partner
- Profile
- Professional experience
- Representative work
- Publications & conferences
- Education & Recognitions
With advanced expertise in market regulations, including securities and financial services, as well as ethics and compliance, Marie-Noël confidently guides clients through the most intricate challenges they may face. 
Professional experience
Marie-Noël Rochon has been practicing civil and commercial litigation for over ten years, concentrating her practice in the fields of securities, financial services, and corporate governance. She is actively involved with her clients to find solutions that are in line with the applicable regulatory framework while meeting the clients’ operational imperatives. Our clients consult her even before disputes occur in order to adjust their policies and procedures in the light of legislative and regulatory developments. They retain her services when contentious situations arise, particularly in the context of regulatory investigations or civil liability lawsuits. Marie-Noël regularly acts on behalf of securities advisors, brokers and dealers, before the courts, specialized tribunals and disciplinary and regulatory bodies.
Having a keen interest in governance issues, Marie-Noël has obtained her certification in ethics and compliance (CEC designation). This additional qualification enables her to advise clients on their contractual practices, internal governance and risk management. Marie-Noël is often called upon to advise various boards of directors and to represent directors in cases of oppression remedy or in litigation involving directors’ liability.
As a speaker and author, Marie-Noël frequently publishes on various topics related to her practice and is often asked to speak on securities matters, both for the benefit of her colleagues and for the continuing education of investment advisors. Her achievements have been recognized by her peers, as Marie-Noël appears on Benchmark Canada’s “Litigation Future Star” list since 2019 and its “40 & Under Hot List” since 2020.
Committed to issues of diversity and inclusion, Marie-Noël co-chairs the firm’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee and works to promote a truly inclusive workplace. She is also the firm’s delegate to the Quebec Bar’s Panorama project, which aims to achieve greater ethno-cultural diversity within the profession.
Representative work
-
Representation of California State Teachers’ Retirement System (CalSTRS) in the context of claims on the secondary market against Bausch Health Companies Inc. (formerly Valeant Pharmaceutical International Inc.), some of its directors and officers as well as its auditor PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.
-
Represented National Bank of Canada against a secondary market liability class action pursuant to the secondary market provisions of the Securities Act, both in Quebec and Ontario.
-
Represented major investment dealers, chief compliance officers and investment advisors in regulatory investigations and proceedings.
-
Reviewed compliance manuals, internal procedures, and agreements of major securities brokers and dealers.
-
Review and implementation of policies, contractual practices, internal governance, and risk management procedures of public bodies.
-
Assisted companies in obtaining an authorization from the Autorité des marchés publics to enter into public contracts, and in the complaint process concerning calls for tender or the awarding of public contracts.
-
Representation of significant securities brokers in the context of lawsuits filed by former investment advisors following their termination.
-
Representation of the chief compliance officer and the designated person in charge of a mutual fund dealer in the context of an action brought by the Autorité des marchés financiers.
-
Representation of Jitneytrade Inc. in the context of proceedings initiated by the Bourse de Montréal.
-
Preparation and presentation of exemption applications to self-regulatory organizations for registered securities dealers.
Publications
“A Reminder from the Securities and Exchange Commission Regarding the Importance of Adapting Recordkeeping Practices to New Technologies and Evolving Practices” (author), LCM Attorneys blog, November 29, 2022.
“Increased Duties for Investment Fund Managers in Canada ” (co-author), LCM Attorneys blog, July 8, 2020.
“Increased Powers for IIROC in Quebec ” (co-author), LCM Attorneys blog, July 20, 2018.
“Important employment Ruling in the Securities Industry” (co-author), LCM Attorneys blog, July 12, 2018.
“L’affaire Baazov se termine en queue de poisson” (co-author), LCM Attorneys blog, July 6, 2018.
“Développements récents en matière de mesures défensives : Réel changement de paradigme?” (co-author), in Service de la qualité de la profession, Barreau du Québec, Développements récents en litige de valeurs mobilières, vol. 438, Montréal, Éd. Yvon Blais, 2017, pp. 75-106.
“Communications entre avocats et experts: le privilège relatif au litige et les devoirs des experts”, in Revue du Barreau du Québec, Automne 2015, Tome 74, Cowansville, Éd. Yvon Blais, 2013, pp. 557-571.
“Le rôle essentiel des “gatekeepers” dans le contexte de l’encadrement des marchés financiers – Modifications législatives récentes” (co-author), Service de la formation continue du Barreau du Québec, Développements récents en litige de valeurs mobilières, Vol. 376, Cowansville, Éd. Yvon Blais, 2013, pp. 45-75.
“Are You in a Conflict of Interest? Outside Business Activities Through the Lens of the Regulator” (co-author), Focus, Heenan Blaikie, June 2013.
“Second Phase of the CRM Project: Additional Disclosure of Charges and Performance Reports” (co-author), Focus, Heenan Blaikie, April 2013.
“Court of Appeal Reiterates the Importance for Investors to Conduct Due Diligence”, Focus, Heenan Blaikie, February 2013.
“Canadian Securities Administrators Consultation Paper 33-403: A Step Towards a Potential Fiduciary Duty for Advisers and Dealers” (co-author), Nota Bene, Heenan Blaikie, November 2012.
“Un horizon de changements s’ouvre à vous: apprivoiser le nouveau Modèle de Relation Client-Conseiller” (co-author), part of a series of breakfast conferences held by the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada on September 20, 2012.
“Dialogue of the Deaf: The Interaction between Corporate Law and Securities Law in Canada”, Queen’s University, Faculty of Law, August 2010 (master’s thesis, available at the Lederman Law Library).
Conferences
Panelist, “The Art of Examination-in-Chief”, The Advocates’ Society, November 28, 2023.
Speaker, “Enjeux et développements récents en matière d’appel d’offres”, Montreal, February 24, 2022.
Panelist, “Current Issues in Securities Class Actions”, 10th Annual Securities Symposium, The Advocates’ Society, September 9, 2020, in Toronto.
Speaker, “Conférence pour les membres de panels: discussion avec les avocates et avocats de la poursuite et de la défense” held by the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada in Montreal, on October 21, 2019.
Speaker, “La protection des investisseurs vulnérables: Gestion proactive et enjeux”, Quebec City, June 7, 2019.
Panelist, “Le chef de conformité dans la mire des régulateurs: Enjeux et opportunités”, The Canadian Bar Association, Quebec Branch luncheon held on January 29, 2019, in Montreal.
Speaker, “The application of R. v. Jordan in securities litigation”, 8th Annual Securities Symposium, The Advocates’ Society, September 5, 2018, in Toronto.
“Développements récents en matière de mesures défensives: Réel changement de paradigme?” (co-speaker), Barreau du Québec continuing legal education seminar on recent developments in securities litigation, Decembre 1st, 2017, InterContinental Montreal Hotel.
Panelist, “Le chef de conformité dans la mire des régulateurs: Enjeux et opportunités”, The Canadian Bar Association, Quebec Branch luncheon held on November 30, 2017, Deloitte, Quebec.
“Gatekeepers: le rôle des protecteurs des marchés – du rêve à la réalité” (co-speaker), Barreau du Québec continuing legal education seminar on recent developments in securities litigation, November 22, 2013, Montreal.
“Un horizon de changements s’ouvre à vous: apprivoiser le nouveau Modèle de Relation Client-Conseiller”, Montreal, January 25, 2013.
Admission to the bar
- Bar of Quebec – 2012
Education
- LL.M., Queen’s University, 2010
- LL.B. (with honours), Université de Montréal, 2009
- Certification in ethics and compliance, École des dirigeants HEC Montréal, 2023
Awards and recognitions
- Benchmark Canada, Benchmark Litigation Future Star and 40 & Under Hot List – Québec since 2019
- Bursary from the University of San Diego to attend Oxford University, in England, for one semester
- Queen’s University Graduate Award for master’s thesis
Affiliations
- Bar of Québec
- Canadian Bar Association
- The Advocates’ Society
