André Legrand's practice focuses on insurance law and professional liability. His insurance law practice focuses on general liability insurance, directors and officers' liability insurance, professional liability insurance and property insurance.
Mr. Legrand's professional liability practice involves representing the interests of directors and officers of corporations. He also manages claims on behalf of insurers. He has acted before all Quebec courts and the Supreme Court of Canada. Mr. Legrand was Montréal chair of our litigation group between 2002 and 2006.
Speaking engagements
· "Managing Risks Relating to the Handling of Liability and Property Claims" (co-chair), The Canadian Institute, June 8-9, 2010.
· "Demystifying D&O Liability in Light of the Recent Increase of Claims and Review of the Scope of D&O Policy," The Canadian Institute, June 8-9, 2010.
· "Insurance and Construction," Québec Association of Engineers, May 7, 2010.
· "State of Québec Law," Annual Meeting of the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association, May 6, 2010.
· "Exclusion Clause and Other Consideration under Property and Liability Policies," Canadian Bar Association, February 25, 2010.
· "Directors' Liability - A Practical Guide" (co-speaker), The Insolvency Institute of Canada, September 2008.
· "Preventing claims against directors in the event of bankruptcy, insolvency reorganization: What to do and not to do" (co-speaker), The Canadian Institute, September 2007.
· "Conference on the growing importance of Directors and Officers' Liability Insurance," October 2006.
· "Conference on emerging issues in insurance law," Canadian Bar Association, Annual Meeting, Edmonton, August 1999.
· "Conference on the New Role of Insurance Market Intermediaries," Faculty of Law, McGill University, March 1993.
Rankings and recognitions
· Best Lawyers in Canada, 2008-2012 - insurance law, director and officer liability
· The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory - "repeatedly recommended" in commercial insurance, directors and officers' liability insurance and professional liability
Memberships and activities
· Canadian Bar Association
· Editorial board, Canadian Journal of Insurance Law
· Editorial board, Corporate Liability
· Lecturer approved by the Quebec regulatory authorities for the continuing education of insurance brokers and lawyers
Related Publications
Quebec Superior Court hands down a first ruling on the immunity of municipalities under the Fire Safety Act
In June 2000, the Quebec Government adopted Bill 112, the Fire Safety Act - the culmination of several years of consultations by the Public Security Ministry with the various stakeholders in the area of fire prevention.
06/06/2011
An insurer's duty to defend under a CGL policy: Quebec Superior Court reviews the scope of "property damage" and "accident"
On July 14, 2011, Justice Daniel W. Payette of the Quebec Superior Court issued a very interesting judgment dealing with an insurer's duty to defend under a CGL insurance policy.
12/09/2011
Has the Quebec Court of Appeal created a higher standard of care for children's sports organisations?
On August 25, 2010, the Quebec Court of Appeal handed down a judgment dealing with the duty of safety of ski resorts that offer skiing lessons to young children.
07/09/2010
Ontario Court of Appeal addresses the interplay between D&O and ODL coverage
It is commonplace for corporations to have on their boards of directors professionals such as accountants or lawyers.
22/09/2010
Duty to defend turns on nature of plaintiff's allegations and on policy language
In a very recent judgment pertaining to a commercial general liability (CGL) policy, the Supreme Court of Canada has reiterated that the duty to defend is triggered by the mere possibility that a claim is covered by the insurance policy and does not depend on actual liability or on an actual duty
13/10/2010
The insurer's duty to defend where a municipality was exercising a legislative power
On October 25, 2010, the Quebec Court of Appeal handed down a ruling on an insurer's duty to defend its insured under a liability policy issued for the benefit of a municipality.
16/12/2010
The do's and don'ts of doing business with foreign suppliers
The decision to outsource manufacturing processes is a difficult one for many domestic companies.
30/10/2009
Suits between liability insurers now possible in Quebec
The question of whether a liability insurer that had paid out an indemnity owing to the negligence of its insured could seek reimbursement of a portion of that indemnity from another insurer covering the same risk had in recent years been the subject of debate in Quebec law.
08/09/2009
Apportionment now
How, if at all, should the costs of defending a lawsuit be apportioned between the insurer and insured when only some of the claims made in the lawsuit are covered by the applicable insurance policy? This question was answered by the Court of Appeal for Ontario in Hanis v. Teevan.
21/05/2009
When a liability insurer hesitates in taking up the insured's defence does it risk losing the right to appoint counsel?
The Quebec Court of Appeal recently had a chance to address this issue in Entreprises M. Bourget inc. c. Compagnie d'assurances Missisquoi
03/07/2009
Related News
Getting insurers to the tables
André Legrand comments a recent Quebec Superior Court judgment on insurance companies, in the Canadian Lawyer Magazine.
21/11/2011
Québec Court Defines Insurable ''Occurrence''
A "claims made" policy is one that requires the insured to make a claim during the policy period, the timing of which can be difficult to interpret. André Legrand comments in Lexpert.
14/04/2010
Quebec CA confirms insurers' right to appoint counsel
Insurers that hesitate to appoint counsel have not necessarily lost the right to appoint them, the Quebec Court of Appeal has ruled. André Legrand and Éric Hardy comment in Lawyers Weekly.
21/08/2009
Builder's risk policy covers unnamed subcontractors
The Quebec Court of Appeal has reinforced the importance of cooperation in Optimum, société d'assurances inc. c. Plomberie Raymond Lemelin inc. Charles Alexandre Foucreault and André Legrand comment in Lawyers Weekly.
12/06/2009
Tips For Good Relations Between Insurers and Insured
Insurance policies are important assets to companies and they should be handled with care, writes André Legrand in the Lawyers Weekly.
26/03/2010