Academic background

I received my Bachelor of Laws degree from the Université de Montréal in 1980 and my Master of Laws degree in 1986. I have been a member of the Barreau du Québec since 1981 and was awarded the honorary distinction of Advocatus Emeritus in 2009.

I have followed intense training as an ombudsman with the International Ombudsman Association (IOA) and I am a member of the Forum of Canadian Ombudsman (FCO), both professional associations that subscribe to very high rules of ethics and conduct.

I have also followed specialized training as a mediator, negotiator, and trainer, and on human relationships, coaching and communication skills.

Professional background

I practiced as a litigator in shareholder disputes, mediator, and arbitrator in commercial, business, and professional ethics for 27 years. Among other things, my professional practice has taught me that inadequate governance methods and internal conflicts can damage businesses if they remain unresolved or are allowed to drag in courts too long.

Over the years, my high sense of professional integrity and ethics has earned me a seat on the Disciplinary Committee of the Barreau du Québec as well as the chairmanship of the Barreau du Québec’s Complaints Review Committee, which I set up and as syndic had hoc. I have acted as attorney for the syndics of professional associations and I am on the Montréal Bar Association’s lists of arbitrators, mediators, and senior counsels who can act as mentors in complex cases involving shareholder disputes.

I was Chair of the Business Law section of the CBA (Qc) for 2007-2009 and I now act as past Chair and also as Treasurer of the CBA National section of Business law.

I have written and published a number of papers on topics related to governance, conflicts of interest, professional secrecy, oppression remedies, derivative actions and ethics.

I am regularly featured as a speaker on matters dealing with corporate activities or legislation as I was recently president of a study group for the Business law section of Canadian Bar Association (Qc) that made recommendations to the Minister of Finances of Québec on the reform on the Corporation Act adopted on December 1^st, 2009.

Social involvement

My strong belief in helping others has had me volunteer for different causes since 1983 including Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Montréal, Fondation Bel Essor (for handicapped children), Maison Jonathan (to help children that drop out of school) and as a school board commissioner and director of my alma mater the College de l’Assomption.

Ombudsman Solution

In 2009, I launched Ombudsman Solution, a time-sharing service intended to give progressive businesses an edge in improving their efficiency as well as their short and long term productivity and profitability.

Through Ombudsman Solution and thanks to my legal background, I am able to share my experience, knowledge, personal skills, and creativity, and fulfill the needs of people to be heard, supported, and empowered so as to become part of the solutions rather than the problems that often plague businesses.

Time-sharing allows Ombudsman Solution to offer its services at a fraction of the usual costs of a full time ombudsman as clients only pay for the time they use.

Thus businesses who believe that fairness, openness, and a sense of justice represent powerful tools to improve their bottom line may now rely on Ombudsman Solution to effect the required cultural changes professionally and at a highly competitive cost.