Montréal boutique Woods is revered not only as one of the strongest boutiques in the city but one of the strongest litigation groups of any firm in Québec. Perhaps even more impressive is how the firm has etched itself this position while remaining the most unanimously revered in terms of collegiality as well. “Of course, we see Woods all the time,” states one peer, “but they are really more friends than competitors.” Another concurs, “Woods will always be there, small dispute, big dispute – it doesn’t matter. They always seem to be on mandates all the time.” Speaking to the firm’s individual team members, one peer sums up, “I see them a lot, and you can always spot a Woods lawyer. There’s just a level of confidence there.”
One such individual standout, Cara Cameron, who joined the firm last year, is unanimously cheered. “She’s a great hire, [has] great personality, but make no mistake – she is a trial force.” Cameron is co-counsel representing Innu Nation in an intervention in a proceeding before the Superior Court of Montreal instituted
by several Quebec Innu bands seeking more than $2 billion in compensation from Hydro-Québec and Churchill Falls (Labrador) Corporation Limited for the adverse impact on their aboriginal title lands and rights resulting from the Churchill Falls hydro-electric project. A peer offers, “Cara is not known as an ‘aboriginal lawyer,’ right? It doesn’t matter – with her skills, she can handle this work as well as anyone with more subject-matter expertise.”
Eric Bedard and Richard Vachon representation of Quebecor Media and Videotron before the Supreme Court of Canada and the Federal Court of Appeal in appeals from a regulatory policy decision of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission related to the development of 5G wireless networks. “That’s a big deal for Eric,” states a contemporary, who goes on to quip, “He’s giving me FOMO because I’m not even doing Supreme Court work, and I’m older than him!” Three future stars – Alexandre Baril-Furino, Marie-Pier Cloutier and
Olivier Archambault-Lafond – make their debut in this edition, adding further evidence to the firm’s strategy of generational growth. “Olivier is
one of the few people who does defamation,” declares a peer. “He also has an expertise with technical matters.” One of the firm’s more senior partners,
Stephen Drymer is still active in a practice that juggles counsel and neutral work on a diverse array of novel matters. One peer ventures, “Stephen Drymer is one of Canada’s – and the world’s – top arbitrators for investment treaty work!” Another peer insists, “Ask Stephen about his sunken treasure case!” (This matter involves a US company that is pursuing a US$10 billion investment treaty claim against Colombia over treasure in the wreck of a Spanish galleon that sank off the coast of Cartagena more than300 years ago.)
