Our Team

Vanessa Hergett is the Director of Legal Affairs at the Union des producteurs agricoles. She practices mainly in municipal law, land use planning, expropriation and municipal taxation. She is member of the Quebec Bar since 2010 and is an accredited mediator since 2015. As part of her practice, Vanessa represents agricultural and forestry producers before several judicial entities, such as municipal courts, administrative tribunals, and courts. She also advises her clients on construction permits, subdivision and compliance of agricultural activities before municipal and administrative authorities. Vanessa has been president and vice-president of the Municipal Law section of the Canadian Bar Association in Quebec and currently sits on its executive committee.

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.

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.

Charlotte Bourget-Rousseau joined UPA Avocats 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.

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 UPA Avocats 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.

Justine Perron is a 2016 civil law graduate from the University of Ottawa and has been a member of the Quebec Bar since 2017. Her practice focuses mainly on advice and representation in civil and administrative law as well as in the production and marketing of agricultural products. Before joining the UPA Avocats team, Justine gained experience in the application of the Act respecting the preservation of agricultural land and agricultural activities and its regulations as well as in in disciplinary law as a member of the Disciplinary Council of the Quebec Bar. She is regularly called upon pleading before various administrative bodies including the Régie des marchés agricoles, the CPTAQ and the TAQ. Justine practices law with passion and rigor for the benefit of her clients.

François Lemieux was admitted to the Quebec Bar in 2022. Since then, he has worked on cases involving civil liability, construction, insurance, securities, bankruptcy, and insolvency. He has also been involved in special procedures, such as injunctions, safeguard orders, and seizures before judgment. François has had the opportunity to plead on numerous occasions before the Court of Quebec, the Superior Court, and the Court of Appeal. In his practice, he supports clients in contractual and governance matters and he advises agricultural producers on corporate law issues and represents them in civil and commercial disputes.

M^e McShane est diplômée en droit de l’Université Montréal et détient un diplôme spécialisé de 2^e cycle en Common Law. Membre du Barreau depuis 2023, elle exerce sa pratique principalement en droit municipal. Elle a eu l’opportunité de représenter la Ville de Montréal en tant que procureure dans plusieurs dossiers de poursuite et a également défendu des clients privés devant diverses municipalités du Québec, tant en droit civil que pénal. Dans le cadre de sa pratique, M^e McShane accompagne les producteurs agricoles dans leurs besoins juridiques en matière de droit municipal, droit de l’aménagement du territoire et droit de la protection du territoire agricole, y compris lors de représentations devant les tribunaux de droit commun et diverses instances administratives.