QUEBEC JUDICIAL APPOINTMENTS ANNOUNCED

Ottawa, September 18, 2006 – The Honourable Vic Toews, Q.C., Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, today announced the following appointments:

The Honourable Jacques Léger, a partner with the firm of Léger Robic Richard, Montreal, is appointed a Puisne Judge of the Superior Court of Justice of Quebec in the District of Montreal. He replaces Mr. Justice A. Wery, ( Montreal), who was appointed Associate Chief Justice in 2005.

Mr. Justice Léger received a Bachelor of Civil Law in 1967 from the University of Montreal and a Bachelor of Arts in 1964 from Collège Jean de Brébeuf. He was admitted to the Bar of Quebec in 1968. In 1971, he founded a law firm which then merged with the century old Robic intellectual property firm, a firm known today as Léger Robic Richard. His bilingual legal expertise is in the area of intellectual property law, patents, trade-marks, industrial design, information and communication law, transfer of technology agreements, contract law, and commercial law. He is the International Treasurer-General of the AIPPI headquartered in Zurich. Mr. Justice Léger is an accredited arbitrator, mediator and a frequent lecturer on intellectual property law. 

The HonourableAlicia Soldevila, partner with the firm of Desjardins Ducharme LLP, Quebec, is appointed a Puisne Judge of the Superior Court of Justice of Quebec in the District of Quebec. She replaces Mr. Justice J. Allard ( Quebec) who elected to become a supernumerary judge.

Madam Justice Soldevila received a Bachelor of Laws from Laval University in 1979 before pursuing graduate studies in law at Laval University in 1983 and at Queen’s University in 1980-81. She was awarded the Duff Rinfret Graduate Fellowship to undertake these advanced studies. Madam Justice Soldevila was admitted to the Bar of Quebec in 1982 and practised law first with Flynn Rivard before moving to Desjardins Ducharme Stein Monsat in 2003. Her practice expertise is in the area of civil litigation, medical malpractice, professional responsibility, insurance law and private international law. Madam Justice Soldevila has held a number of executive responsibilities with the Quebec Bar.

These appointments are effective immediately.

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Ref.:

Mike Storeshaw
Director of Communications
Minister’s Office
613-992-4621