty, as well as for his accessibility and his unwavering dedication to knowledge-sharing and mentoring the next generation of lawyers. All those who had the privilege of working alongside him can attest to the human and professional qualities of this remarkable individual.

Having known and worked closely alongside Raynold Langlois throughout his career, Justice Gendreau is part of our firm’s history in a way that is at once dignified, loyal and profound. In recognition of his many significant contributions to both our firm and the law, we extend our heartfelt thanks and wish him a rich and fulfilling retirement… along with many rewarding salmon-fishing outings.

Happy retirement, Justice Gendreau.

A career dedicated to the law

Born into a family of jurists in Rimouski, Québec, the Honourable Paul-Arthur Gendreau earned his law degree from Université Laval in 1963. He was part of an exceptional graduating class that went on to shape public life in Canada, including future prime ministers, senators, judges, leading lawyers and academics such as Brian Mulroney, Lucien Bouchard, Michael A. Meighen and Raynold Langlois.

He began his career in Rimouski before establishing a practice in Québec City. He later served as counsel to the highly publicized Royal Commission of Inquiry into Union Freedom in the Construction Industry (Cliche Commission), which investigated violence and criminal activity on construction sites in the 1970s. In 1980, Premier René Lévesque appointed him Associate Deputy Minister of Justice and Deputy Attorney General of Québec.

Following his term, he returned to private practice until his appointed to the Québec Court of Appeal in 1986, where he served for more than 24 years and issued close to 3,000 decisions.

Upon retiring from the bench in 2010, he joined Langlois as senior counsel. He quickly became a trusted authority in administrative, constitutional, civil and commercial law, highly sought after both within the firm and beyond.

Deeply involved in the profession, Justice Gendreau served as Bâtonnier of the Barreau du Bas-Saint-Laurent (President of region’s Bar Association) and as a commissioner of its Legal Aid Commission. His expertise has been widely recognized, including by Best Lawyers in Canada, which named him Lawyer of the Year – Administrative and Public Law in 2022 and again in 2025. He has also received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal as well as the Medal of the Bar of Québec City Council, commemorating his 60th anniversary of being called to the Bar. In addition, Université Laval established the Paul-Arthur Gendreau Fund in support of international legal internships in his honour.

Information:
Mélissa Rina Shriqui
T +1 438 844 7800
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Partner Vincent de l’Étoile shared his insights with Law360 Canada’s Luis Millàn on Bill 10, Québec’s proposed legislation aimed at strengthening consumer protections for subscription renewals and ticket resales. Vincent highlights the broader implications for merchants, and the practical steps they should consider in order to comply with the new clauses.

Read the full article HERE

On the subject: Bill 10: Ticket reselling and online subscriptions (and cancel button and restitution obligation)

After articling at Langlois and being called to the Québec Bar, five new colleagues are officially beginning their legal careers within our Litigation Group.

During their time with the firm, they demonstrated remarkable passion, curiosity and commitment, gaining rich and varied hands-on experience. Along the way, they built strong and lasting relationships with their mentors and colleagues, meaningful connections that will continue to guide them throughout their careers.

Congratulations and warm welcome to:

Inès Bagaoui-Fradette

Driven by a keen interest in constitutional law, Indigenous law, class actions, civil liability and banking law, Inès is known for her versatility and rigorous approach, which leads her to work on complex and wide-ranging matters. Her academic excellence, recognized on numerous occasions, culminated in a master’s degree in public law.

Victoria Forest

Victoria focuses her practice primarily on insurance law, as well as civil and professional liability. Detail-oriented and highly professional, she combines analytical rigour with a people-focused approach, helping clients navigate litigation and find solutions that meet their specific needs.

Louna Marois-Demers

With a strong interest in litigation and crisis management, Louna’s practice is varied, focusing on civil and commercial litigation, banking law, as well as construction and infrastructure law. She draws on her experience as a high-level competitive athlete as well as professional experience in communications, giving her a diplomatic, strategic approach focused on resolving disputes effectively.

Nathan D Richard

Nathan’s wide-ranging interests have led him to practise civil and commercial litigation as well as insurance law. He works on a variety of matters, including bankruptcy and insolvency, professional liability, and civil liability. During his studies, he completed an internship at the Québec Superior Court clerking for the Honourable Alain Michaud and the Honourable Denis Jacques.

Amélie Simard

Amélie’s practice focuses primarily on banking law as well as bankruptcy and insolvency matters. She also has a keen interest in new financial technologies, particularly crypto-assets. While completing her studies at the École du Barreau (the dedicated school for the Québec Bar Association), she also served as a research assistant at Université Laval’s Financial Services Law Laboratory.

Their arrival brings renewed energy to our collaborative culture and adds to the strength and momentum of Langlois. We are proud that they have chosen to begin their careers with .

Information:
Mélissa Rina Shriqui
T +1 438 844 7800
M +1 514 951 0553

Led by our commitment to drive our growth with the very best talent, we are proud to announce that Megda Belkacemi has joined Langlois’ Labour and Employment Law group. Her arrival further confirms Langlois’ leadership in this practice area, where we stand out thanks to our expertise, the depth of our knowledge, and our ability to provide our clients with excellent service.

Megda advises and represents employers under federal, provincial and municipal jurisdiction on a wide range of strategic labour relations matters, in both unionized and non-unionized environments. Recognized for her rigorous and pragmatic approach, she regularly acts in matters involving certifications, collective agreements, labour standards, psychological harassment, occupational health and safety, pay equity, and human rights and freedoms.

She also advises businesses in the context of commercial transactions such as mergers, acquisitions, and corporate restructurings, supporting clients on all labour relations matters. A skilled litigator, she regularly represents clients before the main administrative and judicial bodies in Québec.

Welcome to Langlois, Megda!

Information:
Mélissa Rina Shriqui
T +1 438 844 7800
M +1 514 951 0553

Led by our commitment to drive our growth with the very best talent, we are proud to announce that Javeria Qureshi has joined Langlois’ Corporate and Commercial Law group.

Practising business law, Javeria focuses on mergers and acquisitions, corporate reorganizations, as well as the drafting and negotiation of commercial agreements. She advises local and international companies of all sizes, across a broad range of industries, in the execution of their strategic initiatives and the management of complex legal and commercial matters.

Recognized for the strength of her academic record and her commitment to community engagement, Javeria notably completed a clerkship at the Court of Appeal of Québec, where she contributed to the drafting of judicial decisions, further deepening her understanding of legal and judicial issues.

Welcome to Langlois, Javeria!

Information:
Mélissa Rina Shriqui
T +1 438 844 7800
M +1 514 951 0553

Led by our commitment to drive our growth with the very best talent, we are proud to announce that Daïna Donchi Kana has joined Langlois’ Corporate and Commercial Law group.

Passionate about financial markets and securities, Daïna advises businesses on structuring complex transactions and helps them execute strategic projects. Her ability to draft and negotiate commercial contracts with rigour and precision makes her a trusted advisor to our clients.

Recognized for her professionalism and strong sense of responsibility, Daïna draws on sharp legal analysis, thorough research, and clear communication to provide practical, tailored solutions to every situation.

Daïna is also deeply committed to diversity, inclusion, and equitable access to justice. Actively involved in her community, she serves on several boards, contributing passionately to initiatives that are close to her heart.

Welcome to Langlois, Daïna!

Information:
Mélissa Rina Shriqui
T +1 438 844 7800
M +1 514 951 0553