Our firm Founded in 1912 by Gustave Monette Sr., our firm is comprised of twenty two (22) attorneys working in different fields. Today, our firm is described as a "boutique", i.e. a firm that possesses an expertise in labour law and health law, while offering services in other fields. The size of our firm is a deliberate choice. We believe that it favours close contacts and cooperation amongst our professionals. Our clients perceive our firm as an efficient and adaptable team which adapts and works according to their needs. The strength of a team Our firm believes that this is not an expression devoid of meaning. It has even become our slogan. We offer support to our clients in order to help them reach their goals. Our firm wants to help, support and be an integral part of our clients’ organisations. In the case of a complicated issue or in order to suggest an orientation, teamwork is always the solution. It allows us to see a problem in its entirety and not in a partial way. It has always been important for our firm to develop different areas of the law as well as to satisfy the needs of our clients. Whether it be through publications, conferences or lectures, our firm is an information pioneer and sensitive to the needs of our clients. History In 1912, Gustave Monette founded our law firm with Ezioff Patenaude. Patenaude, a well known Montreal attorney and businessman, gradually gave up the practice of law to concentrate on his political career. He became Minister of the Navy in the Meighen cabinet in the early 1920’s and Lieutenant-Governor of the Province of Quebec in 1932. In 1921, Gustave Monette associated himself with Ephrem Filion and the firm took the name of Monette, Filion. Their competence and professionalism earned them the respect of colleagues and clients. In the 1930’s, Gustave Monette was mandated to represent the province before the Privy Council in important constitutional cases. During this period, he became a well known litigator before the Supreme Court of Canada. In the last years of his active practice, he won many important cases. In recognition of his outstanding qualities as a lawyer, the University de Montréal bestowed upon him an honorary Doctorate of Laws. NGustave Monette was named president of the Bar of the province in 1947 and a senator in 1957. He pursued his career until his death in 1969. Ephrem Filion left the firm when he was appointed judge in 1953. In 1948, Gilles Filion, Ephrem’s son, joined the firm and gave it new life. A relentless worker, he deployed exceptional energy and expertise in order to develop a different clientele. Essentially known for its specialisation in civil law, Monette, Filion became active in labour law, administrative law and business law. The arrivals of Stephen Clerk (1953), Gustave Monette Jr. (1954), Raymond Barakett (1959) and Jacques Lévesque (1959) reinforced this new vocation. Gilles Filion remained the leader of the firm until his nomination to the magistracy in 1970. The firm represented many religious communities which, at the time, were in charge of many health care and educational institutions. The firm developed a loyal clientele which is still with us today. In the mid 1960’s, when the health care institutions were transformed into a public network, Gustave Monette Jr. had the responsibility of settling the contentious issues between the government and the religious communities. The firm retained the trust of the new health care administrators and continued to defend the interests of the transformed institutions. Despite all these changes and thanks to teamwork, the firm retained its important presence in the health care sector. In 1991, Raymond Barakett published the Précis annoté de la loi sur les services de santé et les services sociaux. He also directs the editorial team of the Recueil de Lois et règlements en droit de la santé and the Bulletin de droit de la santé. A solid team of professionals work in the field of health law in which many hold post-graduate degrees. Labour law in Quebec’s hospital sector, as well as in our firm, grew rapidly in the early 1960’s when unions were encouraged into the health care and social services public network. Our firm was involved, at the highest levels, in the first negotiations of the collective agreements in the public and parapublic sectors. Today, labour law has expanded in our firm today, and we represent businesses from different sectors of economic activity. In the 1980’s, a new field of practice appeared: occupational health and safety. We consider ourselves pioneers in this sector. In 1997, Les Éditions Yvon Blais published Les droits de la personne et les relations du travail. The book, updated twice a year under the direction of one of the authors, Me Jean-François Pedneault, a lawyer with our firm, confirms our position as a leader in labour law. Health law, labour law and occupational health and safety are an important part of our activities and we consider ourselves leaders in those fields. Our clients Very active in the health care and social services sectors, we also act in an advisory capacity for various public and parapublic agencies. In the private sector, our clients come from all areas of the economy, including : financial institutions, food industries, business enterprises, manufacturing businesses, etc. Many religious communities and charitable organisations are among our clients. Thanks to the strength of its team, to its motivation and its zealous work, our firm meets its commitments and maintains the confidence of its clients. Our team knows how to combine youth and experience, audacity and wisdom; a strong and diversified team that perpetuates our tradition of excellence. Whatever the field of activity they are in, our clients will always find easy access to Monette Barakett : It is the way we have been working for 90 years.