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Expertise

Environment & Energy

 

Why SODAVEX ?

Founded by one of Quebec’s pioneers in Environmental law who cumulates nearly 30 years of practice in this very field, Chrsitine Duchaine has since built the largest team of lawyers dedicated solely to this area of expertise.  Author of a large number of reference books and a renouned speaker, she is called upon on a regular basis by experts in the field, by colleagues and by the media for all questions relating namely to contaminated lands and waste management.  Their cases having set precedents on numerous occasions, the Sodavex team does not only practice law, it’s writing it.  

  • For its important network of qualified experts
  • For its multidisciplinary team
  • For its innovative and effective solutions

In which context ?

  • Obtaining and transfering environmental autorizations
  • In cases involving contaminated soils and lands (including their rehabilitation) / Contaminated soil treatment facilities
  • Wetlands and bodies of water
  • Waste management
  • Air emissions / Carbon market
  • Water ressources and effluents / Wastewater treatment
  • Protected areas and species
  • Nuisances and neighbourhood disturbances
  • Non-conformity notices and administrative sanctions
  • Accidental spills and environmental emergencies / Hazardous materials management
  • Exploitation and rehabilitation of quarries, sandpits and mining sites
  • Energy-related projects (mini hydroelectric plants/ Wind farms / Cogeneration plants (biomass and biogaz))
  • Matters involving environmental-specific Access to information regulations
  • Environmental compliance and legislative watch

In practice

  • Representation of a multinational company in the context of the expansion of a waste management site
  • Negotiation of a deal with neighbouring properties in the context of a quarie rehabilitation
  • Review of countless environmental clauses during real estate or commercial transactions
  • Numerous mandamus procedures to obtain authorizations for commercial and industrial projects
  • Representation of businesses in the field of re-use and transformation of waste and hazardous materials
  • Contest of pecuniary administrative sanctions and numerous debates before the courts
  • Maintenance of operation rights for a group of 7 businesses in the field of dry waste materials management
  • Damage claims against environmental firms in regards to their duties towards their clients
  • Maintenance of operation rights for a large-scale parking facility threatened by zoning modifications

Jurisprudence

  • Québec (Procureure générale) c. Recyclage Ste-Adèle inc., 2011 QCCS 439
  • 9007-5193 Québec inc. c. Québec (Ministre de l’Environnement), 8 août 2006, Cour supérieure, 2006 QCCS 4527 et 10 mai 2007, Cour d’appel, 2007 QCCA 667
  • Montréal (Ville de) c. FBT Dorval Inc., 28 juin 2002 Cour d’appel, 2002 CanLII 41148 (QC CA)