- Profile
- Professional experience
- Representative work
- Publications & conferences
- Education & Recognitions
Thanks to his vast experience, great tenacity and boundless imagination, Bernard is able to develop, even in the most complex situations, winning and pragmatic strategies for the benefit of our clients. 
Professional experience
A leading authority on bankruptcy law, Bernard has been involved in various complex restructuring and insolvency mandates over the course of his career. Over the years, he has acted for several financial institutions, trustees in bankruptcy or monitors and debtors, pleading numerous cases on their behalf before the Superior Court, the Court of Appeal of Quebec and even the Supreme Court of Canada. A seasoned litigator, Bernard also practices in commercial litigation.
Due to his keen understanding of business issues and his ability to identify creative and effective legal solutions, he is regularly consulted on corporate strategy issues, even in non-litigious situations.
Bernard is the author of a book titled “Faillite et Insolvabilité, une perspective québécoise de la jurisprudence canadienne”, which is frequently cited as a reference in the bankruptcy and insolvency field in Quebec. He is also a sought-after speaker on bankruptcy, insolvency and restructuring matters.
Over the course of his career, Bernard has received numerous awards and distinctions, recognizing him as a leader in insolvency. Year after year, Lexpert, Best Lawyers, Benchmark Canada, Chambers Canada and Thomson Reuters have recognized his status as a leading lawyer in insolvency and financial restructuring.
Representative work
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Representation of Hercules Technology Growth Capital in the filing under the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act (CCAA) of Simpler Networks, a restructuring during which tax losses of over C$100 million were sold to a third party.
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Representation of Groupe Dumoulin Électronique Inc., one of Canada's largest electronics retailers, in its CCAA proceedings.
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Representation of Quebecor World Inc. in a dispute with Quebecor Media Inc. in which the parties had reciprocal claims of CDN$44 million and CDN$175 million, respectively.
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Representation of David Gottlieb, trustee appointed in the United States to manage the bankruptcy of Georges Marciano, to obtain recognition of the American bankruptcy in Canada, with the aim of obtaining seizure of the debtor's assets. Ultimately, this process resulted in the recovery of over $120 million for the benefit of the creditors. The team led by Bernard won the M&A Turnaround Award in the Cross-Border Restructuring Deal of the Year category.
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Representation of Credit Suisse AG, Cayman Islands division, as administrative agent for the banking syndicate that was the principal secured creditor of Aveos Performance aéronautique Inc. in the CCAA proceedings initiated by this company.
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Representation of Énergie RB Inc. and Québec Lithium Inc., mining companies operating iodine and lithium mines, in CCAA proceedings.
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Representation of Bloom Lake General Partner Limited and various other companies owning two of Canada's largest iron ore mines in CCAA proceedings. This case lasted nearly 8 years, and ultimately resulted in the distribution of nearly $300 million to the creditors.
Publications
Faillite et insolvabilité : Une perspective québécoise de la jurisprudence canadienne, Montreal, Yvon Blais, 2017, loose-leaf, up to date in September 2024.
Procédures en vertu de la LACC, dans Faillite, insolvabilité et restructuration, JurisClasseur Québec, Fascicule 15, Lexis Nexis, April 2010. This book is still published and is updated annually.
News
Admission to the bar
- Bar of Quebec – 1986
Education
- LL.M., Cambridge University, 1987
- LL.B., Université Laval, 1985
Awards and recognitions
- The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory (2017-2024 : Insolvency & Financial Restructuring; 2022-2024 : Insolvency & Financial Restructuring – Insolvency Litigation)
- The Best Lawyers in Canada – 2020-2024 (Insolvency and Financial Restructuring Law)
- The Legal 500 Canada – 2015-2024 (Restructuring and Insolvency)
- Benchmark Canada: The Definitive Guide to Canada’s Leading Litigation Firms and Attorneys – 2014-2024 (Litigation Star – Insolvency; Nominee for 2018 Lawyer of the Year – Insolvency)
- IFLR1000: The Guide to the World’s Leading Financial and Corporate Law Firms – 2022-2023 (restructuration et insolvabilité)
- Chambers Canada: Canada’s Leading Lawyers for Business – 2019-2021 (Restructuring and Insolvency)
- Thomson Reuters Stand-out Lawyers 2021 – Independently Rated Lawyers (recognized as a notable attorney by senior in-house
counsel) - IFLR1000: The Guide to the World’s Leading Financial Law Firms – édition 2019 (Restructuring and Insolvency – Notable Practitioner)
- Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory
Affiliations
- Bar of Québec
- Member of the Insolvency Institute of Canada, which brings together the most renowned lawyers, trustees and judges in this field
