Partner, Lawyer

Mario Welsh, Ad. E.

• Counsel for SNC-Lavalin in a very high-profile professional liability case involving hundreds of homeowners in Trois-Rivières experiencing problems with pyrite;
• A hundred of professional liability cases for architects and engineers (case law: Syndicat de Beaucours, Le Massif, Lac St-Charles v. Choinière;
• International arbitration: Lone Pipe;
• Senior counsel for Loto-Québec in a class action suit brought on behalf of individuals alleging to be compulsive gamblers. Globally, it is likely the largest class action suit for gambling on video lottery terminals;
• Successful representation of Guay Cranes Inc. before the Supreme Court of Canada in the case against Yannick Payette (Payette v. Grues Guay Inc.).

• May 2017

  “The Joint Expert Under the New Quebec Code of Civil Procedure”, Canadian College of Construction Lawyers 2017 Conference, Quebec city

• May 14, 2015

  “Comparative analysis of the role of the corporate lawyer versus the role of a lawyer in a law firm: My client is a lawyer ... What have I got myself into?”, prepared and presented in collaboration with Mtre Jérôme Jolicoeur as part of the Barreau de Québec’s corporate attorneys forum;

• April 21, 2015

  “Update on the handling of change orders and extras. Has the Charbonneau Commission had any impact?", as part of the Advanced Conference on the Management of Claims and Litigation in the Construction Industry, organized by the Canadian Institute and held in Montreal;

• April 10, 2015

  “Overseeing projects: Where are we on the issue of professional obligations?”, as part of the construction forum organized by Université Laval, in Québec City;

• April 2, 2014

  “Professional liability: preventing litigation against professionals and dealing with specific issues in representing them when litigation arises”, prepared in collaboration with Mtre Nicolas Croteau and Jozef Zorko, Architect. Presented jointly with Jozef Zorko as part of the Advanced Conference on the Management of Claims and Litigation in the Construction Industry, organized by the Canadian Institute; 

• November 5, 2013

  “Professional liability in the construction industry”, as part of the continuing education program hosted by Heenan Blaikie, Montréal;

• November 27, 2012

  “Caselaw affecting architects and engineers involved in construction litigation: helpful strategies when acting for architects and engineers”, prepared in collaboration with Mtre Bénédicte St-Gelais and presented as part of the Canadian Institute’s Construction Superconference held in Montréal;

• September 2012

  “Role and liability of architects and engineers as construction professionals”, audio conference prepared with Mtre Bénédicte St-Gelais, published by Wilson & Lafleur;

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  “Lawyers and best litigation practices: conference presented at the École du Barreau since 2012 on a biannual basis;

• April 20, 2012

  Exceeding expectations! The Perfect “public” Construction Site, acted as moderator in a day-long construction seminar organized by the Association de la construction du Québec, held at the Loews Le Concorde Hotel;

• “Changes while work is in progress; the pitfalls to be avoided in settling disputes”, given February 8, 2012, as part of the 11th day-long seminar on contract-related claims, prepared for the continuing education program at the Faculty of Science and Engineering of Université Laval, in Québec City, also presented June 15, 2011 at SNC-Lavalin, in Montréal, and May 20, 2011 as part of a construction law forum organized by the Barreau du Québec in Montréal;

• August 2011

  “Introduction to Construction Law”, audio conference prepared jointly with Mtre Annie Labrecque and with the collaboration of Mtre Bénédicte St-Gelais, published by Wilson & Lafleur.

• February 3, 2011

  “Class Actions, Part I, the Defence Perspective: the authorization stage and the conduct of the case post- authorization”, presented in Montréal, training session organized by the Barreau de Québec;

• October 1, 2010

  “Class Actions: instituting the action; handling concurrent actions; the authorization process; the judge’s powers respecting authorization; proof and hearing; the determination of liability; methodology for determining damages”, presented in collaboration with the Honourable Dominique Bélanger, J.C.S., Mtre Claude Desmeules, training session organized by the Barreau de Québec;

• May 4, 2010

  “Specific obligations related to the professional liability of architects and engineers”, given as part of the Advanced Conference on the Management of Claims and Litigation in the Construction Industry, organized by the Canadian Institute in Montréal;

• March 25, 2010

  "Caselaw on the rights and obligations of professionnels in the construction industry", presented in Montréal as part of the professional development program of the Canadian Bar Association, Québec division;

• February 11, 2010

  "Risk management in contracts with architects and engineers", given as part of the 13th Annual Conference of the Corporation des Entrepreneurs Généraux du Québec, in Montréal;

• November 25, 2009

  "Practical advice on working with architects and engineers", presented as part of the Canadian Institute’s Construction Superconference, held in Montréal;

• September 26, 2008

  "Expert witnesses and construction disputes", presented as part of the 80th Annual Conference of the Association des avocats & avocates de province, in Tadoussac;

• May 30, 2008

  "Expert witnesses", given as part of the Annual Convention of the Barreau de Québec, held in Québec City;

• in 2007

  Talks and seminars tailored to specific client needs, such as seminars on construction law covering the contract award phase, the contract performance phase, project completion and the effects of Bill 107, held for the Commission scolaire de la Capitale;

• November 29, 2007

  “The impending implementation of the National Building Code (NBC 2005), an objective-based code: reduce costs and access multi-faceted solutions for your projects”, talk presented as part of the 18th Construction Superconference held in Montréal;

• June 7, June 14, and October 9, 2007

  “Calls for Tenders: when the courts dictate the ground rules”, talk presented in Montréal and Québec City to construction stakeholders, owners, contractors and professionals;

• May 24, 2007

  “Framing professional liability in service contracts: from myth to reality”, talk given as part of the 2nd Advanced Conference on the Management of Claims and Litigation in the Construction Industry, organized by the Canadian Institute;

• February 1, 2007

  “Structural engineers: their liability and obligations”, given as part of the 10th Annual Conference of the Corporation des entrepreneurs généraux du Québec;

• November 30, 2006

  “Why and when to bring claims against structural engineers: practical and legal aspects to consider”, talk given in Montréal as part of the 17th Construction Superconference in Montréal;

• December 6, 2005

  “Class Actions”, presented as part of the Barreau du Québec’s continuing education program;

• December 1, 2005

  “Recent caselaw on contract changes that may affect the decision to bring claims: Extras - myth or reality?” given as part of the 5th day-long seminar on contract-related claims, part of the continuing education program at Université Laval’s Faculty of Sciences and Engineering;

• March 9, 2004

  “Recent caselaw on construction claims: the rights and obligations of contractors and sub-contractors”, presented in Chicoutimi prepared for the Association des constructeurs de routes et grands travaux du Québec.