Partner

Josiane L'Heureux is a partner at Lavery's Montreal office and a member of the Labour and Employment Law group. She advises and represents private and public employers from various sectors, both nationally and internationally.

She has developed considerable expertise across Canada, particularly in assessing the often complex issues related to individual and collective labour relations, with a pragmatic approach focused on the needs of clients.

Education

• LL.B., Université de Sherbrooke, 1997

Significant Accomplishments

Employment Disputes

With expertise recognized in national legal directories and rankings, she is frequently sought out by the management of companies and institutions, both federal and provincial, to advise them on employment contracts and termination of employment with complex issues. She also assists her clients in matters of union accreditation and crisis management arising from labour disputes or other high-profile confrontations, including in the area of occupational health and safety. She stands out for her management skills and legal solutions in complex cases.

Experienced Litigator

In addition, Josiane represents the interests of employers before arbitration and administrative tribunals, as well as civil and criminal courts, and actively participates with them in the development of global business strategies, while promoting a proactive and integrated approach. She acts before both the Tribunal administratif du travail (TAT) and the Canada Industrial Relations Board on issues relating to subcontracting, the constitutional jurisdiction of the courts, bad faith bargaining and complaints of unfair practices. Among other things, she acts before the civil courts in injunctions aimed at ensuring the application of non-competition and non-solicitation clauses in employment matters.

She is regularly invited as a speaker to share her expertise in labour and employment law by various organizations in the field such as Canadian Association of Counsel to Employers and the American Employment Law Council, of which she is an active member. As such, Josiane pays particular attention to the latest developments in labour law and contributes to the advancement of the discipline. She taught labour law at the École du Barreau in Montreal.

Considered a reference in her field, Josiane maintains strong relationships with various legal actors outside Quebec, including national and international law firms.

Publications

• Josiane L'Heureux, with the collaboration of Élodie Brunet and Judith Houle-Couture, "A corporation receives a hefty fine and two of its officers face jail time for violations of the Ontario occupational health and safety regulations" - Need to Know Express - February 2015.
• Josiane L'Heureux, with the collaboration of Élodie Brunet and Léonie Gagné, "A pregnant worker's right to benefits in the event of preventive withdrawal pursuant to section 36 of the AROHS does not apply to a business under federal jurisdiction: Éthier v. Commission des lésions professionnelles" - Need to Know - July 2014.
• Josiane L'Heureux, with the collaboration of Élodie Brunet and Léonie Gagné, "Right to refuse to work and preventive withdrawal: the Dionne v. Commission scolaire des Patriotes case" -Need to Know - July 2014.
• Josiane L'Heureux, with the collaboration of Élodie Brunet and Frédérique Duchesne, "Notice to employers under federal jurisdiction: amendments to the Canada Labour Code will take effect on October 31, 2014" - Need to Know - July 2014.
• Josiane L'Heureux, with the collaboration of Élodie Brunet, "Recent Québec and Federal Law Developments in Occupational Health and Safety", Canadian Association of Counsel to Employers (CACE), 11^th Annual Conference, article of the speakers, June 20, 2014.
• Josiane L'Heureux, with the collaboration of Élodie Brunet, "Criminal negligence: The Court of Appeal of Ontario increases to $750 000 the fine imposed on Metron Construction Corp." - Need to Know Express - September 2013.
• Josiane L'Heureux and Élodie Brunet, "Recent Developments in the Case Law on Human Rights in the Employment Context in Quebec", Canadian Association of Counsel to Employers (CACE), 9^th Annual Conference, 2012.
• Josiane L'Heureux and Élodie Brunet, La responsabilité accrue des administrateurs eu égard aux cotisations impayées à la Commission de la santé et de la sécurité du travail [Translation : "The Increased Liability of the Employer's Directors with Regards to Unpaid Assessments to the CSST"], Revue Industrie & Commerce, 2011 [available in French only].
• Josiane L'Heureux, with the collaboration of Vincent Metsä and Élodie Brunet, articling student, "Criminal negligence and industrial accidents: a review of the case law and comments on issues faced by employers" - Canadian Association of Counsel to Employers (CACE), 8^th Annual Conference, 2011.
• Josiane L'Heureux and Luc Pariseau, "Avoid a $15,000 fine for a first offence under the Act respecting occupational health and safety. Know your rights!" - Lavery Business - December 2010.

Professional Associations
Canadian Bar Association
Canadian Association of Counsel to Employers
Réseau des femmes d'affaires du Québec


Professional Activities and Experience
Accolades

• Lexpert 2016
• Best Lawyers 2022
• Lexpert 2022
• Lexpert
• Best Lawyers 2026
• Lexpert logo 2026

• Legal newsletter for business entrepreneurs and executives, Number 7
• La responsabilité accrue des administrateurs à l'égard des cotisations impayées à la Commission de la santé et de la sécurité du travail - Publication parue dans la Revue Industrie & Commerce (Janvier/février 2012)
• Criminal negligence: The Court of Appeal of Ontario increases to $750 000 the fine imposed on Metron Construction Corp.
• A pregnant worker's right to benefits in the event of preventive withdrawal pursuant to section 36 of the AROHS does not apply to a business under federal jurisdiction: Éthier v. Commission des lésions professionnelles
• Right to refuse to work and preventive withdrawal: the Dionne v. Commission scolaire des Patriotes case
• Notice to employers under federal jurisdiction: amendments to the Canada Labour Code will take effect on October 31, 2014
• A corporation receives a hefty fine and two of its officers face jail time for violations of the Ontario occupational health and safety regulations
• Reminder to employers : The deadline for complying with certain regulatory provisions for safe asbestos management expires June 6, 2015
• Investing in the health of your employees - a wise decision! The legal issues to consider
• New developments regarding the criminal negligence of employers
• Employer-sponsored holiday parties: What are you liable for?
• The return of Christmas parties: what employers need to know
• Supreme Court of Canada ruling: Managers are not eligible for unionization under the Labour Code
• Requirements to Prevent and Reduce the Risk of Forced Labour or Child Labour: What Businesses Need to Know to Comply