Sophie Perreault
Lawyer, Partner - Montréal
Sophie is an accomplished litigator and is recognized for her ability to lead complex files in a wide range of commercial disputes, penal procedures and regulatory proceedings. She has an impressive record in extraordinary proceedings such as injunctions, mandamus proceedings and Anton Piller orders. She has also acted in defence in class action proceedings and in constitutional matters that have been pleaded before the Supreme Court of Canada.
In addition to her litigation practice, Sophie assists her clients in managing their business challenges, particularly in the areas of ethics, anti-corruption and directors’ and officers’ liability. She advises them in the assessment and management of legal, operational, and reputational risks and participates in the development of compliance policies and programs, internal and external investigations, as well as the defence and negotiation of lawsuits by governmental and regulatory authorities. She has particular expertise in integrity requirements for public contracts and also practices in environmental law.
A trailblazer in the legal community and a great mentor for our firm’s younger lawyers, Sophie has earned the trust and respect not only from clients, but also from opposing counsel and the judiciary for her outstanding management of all aspects of the cases in which she is involved.
In 2022, Sophie was inducted as a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers (ACTL) and she was appointed Vice Chair of the Quebec Province Committee. The ACTL is considered the preeminent organization of trial lawyers in North America, marking to a professional career characterized by the highest standards of ethical conduct, professionalism, civility, and collegiality. She was also recognized as a star of the legal profession in the Acritas Global Survey, having been named an Outstanding Lawyer by her clients and is listed in Canada’s most prestigious legal directories including Chambers Canada, The Best Lawyers in Canada, Benchmark Litigation and The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory.
Sophie is Chair of the Langlois Lawyers Board of Directors.
Education
Mini-MBA Program, McGill Executive Institute, 2015-2016
B.C.L./LL.B., McGill University, 1993
Rankings & Recognitions
- Best Lawyers in Canada 2024
- Benchmark Litigation Top 100 Women in Litigation 2023, Canada
- Benchmark Litigation Canada 2023
- Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory 2023
- Sophie Perreault and Sean Griffin named Fellows of the Litigation Counsel of America
- Chambers Canada 2023
- The Best Lawyers in Canada 2023
- Benchmark Litigation Top 100 Women in Litigation 2022, Canada
- Benchmark Litigation Canada 2022
- Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory 2022
- Sophie Perreault Named Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers
- Chambers Canada 2022
- The Best Lawyers in Canada 2022
- Benchmark Litigation Canada 2021
- Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory 2021
- Chambers Canada 2021
- The Best Lawyers in Canada 2021
- Benchmark Litigation Canada 2020
- The Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory 2020
- The Best Lawyers in Canada 2020
- Benchmark Litigation Canada 2019
Acritas StarsTM 2019 – global independent research – nominated by clients as one of the most outstanding lawyers they have worked with
Benchmark Canada 2017, 2018 and 2019 ‒ recognized as a preeminent litigation practitioner in Canada (civil litigation, environment, white-collar crime)
Leadership au féminin 2007 ‒ recognized by the Quebec Bar for her active involvement in the community
Areas of Practice
Industries
Representative Work
Sophie is acting or has acted in the following matters:
– A construction company and certain shareholders: defending a $15M claim by another shareholder
– A public institution specialized in managing infrastructure projects: defending a constitutional challenge of the Act respecting the Réseau Électrique Métropolitain in connection with a project to build a $6 billion automated light rail transportation system in Montreal
– A petroleum company: in relation to multiple environmental, real estate and commercial disputes, including an action brought by a property owner seeking rehabilitation under the Quebec Environment Quality Act, which was dismissed by the Quebec Superior Court
– A Canadian communications company: in its $1.2 billion claim against the private equity sponsors of the failed leveraged buyout of the company
– A mining company: aggressive intervention in relation to Anton Piller proceedings in the context of fraudulent activities of third parties
– A paper company: in successfully obtaining an Anton Piller order and allowing repossession of the client’s property and data
– A Canadian communications company: defending a class action in the context of unilateral modifications of a consumer contract
– A biopharmaceutical company: in successfully obtaining injunction reliefs further to the departure of employees to a competitor
– A wholesale retailer: defending against a demand for a Norwich order
– A company in the agriculture and food industry: defending against a claim for damages for alleged defective product
– Public procurement: representing numerous clients in the context of the application of the integrity requirements (federal and provincial) and the obtention of mandatory authorizations to enter into public contracts
– Risk management: advising various clients on risk management, compliance and business ethics, particularly regarding crisis situations and imminent litigation risks
Publications
Articles
- 2020 – Class actions: Supreme Court of Canada upholds the status quo over authorization criteria in Quebec
- 2020 – To launch, or not to launch, an internal investigation during the COVID-19 crisis: that might be a question
- 2020 – The Quebec Court of Appeal recognizes the right to publish a Mareva injunction
- 2020 – “Quebec on hold for several weeks”: five considerations for long-term crisis management
- 2020 – COVID-19: Order in Council 223-2020 on essential services and the legal risks of noncompliance
News
Other Publications
2019 – “The Autorité des marchés publics is the new actor in the Quebec public contracts regime”, co-authored with Justine Brien, Canadian Lawyer, April 30, 2019.
2015 – Government of Canada amends Integrity Regime: less debarment, but more suspension
2014 – Public contracts: overpayments targeted by the government (again)
2014 – Who is responsible for rehabilitation under the Quebec, Environment Quality Act
2014 – Quebec public contracts: AMF authorization required for contracts and subcontracts worth $5 million or more as of October 24
2013 – As of January 15, 2013, certain City of Montreal contracts are subject to the rules of the Integrity in Public Contracts Act
2012 – Bill 1 becomes law: doing business with the State is now a privilege that requires prior authorization
2012 – Quebec’s Bill 1: Priority 1 for enterprises doing business with the government
2012 – Extended warranties: merchants vindicated as seven proposed class actions are thrown out
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