BHLF Lawyers
UPA’s Legal Service in Agricultural Law


BHLF Lawyers is a private practice office that offers services exclusively in agricultural law.
A solid expertise
Our lawyers have an extensive knowledge of the laws and regulations that apply to producers. Their expertise allows them to offer legal assistance tailored to the needs and realities of the agricultural world.
They can provide front-line assistance in litigation or provide advice or information concerning recent developments on a particular issue.
We accept a wide range of mandates. We invite you to consult the list of services provided by BHLF Lawyers to appreciate the extent of our services. Please note, however, that we do not provide matrimonial or estate law services.
Services are billable at a competitive rate and are offered throughout the province of Quebec.
Terms and conditions of access
1) You must be an agricultural producer |
2) The legal issue must not be between two producers or between a producer and the UPA or a group of producers |
*Like any private practice firm, BHLF Lawyers reserves the right to accept or refuse a mandate due to the unavailability of lawyers or other criteria.
Services provided by BHLF Lawyers
OPINION – ADVICE – NEGOTIATION – MEDIATION – LITIGATION – DRAFTING – TRAINING |
Agricultural production
- Production and marketing
- Collective marketing agreements
- Regulatory drafting
- Contracts (purchase, sale, rental)
- Animal welfare
- Programs and subsidies
- Governance and ethical issues
Environment
- Permits and authorizations
- Wetlands and bodies of water
- Watercourses and ditches
- Tree felling
- Nuisance
- Pesticides
- Sustainable development
Municipal and spatial planning
- Preservation of agricultural land and agricultural activities
- Municipal by-laws (zoning, construction, urban planning)
- Permits and authorizations
- Acquired rights and derogatory uses
- Separation distances standards
- Municipal taxation
- Real estate assessment
- Expropriation
Real estate law
- Encroachment and infringement of property rights
- Easements (right of way, conservation, public utility)
- Boundary delimitation procedures
- Acquisitive prescription
- Common works
Liability and offences
- Damage action
- Neighbourhood annoyances
- Latent defects
- Defamation
- Statements of offence (Highway Safety Code, Municipal law, Environmental law, etc.)
- Administrative Monetary Penalties (AMPs)
Other services
- Access to information and privacy protection related matters
- Farm buildings construction standards
- Labour law
- Insurance and claims
An unparalleled team
Diane Simard is the Director of Legal Affairs at the Union des producteurs agricoles. She took over from Me Johanne Brodeur as head of the BHLF Lawyers team following her appointment as a superior court juge in 2017. A member of the Quebec Bar since 1988, Diane brings 25 years of experience in municipal law and in planning and urban development to the agricultural community. She has held management positions at the Union des municipalités du Québec and for municipalities. She also acted as an organizational performance consultant for Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton. Diane holds an MBA and a Master’s degree in Urban Analysis and Management. Over the course of her career, Diane has participated as a speaker at several conferences and seminars and has given training on various topics in municipal law. She was a member of the Municipal Courts Committee of the Quebec Bar from 2010 to 2018.
dsimard@upa.qc.ca | ✆ 450 679-0540, ext. 8271 |
Marie-Andrée Hotte graduated from Université de Sherbrooke and has been a member of the Quebec Bar since 1987. She has over thirty years of experience in civil and criminal litigation. Before joining the UPA in 2002, she practiced as a litigator in a reputable private law firm, including as a federal crown attorney and municipal court attorney. Marie-Andrée has a varied practice in insurance law, contract law and civil and criminal liability. She is also frequently consulted on issues related to defamation and construction law. Over the years, she has developed a particular expertise in the field of energy. Marie-Andrée is Vice-President of the South Shore Regional Legal Aid Centre, which oversees 11 permanent offices.
mahotte@upa.qc.ca | ✆ 450 679-0540, ext. 8741 – 8540 |
Myriam Robichaud practices mainly in civil and administrative law. Her practice focuses in particular on advising and representing clients in the production and marketing of agricultural products. Her expertise is also solicited in access to information and privacy protection related matters. She holds a Master’s degree in International Law from Université Laval and a Bachelor’s degree in International Studies from Université de Montréal. Myriam is accredited as a mediator in civil, commercial and labour matters and in small claims mediation. She has been a member of the Quebec Bar since 2011.
mrobichaud@upa.qc.ca | ✆ 450 679-0540, ext. 8574 – 8488 |
Rémi Jolicoeur focuses his practice on environmental law, as well as any matters related to land occupancy. A member of the Quebec Bar since 2009, he holds a master’s degree in environmental law, sustainable development and food security with distinction on the honour roll. In his practice, Rémi is called upon to represent agricultural and forestry producers before all courts (in civil and criminal matters), including municipal courts, and various administrative bodies. He is also called upon to advise them and intervene with the authorities regarding the compliance of their facilities, activities and projects.
rjolicoeur@upa.qc.ca | ✆ 450 679-0540, ext. 8280 – 8540 |
Charlotte Bourget-Rousseau joined BHLF Lawyers in 2017. A member of the Quebec Bar since 2013, she practices mainly in land use planning law, environmental law and land protection and agricultural activities law. She holds a bachelor’s degree in agricultural and environmental sciences from McGill University and is a member of the Ordre des Agronomes, where she sits on the board of directors of the Montreal South Shore section. During her academic training in agronomy, Charlotte developed a solid field experience that allows her not only to better understand the reality of the agricultural producers she advises, but also to ensure that they are adequately represented before the courts and administrative bodies.
cbourgetrousseau@upa.qc.ca | ✆ 450 679-0540, ext. 8392 – 8488 |
Gabriel Béliveau holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from Université de Laval and has been a member of the Quebec Bar since 2014. He also earned a graduate degree in business law from Université de Laval. In his practice, Gabriel is called upon to represent agricultural and forestry producers in various civil litigation matters. He is focused on finding the best solutions to address today’s producer’s concerns. Gabriel also developed an expertise related to the legal issues that occur in the production and marketing of agricultural products. After practising in major law firms, he joined the BHLF Lawyers team in April of 2019.
gbeliveau@upa.qc.ca | ✆ 450 679-0540, ext. 8493 |
Raphaële St-Amand-Valente holds a Bachelor of Laws degree and a Juris Doctor degree in Common Law and Transnational Law from the Université de Sherbrooke. In her work at BHLF Lawyers she covers all aspects of agricultural law, including neighbourhood disputes, contract drafting and municipal law. Raphaële stands out for her bilingualism, her rigour and her dynamism. She was sworn in as a lawyer in 2019.
rstamandvalente@upa.qc.ca | ✆ 450 679-0540, ext. 8392 |
Carolyne Fauteux-Filion graduated from the University of Montreal in 2018 and is a member of the Bar of Montreal since 2019. She joined the BHLF Lawyers team in 2021. In addition to her career in law, Carolyne holds a Bachelor’s degree in Urban Planning from the Université du Québec à Montréal since 2015. Thanks to her diversified academic and professional background, she has a wide range of knowledge in litigation, particularly in municipal law, land use planning and real estate law. She is passionate about providing the best service to her clients, she is attentive to their needs and strives to find solutions adapted to each of them.
cfauteuxfilion@upa.qc.ca | ✆ 450 679-0540, ext. 8628 |
Isabelle Dubois
✆ 450 679-0540, ext. 8540 | isabelledubois@upa.qc.ca |
Danielle Charron
✆ 450 679-0540, ext. 8488 | dcharron@upa.qc.ca |
Publications
- Defamation, harassment, and intimidation in agriculture | January 2020
Contact us
BHLF Lawyers
Maison de l’UPA
555, boulevard Roland-Therrien, # 100
Longueuil (Québec) J4H 3Y9
Email : bhlf@upa.qc.ca
Telephone : 450 679-0251
Fax : 450 463-5208