Jean-François Lehoux
CounselQuébec Bar 1982
Jean-François joined Novalex after practicing for more than thirty years with a major Canadian law firm in civil and professional liability defense, disciplinary law, civil and commercial litigation, product liability and class actions. Jean-François now focuses his practice on defending professionals of all professions in all aspects covered by professional and disciplinary law. Jean-François also advises professionals in all aspects of their practice.
With 40 years of experience in litigation, he has represented numerous clients over the years before all civil courts in Quebec, before numerous disciplinary and administrative authorities (various disciplinary councils, the Tribunal des professions, intra-hospital disciplinary committees, administrative boards of the Quebec Bar and the Collège des médecins du Québec, etc.), as well as before the Supreme Court of Canada.
Jean-François has also represented and advised law students, Quebec Bar students, medical students and residents. He taught evidence law at the École du Barreau du Québec, was a member of the Disciplinary Council of the Quebec Bar and sat on the Bar’s Liaison Committee with the Quebec Court of Appeal.
Jean-François is a guest professor at Université Laval and Université de Montréal in professional liability and damage assessment. He has lectured extensively on professional liability, damage assessment, civil evidence, class actions, international private jurisdiction, and professional and disciplinary law.
Jean-François is the author of publications on damage assessment and class actions. He is co-author of the fourth edition of Defending Class Actions in Canada published in 2016. He has been recognized by the Best Lawyers in Canada directory since 2006 as a leader in class actions, medical malpractice and personal injury cases. The National Post named him one of the top personal injury lawyers in the country.
Practice areas
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Professional activities and initiatives
Education
Practice areas
- Disciplinary Litigation
- Ethics
- Professional liability
- Commercial litigation
- Class Actions
- Civil litigation
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Jean-François has notably:
DEFENDED a Quebec university in a lawsuit involving allegations of malpractice with respect to scientific publications;
DEFENDED a U.S. footwear manufacturer doing business around the world in a class action based on alleged misrepresentations;
DEFENDED a European pesticide company in a class action relating to alleged bee diseases;
DEFENDED an Australian mining company in a class action brought in Quebec by citizens of the DRC following the suppression of an insurrection in the DRC;
DEFENDED a Japanese electronics manufacturer in a class action lawsuit for theft of personal data;
DEFENDED a U.S. tobacco company in the two largest class action lawsuits ever filed in Canada involving allegations of addiction and disease caused by tobacco;
DEFENDED a neonatal doctor in one of the largest medical liability lawsuits ever filed in Canada following the serious injury of a baby at birth;
ADVISED one of Canada’s largest digital health and wellness platforms in a compliance investigation conducted by the syndicate of the Collège des médecins du Québec;
DEFENDED many Quebec doctors through a non-profit organization offering medical liability protection to its members;
DEFENDED numerous Quebec professionals in the context of investigations and disciplinary complaints conducted by various Quebec professional orders.
Professional activities and initiatives
- Member of the Canadian Bar Association (CBA)
- Guest professor at the law faculties of the University of Montreal and the University of Laval
- Speaker in disciplinary law and ethics
- Speaker on Class Actions
- Speaker on damage assessment
- Speaker on the jurisdiction of Quebec courts over disputes originating outside Canada
- Named Best Lawyers Canada 2024 – Class Action Litigation; Personal Injury Litigation
Education
LL.B., Université Laval – 1981