November 22, 2008
 
Montréal 

514.841.6479 (Direct Line)
514.841.6499 (Fax)

mbouchard@dwpv.com

 
Mathieu Bouchard
 
 
Mathieu Bouchard is a partner who specializes in litigation, with a focus on all aspects of public law (constitutional, administrative, tax, penal and competition), as well as class actions and product liability. He has participated in the preparation and hearing of cases before all courts in Québec, both at trial and in appeal, and before the Supreme Court of Canada, the Federal Courts and the Tax Court of Canada. He also assists clients in their dealings with the various government agencies, such as tax authorities.

In the last few years, Mathieu has been involved in several important cases, including the defense of Pharmascience – an important generic drugs manufacturer – against the largest ever proposed class action in Québec history, where the validity of the new provisions of the Code of Civil Procedure relating to the authorization of class actions in Quebec was challenged on the basis of the Québec Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms. In a most anticipated judgment, the Québec Superior Court refused to authorize the class action. He has also acted for Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan in a challenge based on the Canadian Bill of Rights of a provision of the Income Tax Act limiting large corporations’ rights of appeal from tax assessments, as well as for a retired partner of a large accounting firm in his challenge of a provision of the Québec Tax Act providing for the taxation of non-residents on the basis of the Constitution Act, 1867. Moreover, Mathieu represents Crane Canada in product liability litigations.

Mathieu has written and presented on numerous topics, including government investigation and audit procedures, Québec civil procedure and solicitor-client privilege in tax and insurance contexts. He is the co-author of the Canada-Civil Law (Québec) Chapter of International Civil Procedure, Shelby R. Grubbs ed., 2003, Kluwer Law International and of an article entitled "Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Judgements and Arbitral Awards in Canada" for the World Law Group (2003). His article "Privilege attaching to claims adjustors' reports: The Québec Exception" was published in the May 2004 issue of the Canadian Bar Review (Vol. 83, no. 1). He was one of the speakers at a workshop of the Canadian Bar Association’s National Convention held in Montréal in August 2003 (“Air Canada v. the Commissioner of Competition - the Canadian Bill of Rights Strikes Back!”) and at a conference on record management practices held in Toronto, in March 2004 (“How to Be Prepared to Respond to Criminal and Regulatory Enforcement”).

Mathieu is a member of the Québec Bar and the Law Society of Upper Canada, the Cambridge University Law Society, the Sidney Sussex Graduate Lawyers' Society, the Golden Key National Honor Society, McGill University Chapter, and a fellow of the Cambridge Commonwealth Trust. He is vice-chair of the Administrative Law Section of the Canadian Bar Association – Québec Branch and one of the coordinators of the CBA-Québec Legal Education Program offered in a number of Montréal high schools.

Mathieu began his legal studies at Laval University (Québec City) before completing a B.C.L. and LL.B. (great distinction) at McGill University (Montréal). He also spent one semester at the University of Melbourne (Australia) and he holds a LL.M. in international law from the University of Cambridge (Sidney Sussex), England. Mathieu became a partner in 2006.


Top of Page