- Profile
- Professional experience
- Representative work
- Publications & conferences
- Education & Recognitions
The Honorable Michel Yergeau's motto, “It is the truth that sets us free”, is at the heart of his approach as an arbitrator and mediator. A pioneer in environmental law and a specialist in public law, he puts his rich career as a litigator and judge at the service of our clients and the parties who call on his services. 
Professional experience
The Honourable Michel Yergeau joined LCM Attorneys as Senior Counsel in October 2024, following his retirement as a judge of the Superior Court of Quebec.
A specialist in public law (administrative, environment, natural resources, land use planning, constitutional law, First Nations, etc.), he has pleaded many important cases during his career, advised numerous companies and acted as an expert before the courts.
In 1979, Maître Yergeau was appointed vice-president of the Bureau d’audiences publiques sur l’environnement (BAPE), created a few months earlier. He held this position until 1984, when he returned to private law practice with the law firm Lavery, of which he was president from 1987 to 2010.
In 2012, the Canadian government appointed him to the Superior Court, where he served as a judge until the mandatory retirement age, in 2022. During these years, he often presided over trials raising complex issues and rendered several landmark decisions in many areas, including professional liability, fundamental rights, the Canadian and Quebec Charters, environment law, pay equity issues and freedom of religion.
Returning to the legal practice, Maître Yergeau acts for governments and corporations as an expert and legal advisor. He devotes part of his time to mediation and arbitration. He is an accredited civil mediator of the Bar of Québec. He also chairs a permanent dispute resolution committee.
Maître Yergeau is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers (ACTL), was awarded the Bar of Québec’s honorary title of Advocatus Emeritus (Ad.E.) and is a recipient of the Mérite du Barreau.
Representative work
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The following are some of the reported judgments of the Honourable Michel Yergeau :
• Luamba v. Procureur général du Québec, 2022 QCCS 3866, on racial profiling
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• Protection de la jeunesse — 202409, 2020 QCCS 1843, a judicial review of protection orders
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• Hak v. Procureure générale du Québec, 2019 QCCS 2989, confirmed by the Cour of Appeal (2019 QCCA 2145), application for leave to appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada dismissed (2020 CanLII 26448 (CSC)), in connection with a Stay Application regarding Sections 6 and 8 of the Act respecting the laicity of the State
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• Coalition Climat Montréal v. Couillard, 2017 QCCS 5623, confirmed by the Court of Appeal (2018 QCCA 2013), regarding the authorization process carried out in connection with the Réseau électrique métropolitain (REM) project and its compliance with environmental requirements
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• Gouin v. Tribunal des professions, 2015 QCCS 3266, confirmed by the Court of Appeal (2017 QCCA 8), application for leave to appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada dismissed (2017 CanLII 31523 (CSC)), in the context of a request for judicial review of a Professions Tribunal decision
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• Vasilevich v. Anna, 2013 QCCS 5599, regarding a seizure before judgment
News
Admission to the bar
Bar of Québec – 1974
Education
- LL.B., Université de Montréal, 1972
Awards and recognitions
- Bar of Québec (Advocatus Emeritus – 2007)
- Prix du Mérite given by the Bar of Québec, 2007
- American College of Trial Lawyers (Fellow – 2005)
Affiliations
Bar of Québec
American College of Trial Lawyers
