Anne-Frédérique Bourret
Lawyer, Partner - Montréal
Anne-Frédérique Bourret
Lawyer, Partner - Montréal
Anne-Frédérique Bourret is recognized for her expertise in environmental, administrative and regulatory law, particularly in connection with energy, climate change, mining, natural resources, land-use planning, agriculture, cannabis and access to information. She uses her advanced knowledge of these sectors to answer her clients’ needs efficiently and pragmatically.
Anne-Frédérique advises clients about their day-to-day business but also on environmental issues. Various types of companies seek her expertise, in particular for risk management when selling or purchasing interests or assets, closing a financing deal, or signing a commercial lease. She also guides them through permitting and environmental assessment processes and in situations involving contamination discovery, neighbourhood disturbances, changes in land use, cessation of designated activities, contaminated property rehabilitation, or management of atmospheric emissions, wastewater or hazardous materials. She also represents clients in negotiations with environmental protection authorities and in environmental disputes before the courts and administrative tribunals.
Anne-Frédérique is regularly invited to speak at conferences, where she addresses various environmental issues. She has also authored articles on current topics of interest in environmental law.
Education
Doctorate of Laws coursework, Université de Montréal, 2015
Master’s in Environment (M. Env.), Université de Sherbrooke, 2010
Graduate Diploma in Environmental Management, Université de Sherbrooke, 2009
LL.B., Université de Montréal, 2004
B.A., McGill University, 2001
Rankings & Recognitions
Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory – Environmental, 2020-2023
Canadian Legal Lexpert Special Edition: Energy, 2020, 2021 et 2023
The Best Lawyers in Canada – Environmental Law, 2018-2024
The Best Lawyers in Canada – Administrative and Public Law, 2022-2024
Canadian Legal Lexpert Special Edition: Agribusiness and Cannabis, 2020
Areas of Practice
Representative Work
Anne-Frédérique regularly drafts and negotiates representations, warranties and environmental undertakings in commercial leases or commercial transaction agreements, such as mergers and acquisitions, sales of interests or assets, and financing deals. In particular, she acted for the following clients:
– CIRION BioPharma Research Inc. and its shareholders, in its acquisition by Cerba HealthCare;
– Gefco, a Canadian private equity firm, in its acquisition of Naya Waters Inc.;
– A leading provider of co-location, network connectivity and management services, performing environmental and regulatory due diligence for an acquisition;
– An investment fund, advising on environmental considerations in acquiring a packaging solutions provider;
– A mining investment fund, advising on environmental aspects of certain projects in Quebec.
– A chemicals company, advising on environmental considerations in acquiring a resin factory in Longueuil;
– A Canadian solid and liquid waste management and land decontamination company, advising on environmental and regulatory aspects of certain acquisitions and of its day-to-day operations;
– The Government of Canada, providing environmental legal advice on a sizeable infrastructure project involving a public-private partnership;
– A Québec paper company, advising on environmental factors in the sale of boxboard manufacturing and conversion assets;
– A wind power developer, advising on environmental aspects of project development;
– A construction company, advising on various aspects of environmental law involved in acquiring certain assets.
Publications
News
Other Publications
Co-author: “L’application de la Loi sur l’accès aux documents des organismes publics et sur la protection des renseignements personnels et de la Loi sur l’accès à l’information en matières environnementales : le fardeau des lacunes de l’administration publique imposé aux administrés”, Développements récents en droit de l’environnement, Barreau du Québec, Wilson Lafleur, December 2023.
Co-author: “Directors and Officers: What Is Your Environmental Liability?”, Stand out in the Fight Against Climate Change, April 2023.
Co-author: “L’application immédiate de la Loi sur la qualité de l’environnement et de ses règlements : l’administré peut-il prétendre à des droits acquis suivant la réforme majeure de 2017 et l’adoption du Règlement sur l’encadrement d’activités en fonction de leur impact sur l’environnement? Dans quelle mesure ces droits sont-ils affectés par ces changements législatifs et réglementaires?”, Développements récents en droit de l’environnement, Barreau du Québec, Wilson Lafleur, December 2022.
Author: “Remember to Plan for Land Rehabilitation or for Management of Contaminated Soil in Your Projects”, Infrastructure and Major Projects, November 2019.
Co-author: “Autorisations environnementales au Québec : protection des renseignements confidentiels”, Alerte Environnement, August 2018.
Co-author: “Beauregard c. Groupe CRH Canada : Attention aux nuisances à l’extérieur du chantier!”, Journal Constructo, April 2018.
Author: “Projet de Règlement sur la procédure d’évaluation et d’examen des impacts sur l’environnement de certains projets : changements proposés”, Alerte Environnement, February 2018.
Co-author: “Construction en milieux humides : Quels sont les risques?”, Journal Constructo, January 2018.
Author: “Adoption of Bill 102 modernizing the Québec Environmental Authorization Scheme”, Alerte Environnement, May 2017.
Co-author: “Projet de loi no 55 déposé à l’Assemblée nationale du Québec”, August 2015.
Co-author: “Relance du Plan Nord : dépôt du projet de loi pour la création de la Société du Plan Nord”, Pleins feux sur le droit de l’environnement, October 2014.
Co-author: “Hydro-Québec Distribution lance un appel d’offres pour l’achat d’un bloc de 450 MW d’énergie éolienne”, Pleins feux sur le droit de l’environnement, January 2014.
Author: “Hydro-Québec Distribution dépose auprès de la Régie de l’énergie une demande d’approbation de pondération des critères d’évaluation pour l’appel d’offres de 450 MW d’énergie éolienne (A/O 2013-01)”, Pleins feux sur le droit de l’environnement, November 2013.
Co-author: “Projet de Règlement sur un bloc de 450 MW d’énergie éolienne : Survol et enjeux”, Pleins feux sur le droit de l’environnement, September 2013.
Co-author: “Québec adopte le nouveau système de plafonnement et d’échange de droits d’émission de gaz à effet de serre”, Pleins feux sur le droit de l’environnement, March 2012.
Author: “Draft regulation on the cap and trade system pertaining to greenhouse gas emission allowances in Quebec”, August 2011.
Author: “Air Quality: the new regulation on air purification”, July 2011.
Author: “Regulation concerning the recovery and repurposing of products by companies”, July 2011.
Author: “Introduction of a bill to reinforce compliance with the Environment Quality Act”, July 2011.
Author: “Bill amending the compensation regime regarding municipal recycling services”, July 2010.
Author: “Draft regulation respecting royalties for water usage”, July 2010.
Author: “Environmental measures of the Quebec budget”, April 2010.
Author: “New draft policies and regulations regarding waste management”, February 2010.
Author: “The Supreme Court clarifies the Federal Environmental Assessment process”, February 2010.
Author: “The Superior Court of Quebec declares invalid a legal hypothec published for rehabilitation work”, December 2008.
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