Frédéric Desmarais, CHRP

Of Counsel
Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP

Montréal
Canada
T:+1 514 847 4696
Montréal
Canada
T:+1 514 847 4696
Frédéric Desmarais, CHRP

Frédéric Desmarais, CHRP

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Biography

Frédéric Desmarais's practice covers all aspects of employment and labour law, with a focus on civil employment law matters and litigation, such as duty of loyalty and restrictive covenants. He is also knowledgeable in federal labour and employment law.

Mr. Desmarais provides federal and provincial jurisdiction employers with strategic advice on how best to manage their workforces. He acts on behalf of employers before the appropriate authorities, including administrative tribunals and common law courts, including the Quebec Court of Appeal, as well as grievance arbitrators.

Mr. Desmarais is a speaker and author whose many publications include Le contrat de travail (Art. 2085 à 2097 C.c.Q.), published by Éditions Yvon Blais. He also teaches employment and labour law at the Quebec Bar School. Mr. Desmarais serves as a member of the Disciplinary Council of the Quebec Bar.

Professional experience

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LL.B./B.C.L., McGill University, 2008
B.A., Université de Montréal, 2004

  • Québec 2009
  • Frédéric Desmarais acts on behalf of a broad range of clients active in a number of industry sectors, including the aerospace, banking, financial and transport sectors.
  • He negotiated the first collective agreement for a company in the aerospace industry that involved highly complex issues, including the dissolution of a defined benefit pension plan and the implementation of an employee-funded plan.
  • He successfully obtained from the Superior Court of Québec, on behalf of a company in the aeronautics sector, a stay of execution of a certification decision rendered by the Administrative Labour Tribunal and had the application for appeal of the stay dismissed.
  • He represented an air carrier in an unjust dismissal complaint filed under section 240 of the Canada Labour Code that involved a 15-day hearing.
  • He has also pleaded grievances on behalf of major companies and has also acted for these same companies before civil courts.
  • Best Lawyers in Canada: Employee Benefits Law, 2024-2025; Labour and Employment Law, 2025
  • Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory, 2023-2024: recommended in Employment Law (Employer)
  • Finalist in the labour and administrative law category, "Tomorrow's Leaders," Young Bar of Montreal (YBM), 2019
  • Recipient of the Exemplum Uistita award, 2016
    • Presented by the Jeune Barreau de Laval (Young bar of Laval) to a lawyer with less than 10 years' experience who has served as a role model to his peers (Exemplum) and has actively contributed to the advancement of justice (Uistita)
  • "L'obligation de relocalisation dans le contexte d'un congédiement administratif pour incompétence ou d'un licenciement en rapports individuels du travail: une nébuleuse exorbitante ou un astéroïde sur le point de se désagréger," with Maude Grenier, symposium on recent labour law developments, Service de la qualité de la profession, Quebec Bar, Palais des congrès de Montréal, April 28, 2023.
  • "Enregistrements clandestins et communications à l'ère du virtuel: des enjeux légaux qui redéfinissent l'exercice de notre profession," with Gilles Rancourt, 2023 HR Convention, Quebec Order of Certified Human Resources Professionals, Centre des congrès de Québec, October 4, 2023.
  • "L'expression et la loyauté: enjeux contemporains," panelist, Convention of the Arbitrators conference, March 26, 2022.
  • "Les nouvelles organisations du travail: aux confins de l'univers juridique," Salon Solutions RH organized by the Quebec Order of Certified Human Resources Professionals, September 28, 2022.
  • "Aspects légaux: notions à garder en tête pour réussir un environnement hybride," Réussir sa gestion en mode hybride conference organized by the Quebec Order of Certified Human Resources Professionals, November 25, 2021.
  • "La clause de non-embauche: une clause bicéphale à la recherche d'un sens dans un conflit ouvert entre les impératifs d'ordre public et la sauvegarde des intérêts légitimes des employeurs," Quebec Bar conference on recent developments in employment law regarding non-compete covenants, Palais des congrès de Montréal, November 19, 2021.
  • "Les développements jurisprudentiels et législatifs récents en 2021," Regroupement des gestionnaires en ressources humaines de Laval, QC, virtual conference, June 16, 2021.
  • "Jurisprudence récente en matière d'indemnités de fin d'emploi et réflexions sur les conséquences potentielles de la pandémie de COVID-19, Conseil du patronat du Québec," virtual conference, June 8, 2021.
  • "Pot-pourri éclectique de la jurisprudence récente en matière d'indemnités de fin d'emploi (et en filigrane les conséquences potentielles de la pandémie de COVID-19)," Yvon Blais, webinar, April 29, 2021.
  • "L'arrêt de la Cour suprême Matthews c. Ocean Nutrition Canada Ltd. et l'indemnisation des avantages reliés aux régimes d'intéressement à long terme en cas de fin d'emploi sans motif sérieux: une mise en lumière de la dichotomie entre les principes de common law et de droit civil,"  Quebec Bar conference on recent developments in labour law, virtual conference, Palais des congrès de Montréal, April 23, 2021.
  • Canadian Bar Association
  • Young Bar Association of Montreal
  • Regroupement des gestionnaires en ressources humaines de Laval (2017 – 2019)
  • GUEPE – Groupe uni des éducateurs-naturalistes et professionnels en environnement (2016 – present)

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