QUEBEC JUDICIAL APPOINTMENTS ANNOUNCED

OTTAWA, March 2, 2007-- The Honourable Rob Nicholson, P.C., Q.C., M.P. for Niagara Falls, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, today announced the following appointments:

The Honourable Mark G. Peacock, a sole practitioner with Peacock Law Office in Montreal, is appointed a judge of the Superior Court in and for the Province of Quebec, District of Montreal. He replaces Madam Justice
H. Le Bel ( Montreal) who elected to become a supernumerary judge.

Mr. Justice Mark Peacock received a Master of Laws in 1975 from the London School of Economics, a Bachelor of Laws (Civil) in 1979 from Université Laval, and a Bachelor of Laws (Common) in 1974 from Queen’s University. He was admitted to the Bar of Ontario in 1977 and to the Bar of Quebec in 1981 and has his practice expertise in commercial litigation and employment relations. Up to his appointment, Peacock was a member of the Bars in Quebec and Ontario and has practiced law with firms in both provinces. He has been actively involved in public legal education and court reform throughout his professional career and has received numerous awards for his contributions to the legal profession from the Canadian Bar Association and the Barreau de Montréal.

The Honourable Marc-André Blanchard, a partner with the firm of Gowling Lafleur Henderson in Montreal is appointed a judge of the Superior Court in and for the Province of Quebec, District of Montreal. He replaces Mr. Justice J. Zigman ( Montreal) who elected to become a supernumerary judge.

Mr. Justice Marc-André Blanchard received a Bachelor of Laws in 1982 from Université de Montréal and was admitted to the Bar of Quebec in 1984. He practised first with De Grandpré, Godin, Paquette, Lasnier & Alary (1983-1986) before practising with Gowling Lafleur Henderson (1986-2007). Mr. Justice Blanchard’s practice expertise is in the area of administrative and constitutional law and litigation, civil and commercial law, and intellectual property law. He has acted as President of the Committee on Freedom of Expression in Media and Communications of the Canadian Bar Association, as Co-Founder of Advocates in Defense of Free Expression in the Media and as a Member of the Broad of Directors of the Palli-Ami Foundation of l’Hôpital Notre-Dame.

The Honourable Guylène Beaugé, a lawyer with the firm of Lamarre Linteau & Montcalm, is appointed a judge of the Superior Court in and for the Province of Quebec, District of Montreal. She replaces Madam Justice D. Grenier ( Montreal) who elected to become a supernumerary judge.

Madam Justice Guylène Beaugé received a Bachelor of Laws in 1984 from Université de Montréal, and a Bachelors of Arts (Philosophy with distinction) in 1981 from Collège Marie-de-France. She was admitted to the Bar of Quebec in 1985. Madam Justice Beaugé practised with private law firms in Montreal, the Quebec Justice Ministry and the Treasury Board of Quebec before joining Lamarre Linteau & Montcalm in 2002. Madam Justice Beaugé’s practice expertise is in the area of employment law, administrative law and civil litigation. She has acted as Member of Canadian Institute of the Administration of Justice, as President of the Quebec Branch of the Canadian Bar Association, and as President of the Justice and Equality Committee of the Race Relations Research and Action Centre.

The Honourable Francine Nantel, a partner with the firm of Robinson Sheppard Shapiro is appointed a judge of the Superior Court in and for the Province of Quebec, District of Montreal. She replaces Mr. Justice J. Frappier ( Montreal) who elected to become a supernumerary judge.

Madam Justice Francine Nantel received a Bachelor of Laws in 1991 from l’Université de Montréal and was awarded the Loréna-Cavalière Prize from the Faculty of Law, l’Université de Montréal in 1990. She was admitted to the Bar of Quebec in 1992 and then practised with Stotland, Nantel, Polak (1992-1999) before practising with Robinson Sheppard Shapiro (1999-2007). Madam Justice Nantel’s practice expertise is in the area of family law, human rights law, and family mediation. She has been an Executive Member of the Family Law Section of the Canadian Bar Association, a Vice-President of l’Association des Avocats et Avocates en Droit Familial du Québec, and a Member of the Board of Directors of the Mental Health Association of Montreal.

These appointments are effective immediately.

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Ref.:

Geneviève Breton
Director of Communications
Minister’s Office
613-992-4621