Partner

Marie-Claude Cantin is a partner in the Litigation and Dispute Resolution group and head of the Financial Products and Services team.

In her litigation practice, she represents the interests of insurers and their insureds in different types of claims, leading her to work with a variety of clientele, from manufacturers and entrepreneurs to professionals like engineers, architects, land surveyors and insurance brokers. She acts before the courts in complex and far-reaching cases in a number of fields, including insurance law, construction litigation, commercial litigation, professional liability and manufacturer's and seller's liability. She also works on alternative dispute resolution proceedings, such as mediation and arbitration.

Marie-Claude is known for her regulatory and compliance expertise, particularly in insurance and financial products and services distribution. She advises a wide range of clients in this area, including insurance and reinsurance companies, insurance agents and brokerage firms, and holding companies. She also acts as a proxy in Quebec for several insurers.

She is able to advise clients on all regulatory aspects, including the registration of firms and other entities, regulatory compliance of financial products and services, and obtaining permits from regulatory authorities. Having acquired solid experience with regulatory authorities, she can also provide assistance with regulatory inspections, compliance reviews, inquiries and regulatory proceedings.

With her reputation as a leader in the insurance industry, Marie-Claude is regularly consulted for legal opinions on insurance coverage. She also advises many insurers on the legal review of their insurance policies after translation and revision to ensure compliance with Quebec law.

Over the years, she has developed an expertise in issues relating to the Charter of the French Language and is frequently called upon in this regard, particularly in connection with the recent reform of the Charter and its impact on stakeholders in the insurance industry.

Clients appreciate her availability, customer service and ability to find innovative solutions to complex cases, trusting her with their most important issues. Her clients see her as a true legal and business partner, and know they can count on her for strategic advice that reflects their reality.

Marie-Claude regularly publishes articles on topics related to her areas of practice, and insurance industry stakeholders frequently turn to her for training on topics related to insurance law and regulatory compliance.

Publications

• Bill 30: Legislative changes concerning insurance, July 21, 2023
• Clarifications regarding insurance products offered on the internet, January 2023
• Amendments to the Charter of the French Language: Impacts on the insurance sector, July 2022
• Complaint processing: New framework to come for financial institutions and financial intermediaries, May 2022
• Bill 141: Checklist on insurance products offered via the internet and distribution without a representative, February 2020
• Three key points about the Regulation respecting damage insurance brokerage, February 2020
• Builders? risk insurance: Interpreting the usual faulty workmanship and ?LEG? exclusions in connection with Ledcor and Acciona, March 2018
• An obiter of the Québec Court of Appeal makes its way up to the Supreme Court of Canada, November 2016
• Wellington type motions seeking to order a CGL insurer to take up the defence of its insured, October 2016
• Legal newsletter for real estate and construction professionals, Number 10, May 2015
• Cooling towers and asbestos: New obligations for owners, tenants, managers and employers, June 2014
• Building safety: New onerous obligations for owners, April 2013

Education

• LL.B., Université Laval, 1989

Significant Accomplishments
She has represented many insurers in major fire cases acting for subrogated insurers and for defendant insurers.
She has represented an insurer before the Court of Appeal to obtain a ruling allowing insurers, henceforth, to involve, by forced intervention, third parties potentially liable for a claim, even if the insurer had denied its insured’s claim.



Professional Associations
Canadian Bar Association
Association of Defense Trial Attorneys


Professional Activities and Experience
Accolades

• Best Lawyer 2016
• Lexpert 2016
• Best Lawyer 2017
• Best Lawyer 2018
• Best Lawyers 2019
• Best Lawyers 2020
• Best Lawyers 2021
• Best Lawyers 2022
• Lexpert 2022
• Lexpert
• Best Lawyers 2024

• Building Safety – New Onerous Obligations for Owners
• Cooling Towers and Asbestos: New Obligations for Owners, Tenants, Managers and Employers
• A Heads-up on Asbestos!
• Wellington type motions seeking to order a CGL insurer to take up the defence of its insured
• An obiter of the Québec Court of Appeal makes its way up to the Supreme Court of Canada
• Builders’ Risk Insurance: Interpreting the Usual Faulty Workmanship and “LEG” Exclusions in connection with Ledcor and Acciona
• Bill 141: Checklist on insurance products offered via the internet and distribution without a representative
• Complaint processing: New framework to come for financial institutions and financial intermediaries
• Amendments to the Charter of the French Language: Impacts on the Insurance Sector
• Clarifications regarding insurance products offered on the Internet
• Bill 30 – legislative changes concerning insurance