Profile
François Garneau is a labour and employment lawyer and Partner in the Montreal office of Miller Thomson. His clientele consists of employers from various economic sectors, be it pharmaceutical companies, oil companies, mining companies, computer consulting firms, food product companies or other manufacturing companies. He has also acted for Crown corporations including Canada Post Corporation, Loto-Québec, Hydro-Québec and the Société Générale de Financement. In addition, he represents senior executives in negotiations involving employment termination, and provides counsel in the drafting of employment contracts.
Mr. Garneau is specialized in all sectors of labour law including certification, collective bargaining agreements, grievance adjudication, employment contract negotiation, unfair competition and non-competition clauses, civil liberties and job discrimination.
He has been called to appear before all levels of court to interpret and enforce labour laws including the Labour Commissioner General, the Industrial Accidents and Occupational Diseases Board, grievance arbitrators, arbitrators under the authority of the Canadian Labour Code, the Canada Industrial Relations Board, the Superior Court, the Court of Appeal, and the Supreme Court.
In addition, he devotes part of his practice to commercial law and has been involved in shareholder remedy cases representing minority shareholders as well as oppression remedy claims under the Canada Business Corporations Act.
Mr. Garneau has given numerous conferences on various subjects related to employment law and human rights as well as privacy issues, contracts of employment and business reorganizations. He has recently given seminars on social networking sites, employee whistleblowing and due diligence in business acquisition matters.
Education
- L.LL., Université de Montréal, 1978
Professional Achievements
- Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent® Rated Lawyer, 2013
- Martindale-Hubbell Certification Mark BV®
- Recognized by Lexpert Magazine as one of the leading practitioners in Labour and Employment law in Québec
Directorships
- Director of Hachette Distribution Services (Canada) Inc., 1998- 2002
Representative Cases
A) Shareholder remedy litigation
- Inversiones Montforte S.A. vs. Javelin International Ltd., [1982] C.S. 425
- Sparling vs. Javelin International Ltd., [1986] R.J.Q 1073 (Major judgment rendered under the CBCA oppression remedy provisions, $15,000,000 condemnation; judgment maintained in appeal), [1992] R.J.Q. 11 (C.A.)
- Baril vs. Industries Flexart Ltée, [2001] R.J.Q. 488 (Superior Court), [2003] R.J.D.T. 39 (Court of Appeal)
B) Constitutional law
- Sparling vs. Smallwood, [1982] 2 S.C.R. 686 (Crown privileged invoked by former Premier of Newfoundland)
C) Discrimination, sexual harassment and psychological harassment
- Roy vs. Comité paritaire de l’industrie automobile de Montréal, D.T.E. 2002T-584 (Sexual harassment)
- McDougall vs. BioChem Pharma inc., D.T.E. 2006T-203 (C.S.) (Appeal abandoned)
D) Judicial review
- Doyle vs. Restrictive Trade Practices Commission, [1983] 2 F.C. 867
- Doyle vs. Restrictive Trade Practices Commission, [1985] 1 F.C. 362 (F.C.A.)
- Société des loteries et courses du Québec vs. Sylvestre, [1987] R.J.Q. 1234 (C.A.) (Jurisdiction of Superior Court to render judgment which should have been rendered by arbitrator)
E) Class actions
- Pélissier vs. Calian Ltd., 2004 CanLII 18342 (C.A.)
F) Termination cases and related matters
- Couture vs. Volcano Inc., [1984] C.S. 546
- Dansereau vs. Canada, [1991] 1 F.C. 444 (F.C.A.)
- Desruisseaux vs. Aon-Parizeau Inc., 2003 CanLII 17322 (C.A.)
- McKerracher vs. Shire BioChem, 2007T-42 (C.S.)
- Thibodeau vs. Cintech Agroalimentaire, division inspection inc., 2006 QCCRT
- Brandwein vs. Congrégation Beth-El, [2003] R.J.D.T. 294 (Confirmed by the Court of Appeal)
- Hannoyer vs. Hydro-Québec, D.T.E. 2004T-802 (C.R.T.)
G) Administrative law
- Côté vs. Régie de l’assurance-maladie du Québec, 2004 CanLII 64163 (T.A.Q.)
Presentations
- "Le congédiement déguisé”, Meredith Memorial Lectures, 1988
- Perspectives sur le Québec : Le droit de l’emploi et l’obligation d’accommodement, 20e réunion annuelle de l’ACCJE, August 19, 2008
- Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, blogues : comment les nouvelles technologies changent la donne en droit du travail, Séminaire « Les défis de la reprise : Êtes-vous prêts? », September 24, 2009
- Les employés délateurs ou comment concilier l’obligation de loyauté et la dénonciation (« Whistleblowing »), Séminaire « La gestion de questions liées au droit du travail et de l’emploi – Ce que nous réserve 2010 », January 28, 2010
Publications
- Les employés délateurs ou comment concilier l’obligation de loyauté et la dénonciation (« Whistleblowing »), Séminaire « La gestion de questions liées au droit du travail et de l’emploi – Ce que nous réserve 2010 », 2010
- Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, blogues : comment les nouvelles technologies changent la donne en droit du travail, Séminaire « Les défis de la reprise : Êtes-vous prêts? », 2009
- Perspectives sur le Québec : Le droit de l’emploi et l’obligation d’accommodement, 20e réunion annuelle de l’ACCJE, 2008
- Psychological Harassment Legislation in Quebec, Labour and Employment Communiqué, February 2006
- Le congédiement déguisé, Meredith Memorial Lectures, 1988
Key Practice Expertise
Year of Call
- Québec Bar, 1979