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JULIE LESSARD
PARTNER, LAWYER
tel.
e-mail
LinkedIn
514 397-2260
[email protected]
http://ca.linkedin.com/in/businessimmigrationlessardj
Assistant
Carole Boyer
tel.
514 397-6699 #3345
e-mail
[email protected]
MONTREAL
25th Floor
1100 René-Lévesque Blvd West
Montreal, Quebec H3B 5C9
tel.
514 397-8500
fax
514 397-8515
AREAS OF
PRACTICE
STRATEGIC TEAMS
PROFILE
GLOBAL EMPLOYEE MOBILITY
GLOBAL EMPLOYEE MOBILITY
International
French version is available here .
Julie Lessard specializes in business immigration law. Having co-founded Lessard
Tremblay Attorneys in 1998, she joined BCF as a partner in 2007 and heads the
strategic Business Immigration team.
Ms. Lessard provides strategic advice for the planning, implementation and
management of global personnel mobility to numerous Fortune 500 companies as
well as emerging leaders across a variety of industries. She also acts as a counsellor
in due diligence and immigration during organizational corporate restructuring, and
mergers and acquisitions. She assists businesses, senior management, executives
and specialized employees in the choice of implementation of immigration and/or
expatriation strategies, regardless of the country of origin or destination.
Ms. Lessard is regularly invited to speak at seminars across the world and is also a
frequent speaker on topics in the elds of immigration law and workforce mobility.
She is Co-Chair of the Quebec Chapter in the American Chamber of Commerce of
Canada and a member of the Government Relations Committee for the Canadian
Employee Relocation Council (CERC) since 2012.
DIPLOMAS
Called to the Barreau du Québec (1995);
RECOGNITIONS
Named as one of the 2010 Lexpert® Rising Stars: Leading Lawyers Under 40, in
2009 Ms. Lessard was also a nalist in the Young Chamber of Commerce of
Montreal’s ARISTA competition in the "Young Quebec Professional" category and has
been an Honoured Member of Continental Who’s Who since 2009. She was selected
by her peers to appear as one of the best lawyers in Canada in immigration law in
the Best Lawyers® since 2014.
LL.B., Université de Sherbrooke (1994).
PROFESSIONAL
AFFILIATIONS
Quebec Bar Association
Canadian Bar Association
Quebec Immigration Lawyers Association (AQAADI)
American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA)
Canadian Employment Relocation Council (CERC)
French Chamber of Commerce in Canada
American Chamber of Commerce in Canada (Montreal Chapter) (AmCham)
Montreal Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce
Quebec Alliance of Manufacturers and Exporters
Montreal Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce
CONFERENCES
Guest expert, 12 heure Chrono de l'International , spécial USA , Investor Visa,
June 2016;
Web conference: "L'AECG entre le Canada et l'Union européenne : quelles
Web conference: "L'AECG entre le Canada et l'Union européenne : quelles
opportunités pour les PME françaises ?", Chambre de commerce française au
Canada, June 16, 2016;
Presenting the workshop "Prévoir le bon visa pour les États-Unis", Classe Export
Tradeshow (Expansion Québec), May 26, 2016;
Course: International Tax System, Association de planication scale et
nancière (APFF), Montreal, March 2016;
"Immigration et émigration des particuliers/éléments périphériques", Association
de planication scale et nancière (APFF), Montreal, March 2016;
"Attirer le talent étranger et en faciliter l’intégration : considérations juridiques en
immigration d’affaires et droit du travail", Convention Canada-France, Montreal,
March 2016;
"Travailler au cœur des complexités du système économique d’immigration du
Canada", presented to CERC, Montreal, March 2016;
"Doing Business in Quebec: Business Formation & Movement of
People/Immigration", Manhattan Chamber of Commerce-AmCham-IQ Event,
New York, March 2016;
"Les formalités en matière d'immigration pour les danseurs et artistes",
presentation given at Danse Transit, February 2016
"The Treacherous Road to a Global Workforce: The Complex Intersection of
Export Controls, Employment, Immigration and Data Privacy Laws", American
Bar Association (ABA), co-speakers: Karla Haynes, Associate General Counsel for
Facebook, Judy Polacheck, Legal Advisor for Polacheck HR Law LLC, João Luís
Traça, Partner for Miranda Correia Amendoeira & Associados, Montreal, October
21, 2015
"Managing the Complexities of Canada’s Immigration System", Canadian
Employee Relocation Council (CERC), Montreal, September 28, 2015
"Navigating New Rules in Canada’s Immigration System", Canadian Employee
Relocation Council (CERC), Toronto, May 14, 2015.
"Le Programme des Travailleurs Étrangers Temporaires: Comment votre
organisation fait-elle face aux changements récents apportés au Programme?",
Canadian Employee Relocation Council (CERC), Montreal, March 24, 2015.
"Legal Aspects of Interest to Foreign Investors in Canada and Québec",
International Association of Lawyers, Florence, October 30, 2014.
"Bienvenue au Canada", French Chamber of Commerce Canada (FCCC), Montreal,
October 9, 2014.
"L’impact des stratégies d’immigration, la responsabilité des employeurs et les
risques scaux", Association de planication nancière et scale (Quebec
association of tax and nancial planning), Montreal, October 8, 2014.
"The World of International Mobility : Business Immigration Management From
Risk to Opportunity", Canadian Employee Relocation Council (CERC), Whistler,
Septembre 22, 2014.
"Panel sur l’envoi de personnel à l’étranger et la relocalisation", Association de
planication nancière et scale (APFF), Montreal, May 29, 2014.
"Créer une entreprise aux États-Unis", American Chamber of Commerce
(Amcham), Montreal, May 21,2014.
"Temporary Foreign Workers Program", Canadian Employee Relocation Council
(CERC), Montreal, February 25, 2014.
"Témoignages d’experts de l’étranger", 24H Chrono de l’International, TV5
Monde, Paris, January 14-15, 2014.
"Je gambade à l’étranger", Centre de ressources et transition pour danseurs
(CTRD), February 2014.
"Je gambade à l’étranger", Conseil des arts de Montréal, November 2013.
"Je gambade à l’étranger", Centre de ressources et transition pour danseurs
(CTRD), February 2013.
"Le programme des travailleurs étrangers temporaires et l’impact des
réorganisations corporatives sur le statut des travailleurs étrangers", August 27,
2013.
"Changements au programme des travailleurs étrangers temporaires", Canadian
Employee Relocation Council, Montreal, June 19, 2013.
"Immigration et émigration des particuliers/éléments périphériques", Revenu
Québec, Montréal, may 2013.
"Formation sur les visiteurs d’affaires (B-1) et les permis de travail pour
professionnels sous l’ALENA (TN)", June 6, 2012.
"S'implanter au Canada : les visas, les aspects juridiques, l'investissement…", 4th
Mondissimo International Mobility Conference, Place de la Bourse Paris, March
14, 2012.
"Les travailleurs expatriés au Québec : Guide pratique pour une intégration
juridique et économique réussie", 4th Mondissimo International Mobility
Conference, Place de la Bourse Paris, with Elsa Agostinho, March 14, 2012.
"Émigration et immigration des particuliers/éléments périphériques", APFF,
January 2012.
"Comment attirer de nouveaux talents dans votre entreprise?", Canadian
Employee Relocation Council (CERC), with Patrick Bonneau, Deloitte Touche
Tohmatsu Limited, Montreal, 2012.
"Aspects juridiques et immigration", Chambre de commerce et d’industrie de
Paris, Paris, November 20, 2012.
"Comment éviter les embûches du processus des travailleurs étrangers
temporaires pour assurer les besoins en main-d’œuvre", Institut Canadien,
Montréal, September 20, 2012.
"Démystier le recours au statut d’EBT (Extended Business Traveler) et éviter les
pièges", Institut Canadien, Montreal, September 20, 2012.
"Business Travelers Beware: The Pitfalls of Extended Business Travel", Link to
the Future of Talent Mobility CERC 2011 Conference, September 27, 2011.
"Intervention sur la ville d’Ottawa", 24H Chrono de l’International, TV5 Monde,
Paris, January 2011.
"La scalité américaine, taxes de vente et visas", Développement économique
Longueuil, Longueuil, 2011.
"Management in Asia / Asia-Pacic Management", Desautels Faculty of
Management, McGill University, Montreal, 2011.
"Managing the Immigration risks Involved with International Mobility", Rio Tinto à
Montréal, with Elizabeth Latorre, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, 2011.
"Faire des affaires à l'international : Éviter les pièges juridiques", HEC, Montreal,
2010.
"Legal/Immigration Challenges - Focus on the Family," Canadian Employee
Relocation Council (CERC), Montreal, 2010.
"La mobilité internationale des cadres, exécutifs et autres professionnels et
spécialistes : une expertise ", Paris, France, 2010.
"La mobilité des travailleurs en Amérique du Nord", Fédération des clubs initiés
du Québec (FCIQ), 2010.
"Les travailleurs étrangers temporaires au sein des entreprises : du recrutement
international à l'intégration", Canadian Employee Relocation Council (CERC),
Montréal, 2010.
"Les français à l’étranger", Pramex-Natexis, France, 2010.
"Politiques québécoises en matière d’immigration économique", University of
Montreal, Montreal, 2010.
"Challenges of Mobility for Independent Contractors", Canadian Employee
Relocation Council (webinar), Montreal, 2010.
"Untangling Immigration Rules for Contractors, Foreign Workers and Business
Visitors", Canadian Employee Relocation Council (webinar), Montreal, 2010.
"Canned Knowledge – Non-compete Agreements and Labor Mobility of Highly
Skilled Employees in Innovation Industries," McGill University, Montreal, 2009.
"Mobilité des personnes: portes ouvertes sur le monde", Consultation Contacts
Monde (webinaire), 2009.
"Capital humain – Envoi de personnel à l’étranger," APFF, Montreal, 2009.
"Développements récents en immigration en Amérique du Nord," CERC, Montreal,
2009.
"Mobilité des travailleurs en Arizona", Chambre de commerce du Montréal
métropolitain, Montreal, 2009.
"Bâtir sa main-d’œuvre dans une économie en mouvance", Conseil canadien de
mutation d’employés (CERC), Montreal, 2009.
"Doing Business in Québec: Legal and Cultural Background," U.S. Commercial
Service- U.S. Consulate General Montréal, 2009.
"Mobilité des personnes: portes ouvertes sur le monde," Ministère du
Développement économique, Innovation et Exportation (MDEIE), Montréal, 2009.
"La mobilité des travailleurs entre le Québec et la Pennsylvanie", Chambre de
commerce du Montréal Métropolitain, Montreal, 2008.
"Business persons and Professionals’ Mobility in Trade NAFTA Zone," Barreau du
Québec, 2009.
"Canada and Quebec," Seminar, CCI-International Nord-Pas de Calais, Lille,
France, 2008.
"Doing Business in the United States", The American Chamber of Commerce –
section Québec, Quebec, 2008.
U.S. Immigration, Conference, HEC and the Délégation générale du Québec à New
York, New York, 2008.
"Achieving Success in Canada : The Case for the French PME", Chambre de
Commerce française, Paris, 2008.
"Cross-Border M&A : The Human Factor," The American-Canadian Chamber of
Commerce, Montréal 2008.
"Canada’s Future Workforce: Implementing Solutions for a National Dilemma",
Canadian Employee Relocation Council Montréal, 8 septembre 2008.
"Workforce Mobility under NAFTA – Myth or Reality?", NAFIC Forum, Montreal,
2007.
"Border Searches of Laptops and Other Electronic Storage Devices," in
collaboration with BCF, the American Chamber of Commerce in Canada and the
Canadian Border Services Agency, Montreal, 2007.
"Faire du droit de l’immigration un outil au service des entreprises", interview for
the Revue de la Communauté Française des Affaires Internationale, 2007.
Symposium on the Asia-Pacic region in collaboration with
PricewaterhouseCoopers and Groupe MI, Montreal, 2006.
INVOLVEMENT
Member of BCF's Board of Directors
Co-Chair of the Quebec Chapter in the American Chamber of Commerce of
Canada (Amcham)
Member of the Government Relations Committee for the Canadian Employee
Relocation Council (CERC) 2012-2013-2014-2015
BCF LLP, co-head of the Audit Committee 2010-2011
BCF LLP, Administrative Council 2008-2009
The Quebec Association of Immigration Lawyers (AQAADI)
PUBLICATIONS
"From technical to tactical: Changes to TFWP force employers to change
immigration, mobility management practices", Canadian HR Reporter, November
16th, 2015.
"Forging a New England-Quebec Alliance", NECBC/AMCHAM, March 25, 2015.
"Aéronautique : L’apport incontestable des travailleurs étrangers à Montréal",
Action Canada-France, Vol. 23, No. 3, March, 2015.
"Terminating an Expat: Commencing a Long Journey?", Canadian HR Reporter,
May 2014.
"Réussir en dehors des grands bureaux", interview with Céline Gobert, Journal
Les Affaires, May 17, 2014.
"Vous avez des projets aux États-Unis? Votre premier dé : Traverser la frontière
canado-américaine...", Réseau juridique du Québec, Montreal, Update April 23,
2014.
"Exporter notre savoir-faire en construction : pas si simple!", Savoir exporter,
Développement économique Longueuil, October 2012.
"Que savoir avant d’embaucher des étrangers", Les Affaires, Montréal, April 28
2012.
"Étude de cas sur la mobilité des travailleurs", Perspective magazine, Canadian
Employee Relocation Council, Fall 2011.
"Vous avez des projets aux États-Unis? Votre premier dé : Traverser la frontière
canado-américaine...", Revue de la Corporation des Entrepreneurs généraux du
Québec, Montreal, 2010.
"Attirer des cerveaux", La Presse, Montreal, April 8, 2010.
"Pour un Québec compétitif : de l’exode des cerveaux à la mobilité des pensées et
des idées", La Presse, April 2010.
"Trailing Spouses – Family Issues", Canadian Employee Relocation Council,
Montréal, 2010.
"Les développements récents en droit des affaires internationales - Le travail
international," Journal du Barreau du Québec, Montreal, 2009.
"Capital Investments in the Province of Quebec: The Human Factor," L'Expert
CCCA/ACCJE, 2008/2009.
"Immigration," a chapter in the Guide Establishing Yourself in Canada, published
by the French Commercial Representation Mission in Canada, 2008.
"Montreal Law Firms Go A-Courting in India," Interview with Kathryn Léger, The
Montreal Gazette, 2008.
"Socio-economic Point of view and the Impact of Immigration Legislation on
Temporary and Permanent Workers on the Competitiveness of Our Businesses," a
White Paper, Quebec, 2008.
"Impact of the Free Trade Agreement on Immigration Policy," The Quebec Bar
Association, 2008.
"The Free Exchange of Workers in North America - Myth or Reality?", Action
Canada-France, 2007.
"La mobilité internationale des travailleurs : un vecteur de compétitivité pour nos
entreprises", Les Affaires, 2007.
"Demystifying Immigration," Échanges Internationaux, 2007.
"Temporary Expatriation to Quebec," Classe Export, 2004.