Langlois Lawyers announces the retirement of legal counsel, the Honourable Justice Louis LeBel
After a career spanning six decades, three of which were spent on the bench, the Honourable Justice Louis LeBel will be retiring on March 31, 2023, after what can only be termed an illustrious career.
“Justice LeBel is undeniably one of Canada’s leading jurists, rendering countless landmark decisions in a wide variety of matters influencing the rights of Canadians. His rich legacy will continue to influence future generations of jurists. It has been a great privilege, and honour to have called him a colleague. On behalf of all Langlois, I thank him for the quality of his service and his invaluable contributions over the years. After such an accomplished career, this is a well-deserved retirement, and we wish him nothing but the best,” shared Jean-François Gagnon, Chief Executive Officer of Langlois Lawyers.
Renowned for his erudition, encyclopaedic knowledge of the law and his proficiency in both of Canada’s legal traditions, Justice LeBel is widely regarded as one of the most prolific judges of Canadian history.
Before he was appointed to the Court, Justice LeBel authored various legal articles, including co-authoring the book Le droit du travail en vigueur au Québec. He was a member of various committees of the Québec Bar and the Barreau du Québec, notably the editorial committee of La Revue du Barreau. He was a member of various boards of directors, among them the Corporation du Centre communautaire juridique de Québec, then vice-president of the Quebec Bar, and then president of the Quebec Bar from 1983 to 1984. He has taught as a visiting professor at the University of Ottawa and Université Laval. He also played a central role in the implementation of the new Civil Code of Québec.
He was appointed to the Québec Court of Appeal on June 28, 1984. He was subsequently appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada on January 7, 2000, where he served until 2014. He devoted nearly half of his career to the judiciary.
His extraordinary talent, profound dedication, and considerable contributions to the legal world have been recognized many times over. In Fall 2022, the Québec City Bar Association, as part of its Rentrée judiciaire, celebrated Justice LeBel’s 60th anniversary of admission to the profession by awarding him the Médaille du Conseil du Barreau de Québec. He received the Québec Bar Medal in 2000, the Québec City Bar Medal in 2008 and an honorary doctorate in Law from Université Laval in 2001. He was named Honorary Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers in 2004 and Companion of the Order of Canada in 2017.
For your many contributions to the very legal fabric of Canadian society, we thank you, and wish you well on your retirement.
Information:
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