Jean G. Bertrand, Ad E
Senior Partner
Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP
Related services and key industries
Key industry sectors
Biography
Jean Bertrand focuses on commercial and corporate litigation, including class actions and arbitration, and on administrative law, with emphasis on regulated activity such as competition, transportation, international trade and energy.
He has appeared frequently before Quebec and federal courts, including the Supreme Court of Canada, as well as before regulatory boards such as the Commission des transports du Québec, the Régie de l’énergie, the Competition Tribunal, the Canadian International Trade Tribunal and the National Energy Board. He has also appeared before parliamentary commissions and other government bodies regarding proposed changes to legislation or to government policies. He has extensive experience representing the Canadian and Quebec governments in negotiations with First Nations peoples.
From 1992 to 1993, Jean was one of 25 Canadian experts eligible to sit on Binational Panels under Chapter 19 of the Canada-U.S. Free Trade Agreement.
Jean was managing partner of our Montréal office from 2010 to 2015. He was also a lecturer and examiner at the Quebec Bar Admission Course from 1987 to 1993.
Professional experience
Collapse allLL.L., Université de Montréal, 1981
- Quebec 1982
Jean has acted for the following clients:
- Hydro-Québec in numerous instances, including in the context of several claims flowing from the 1998 Quebec ice storm, including a multibillion dollar AAA international commercial arbitration of a dispute with a group of Vermont utilities; before the Joint Review Panel for the Sable Island offshore gas projects off the Nova Scotia coast; before the National Energy Board in connection with the approvals required to give effect to multibillion dollar long-term electricity export contracts with the United States; and before the Federal Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Canada in judicial review matters and appeals from decisions of the National Energy Board
- The Province of Nova Scotia in the context of the arbitration of a dispute with Newfoundland and Labrador over their respective offshore areas and natural resources
- The Government of Quebec in its discussions with the Innu First Nations of Quebec regarding their comprehensive land claim and in negotiations with the Cree of James Bay pertaining to the implementation of the James Bay Agreement; and the Government of Canada in the negotiation of a comprehensive land claim with the Mohawks of Kanesatake
- Bombardier in disputes over the award of a $1.2-billion contract for the renewal of 725 subway cars in Montreal
- Quebecor World Inc. (now World Color Press Inc.) in its successful emergence from creditor protection under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act in Canada and, in respect of certain U.S. subsidiaries, Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code
- In class action proceedings on behalf of GSK (the antidepressant Paxil), Mattel (toy recall), Emergis (service charges), ADM and Lonza AG (price fixing of vitamins, lysine and citric acid) and Nortel Networks (restatements of financial results)
- Metro-Richelieu, Alcan and Domtar before the Quebec courts in the context of their respective corporate reorganizations through arrangements with their shareholders
- The Competition Bureau before the Competition Tribunal and the appellate courts in the dispute involving Air Canada and Canadian Airlines International over the merger of their computer reservation systems into Gemini
- Immeubles Graybec in a dispute over the interpretation of a right of first refusal as between shareholders, which was ultimately adjudicated by the Supreme Court of Canada
- Various public issuers in the context of investigations conducted by securities regulators and CFCF, Amdahl, Quebecor Media and Videotron in corporate disputes pertaining to take-over bids, shareholders’ remedies and insider trading
- Best Lawyers in Canada: Class Action Litigation, Corporate and Commercial Litigation, Director and Officer Liability Practice, Securities Law, 2006-2025; Bet-the-Company Litigation, 2016-2025
- Chambers Canada, Quebec: Litigation: General Commercial, Chambers and Partners, 2018-2025
- Legal 500 Canada: Dispute Resolution - Quebec (Leading Partners), 2016-2025
- Thomson Reuters Stand-out Lawyers, 2022-2024
- Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory: 2012-2013, 2021: recommended in Class Actions; 2022-2024: recommended in Energy Law (Electricity); 2012-2024: recommended in Litigation - Corporate Commercial; 2012-2018; 2022-2024: recommended in Litigation - Directors' & Officers' Liability; 2012: recommended in International Commercial Arbitration; 2012-2014, 2024: recommended in Litigation - Securities; 2014; recommended in Transportation (Road & Rail)
- Benchmark Litigation Canada: Litigation Star 2021-2024
- Acritas Stars 2021 – Designated as an "Independently rated lawyer"
- Benchmark Canada (2012-2013): recognized as a local litigation star in Quebec; Litigation star in Canada in Competition, Energy and Natural Resources, Aboriginal and Arbitration
- Lexpert®/American Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada (2011-2013): most frequently recommended in the area of Corporate Commercial Litigation
- Lexpert® Guide to the Leading US/Canada Cross-border Litigation Lawyers in Canada (US Litigation Guide) (2011): Litigation – Corporate commercial; Litigation – Class actions
- Named Advocatus Emeritus by the Quebec Bar
- Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers
- Senior Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America
Mr. Bertrand is regularly invited to give conferences on a variety of topics pertaining to law and business. Recent speaking engagements include:
- World Recognition of Distinguished General Counsel (panelist), Directors Roundtable, Montreal, May 8, 2012.
- “Analysis of the decision in Le Groupe Vidéotron Ltée et Quebecor Media Inc. c. Claude Chagnon,” 18th Seminar for Lawyers Specializing in Securities, Mont-Tremblant, QC, October 14-16, 2009.
- Bar of Montreal
- Canadian Bar Association
- American Bar Association
- Litigation Counsel of America
- Senior Fellow
- Quebec Bar
- Class Actions Committee (2006- )
- Past member Canadian Transport Lawyers’ Association (CTLA) (1990-2013)
- Past president (1999)
- Past member Transportation Lawyers Association (TLA) (1990-2013)