Montréal, January 24, 2011 – Langlois Kronström Desjardins is pleased to announce the appointment of Chantal Chatelain as both member of the Executive Committee and managing partner of the Montréal office. The firm has also named another three of its younger partners to its Board of Directors, namely Jean-François De Rico, Tina Hobday and Dimitri Maniatis.

“The richness of our firm is based on its founders’ ongoing commitment towards its younger members, to pass on the torch from one generation to the other. We prioritize the transfer of knowledge, the involvement of our younger lawyers in the challenges facing our organization, and instilling in them our core values. I am proud to welcome these exceptionally qualified partners within our governance structure”, stated Jean-François Gagnon, managing partner of the firm.

“I am very pleased to be able to contribute to the growth and development of the firm through managing the Montréal office, and I feel privileged to be in a position to make the excellence of our lawyers and services better known, as well as the quality of our relationships, on both a human and professional level, with our clients”, stated Chantal Chatelain, the new managing partner of the firm’s Montréal office. 

Chantal Chatelain succeeds René Paquette, who was managing partner of the Montréal office for more than three years. René will continue to pursue his labour and employment law practice at the firm, with special emphasis on the education sector, and to sit on the Board of Directors.

Chantal Chatelain practices primarily in the fields of civil and commercial litigation, and public, administrative and constitutional law. Recognized as a committed, rigorous and determined professional, she is frequently involved in complex and lengthy litigation files with major political, economic and social implications, in a variety of fields of activity. She recently acted as counsel to the Québec Association of Provincial Court Judges before the Bastarache Commission, whose report was tabled last week. The mother of three children, Chantal also sits on various committees of the Quebec Bar.

Langlois Kronström Desjardins continues to integrate its next generation of lawyers into its governance structure, by naming to its Board of Directors three of its younger partners who have distinguished themselves in their respective areas of practice and earned the confidence of their colleagues and clients.

Jean-François De Rico practices in the areas of civil and commercial litigation, as well as bankruptcy and insolvency. He also advises on issues related to the legal impacts and obligations arising from the use of information technologies. Jean-François is president of the National Law Practice Management and Technology Section of the Canadian Bar Association.

Tina Hobday practices in the area of public and administrative law, and has substantial experience in professional and disciplinary law. She also regularly represents clients before the civil and federal courts, including statutory appeals before the Federal Court of Appeal, and before administrative tribunals. She has been involved with McGill University for a number of years and is currently the Vice-President of the McGill Alumni Association.

Dimitri Maniatis specializes in civil, corporate and commercial litigation. He represents leading public and private companies in a wide range of industries, and has developed particular knowledge and expertise in the mining and air & rail transportation sectors. Dimitri holds degrees in civil law and common law, as well as a Masters degree in law, from McGill University. He is a member of the bars of Quebec, New York State and Massachusetts.

About Langlois Kronström Desjardins
Langlois Kronström Desjardins (lkd.ca) is one of the largest law firms in Quebec, with nearly 100 professionals working in the Montréal and Québec City metropolitan areas. With a total of some 200 individuals making up our team, we are able to offer our clientele a complete range of legal services renowned for their exceptional quality in business law, civil and commercial litigation, labour and administrative law, maritime and admiralty law, and public and private real estate law.
 
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For more information:

Jean-François Gagnon 
Managing Partner 
418-650-7098 

Geneviève Lebel
Senior Consultant, Communications and Media/Public Relations
418 650-7015