Clients and Achievements


Clients

As an independent lawyer, Mr. LaTraverse offers high end legal services to a wide range of individual clients and corporations from a wealth of industries.

Mr. LaTraverse often provides services to a client of another attorney or firm when there is a conflict of interest, or when they simply need a second opinion, an independent outlook or support with a client matter.


Achievements

Gomery Commission
Before the Gomery Commission, he acted as legal counsel to Mr. Jean Carle, former Chief of Operations in Prime Minister Jean Chrétien’s office and First Vice President, Corporate Affairs at the Business Development Bank of Canada.

Fraud
Mr. LaTraverse assembled and led a team of several lawyers and experts to represent a congregation of nuns from Quebec City, the Sisters of the Good Shepherd who had been defrauded for amounts in excess of 80 million dollars in connection with a major real estate project known as Marché Central. This high profile case involved numerous civil remedies against several parties at all levels of Quebec courts, as well as the bankruptcy of the company used for the fraudulent transactions. This case involved asset recovery on an international level. The judicial proceedings driven by Mr. LaTraverse resulted in the recovery and refinancing of all real estate assets for the benefit of a trust whose beneficiaries were the Sisters. Furthermore, they resulted in the criminal conviction of the accused involved.

Shareholders' Dispute
In a dispute between shareholders involving oppression proceedings, he defended the interests of the managing shareholder, leading the matter to settlement [Mark Claman et al v. Catherine Claman et al, SC 500-11-033586-088].

Parliamentary Committee and Dismissal
Before a Quebec Parliamentary Committee, he acted as legal counsel to Quebec’s former Delegate General in New York regarding his dismissal and represented him in legal proceedings and trial in damages against the Attorney General of Quebec [Fortier v. PG du Québec, SC 500-05-058817-100].

Breach of Contract
He represented brokerage firms specializing in immigrant investors for breach of contract in a lengthy trial before the Superior Court of Quebec against a subsidiary of the Royal Bank of Canada [CMLF Services Limited and International Entrepreneurs I.E.C. Ltd. v. RBC Dominion Securities Inc., SC 500-05-015735-960 et 500-05-027779-964].

Franchising
He obtained significant compensation for franchisees in their battle against a major Ontario franchisor further to the wrongful and abusive closing of its franchise operations in the Province of Quebec [2632-7502 Québec Inc. v. Pizza Pizza Canada Inc. and Pizza Pizza Limited, (S.C. 500-05-011039-904; C.A. 500-09-001359-959)].

Liability of Engineers
He represented the Canadian Museum of Civilization in professional liability proceedings against mechanical engineers for errors in design and surveillance leading to damages [Société du Musée canadien des civilisations v. Bouthillette Parizeau et al. SC 550-05-009674-006].

Real Estate Owner / Fire
He was lead counsel for Alexis Nihon Corporation in the trial following a fire of its high-rise office building known as Place Alexis Nihon, which led to the largest fire insurance loss in Canadian history. This involved the liability of the City of Montreal Fire Department [Commerce & Industry Insurance Company of Canada et al. v. Alexis Nihon (Québec) Inc. S.C. 500-05-011476-882; C.A. 500-09-008293-995; ].

Construction
He successfully defended a multinational construction company involved in the construction of the St. Lawrence Seaway Lift Bridge in Valleyfield, sued for damages of several million dollars further to the closing of the seaway in 1984 when the bridge malfunctioned. [St. Lawrence Seaway Authority et al v. United Dominion Industries Limited and Canron Inc., S.C. 500-05-003450-853; C.A. 500-09-001851-930; Supreme Court permission to appeal dismissed].

Accountant’s Liability
He successfully prepared and pleaded a landmark case with Mr. James Woods for a physician and his family against a major firm of Chartered Accountants involving the liability of an accountant who advised them on tax related and investment planning. [Dr. Michael Kovalik v. David H. Laidley, Touche Ross et al, S.C. 500-05-000632-875].

Insurance
He successfully prepared and pleaded a case with Mr. Eric Clark for a major U.S. insurance company in limiting its liability under a liability insurance policy issued to a manufacturer of asbestos products. The insured was facing multi-million dollar claims in the US for asbestos related diseases. [Bell Asbestos Mines Ltd. et al v. Federal Insurance Company, S.C. 500-05-009479-856].

Estates – Nullity of a Will
He obtained the nullity of a will for incapacity and undue influence to the benefit of the deceased’s children [Sylvain Lauzon et al v. Côté S.C. 700-17-005102-081].

Family Law
He successfully represented a wife and mother in divorce proceedings involving custody of her minor children and granting her permission to move abroad with the children. [D.S. v. J.A., SC 500-12-288639-077].