Jean Piette has vast experience in both environmental law and the development of environmental policy. He is Chair of our environmental team and was the first lawyer in Quebec to develop a practice devoted entirely to environmental law in 1972.
He provides legal counsel and strategic advice on matters of Quebec, federal and international environmental law. He advises clients on environmental permit applications, environmental audits, ISO 14000 certification, environmental due diligence for business transactions and the preparation of environmental compliance manuals for industry.
Mr. Piette represents clients in negotiations with environmental authorities, in environmental litigation before administrative and judicial tribunals and in private transactions involving environmental problems. He is a registered consultant in environmental law to the World Bank, which is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and in June 1999 he participated in the drafting of pesticide control legislation for Uzbekistan.
Before joining the firm, Mr. Piette worked successively for the Environment Protection Services, the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of the Environment of Quebec.
Selected client work
· Counsel to Hydro-Québec in the $615 million acquisition of a 60% interest in the McCormick Hydroelectric Facility from Abitibi-Consolidated Company of Canada
Speaking engagements Mr. Piette has lectured at the undergraduate and graduate levels at different universities in Quebec and has been a speaker at numerous conferences and seminars in North America and in Europe, including the following:
· "La responsabilité du propriétaire et du locataire de sols contaminés," The Canadian Institute, May 2001.
· "L'émergence d'un droit nouveau, le droit de l'environnement," Frontiers in Research Conference, University of Ottawa, November 9, 2000.
· "Aspects juridiques de la vérification environnementale," 10th Annual Convention, Association of Professional Geologists and Geophysicists of Quebec, Rimouski, April 17, 1997.
· "L'eau et l'assainissement dans la ville," Deuxièmes journées scientifiques, Association des universités partiellement ou entièrement de langue française (AUPELF) et de l'Université des Réseaux d'expression française (UREF), Dakar, Senegal, October 30 and 31 and November 1, 1996.
· "Le droit relatif à la contamination des sols," Construction Law Section Colloquium, Canadian Bar Association, May 5, 1995.
· "Canadian Perspectives on Environmental Responsibility and Due Process," Canadian-American Colloquium, American College of Trial Lawyers, August 20, 1993.
· "Les problèmes de pollution transfrontière et de déchets dangereux en Amérique du Nord," Perspectives convergentes et divergentes sur le droit international, Europe and the Americas Colloquium, 1992.
· "Les attestations d'assainissement - Système de tarification à la pollution," Association de planification fiscale et financière, 1992 Convention.
· "The Practical Impacts of International Treaties and Agreements on Global Business Development in the 1990's: The Experience of Quebec," symposium on Transnational Environmental Law and its Impact on Corporate Behavior, Boston, Massachusetts, November 8, 1991.
Rankings and recognitions
· Best Lawyers in Canada, 2012 - Environmental Law
· Chambers Global: The World's Leading Lawyers for Business, 2011: Environment
· The International Who's Who of Environment Lawyers, 2011
· PLC Which Lawyer? Environment Handbook
· LEXPERT/American Lawyer Media's ranking of the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada
Memberships and activities
· Quebec Bar
- Chair, Standing Committee on Environmental Law
- Member, Working Group on International Relations
· International Council of Environmental Law
· Canadian Centre for Environmental Arbitration and Mediation
- Founding member
Directorships
· Conseil patronal de l'environnement du Québec
- Chairman of the Board
Related Publications
Quebec passes regulation on cap-and-trade system
In July 2010, the Western Climate Initiative (WCI), of which Quebec is a partner, published detailed operational rules for the cap-and-trade system it wished to adopt.
09/03/2012
Quebec's Environment Quality Act toughened up
On October 4, 2011, the Quebec National Assembly passed the Act to amend the Environment Quality Act in order to reinforce compliance, S.Q. 2011, c. 20, better known as Bill 89 (Bill 89).
14/12/2011
Air quality: new clean air regulation comes into force
On June 13, 2011, Pierre Arcand, Quebec's Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment and Parks, announced the passage of the Clean Air Regulation (CAR).
14/07/2011
Regulation respecting the recovery and reclamation of products by enterprises
On June 29, the Government of Quebec published the Regulation respecting the recovery and reclamation of products by enterprises in the Gazette officielle du Québec. The new regulation came into effect on July 14.
20/07/2011
Quebec Court of Appeal affirms the relevance of class actions in environmental law
In a recent ruling in Carrier c. Québec (Procureur général), the Quebec Court of Appeal affirmed the relevance of the class action procedure in matters relating to environmental law.
02/08/2011
Quebec publishes draft regulation on cap-and-trade system
In July 2010, the Western Climate Initiative (WCI), of which Quebec is a partner, published detailed operational rules for a cap-and-trade system for greenhouse gas (GHG) allowances with a view to setting up a North American regional carbon market. According to these rules, as a first step, all
26/08/2011
Quebec minister tables draft legislation to reinforce compliance with the Environment Quality Act
On April 15, 2010, Bill 89, An Act to amend the Environment Quality Act in order to reinforce compliance
20/08/2010
Bill to amend the compensation regime for municipal recovery services
On March 17, 2010, Line Beauchamp, Quebec Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment and Parks, introduced Bill 88, An Act to amend the Environment Quality Act as regards residual materials management and to amend the Regulation respecting compensation for municipal services provided to
16/07/2010
Quebec's draft regulation respecting the charges payable for the use of water
On April 27, 2010, Quebec's Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment and Parks, Line Beauchamp, announced the holding of public consultations concerning a Draft Regulation respecting the Charges Payable for the Use of Water.
16/07/2010
Environmental measures in the Quebec budget
In the 2010-2011 Budget tabled on March 30, 2010, Quebec Finance Minister Raymond Bachand announced a number of initiatives relating to the environment.
15/06/2010
Les mesures environnementales du budget québécois
Dans le cadre du budget 2010-2011 déposé le 30 mars dernier, le ministre des Finances du Québec, monsieur Raymond Bachand, a annoncé certaines mesures concernant l'environnement.
06/04/2010
Unearthed, Summer 2010
A quarterly newsletter for clients and contacts of Ogilvy Renault LLP with an interest in the mining sector.
24/06/2010
A Bill on climate change is tabled in the Quebec National Assembly
On May 12, 2009, Line Beauchamp, Quebec Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment and Parks, tabled Bill 42 entitled An Act to amend the Environment Quality Act and other legislative provisions in relation to climate change.
01/06/2009
The Supreme Court of Canada clarifies the scope of the federal environmental assessment process
On January 21, 2010, the Supreme Court of Canada handed down its decision in MiningWatch Canada v. Canada (Fisheries and Oceans).
12/03/2010
New draft policy and regulations on waste management
On November 25, 2009, the Government of Quebec published its Draft Quebec Residual Materials Management Policy and its Five-Year Action Plan, whose main goal is to make end waste the only residual material sent for disposal in Quebec.
19/02/2010
Related News
Les Inuits reconsidèrent leur appui au Plan Nord
Jean Piette refers to the Kativik Environmental Quality Commission and the government of Quebec in an article on the Plan Nord published in Les Affaires.
11/02/2012
Plan Nord : Grandes intentions, mais beaucoup de questions
In the Journal du Barreau, Jean Piette and Pierre-Christian Labeau talk about the initiatives taken by the Quebec government to guide the Plan Nord activities.
01/12/2011
Les avocats des mines
In La Presse, Jean Piette talks about the involvement of lawyers in mineral exploration.
21/11/2011
Développer durablement
The suggested amendments to the Mining Act clearly indicate the legislator's intention of adopting rules under the guise of sustainability in order to better address social, environmental and economic concerns relating to mining, explains Jean Piette in Le Soleil.
22/11/2011
Une nouvelle industrie est en train de naître
In a special report on business law published in La Presse, Jean Piette talks about the Quebec gas industry, notably the shale gas projects, and explains his role as counsel to gas companies is based on prevention.
02/12/2010
Prendre les devants avant la législation
Jean Piette talks to Les Affaires about proposed Quebec regulations aimed at greenhouse gas emissions.
24/04/2010
La parole à Jean Piette
Jean Piette talks to Métro about climate change as part of a forum held by the Canadian Council of Energy.
21/04/2010
Trading in Carbon Has Legal Future
With the establishment of the Montréal Climate Exchange, Jean Piette of our Environmental team talks to the Financial Post about the carbon futures trading trend.
19/11/2008
Vers un marché continental du carbone?
In an article published in GaïaPresse, Jean Piette explains how the new U.S. administration will impact Canadian environmental invitiatives.
18/03/2009
Gare à votre passé environnemental
Jean Piette, chair of the Environmental team, explains the main factors regarding a company's environmental history.
06/09/2008
Big Guns Go Green
Andrew Taylor and Jean Piette share Ogilvy Renault's plans for sustainable development and how establishing the firm's Cleantech team is integrated with our new green policies.
01/09/2008
Jean Piette is re-elected as a member of the International Council of Environmental Law
Ogilvy Renault is proud to announce that Jean Piette, Senior Partner, has been re-elected as a member of the International Council of Environmental Law.
04/11/2009
Transition en douce
In the 1990s, Ogilvy Renault recruited Jean Piette to meet the growing demand for environmental law, reports National magazine. Mr. Piette has helped keep the firm's clients and acquire new ones. As well, Jean-Philippe Brunet has worked to build the firm's practice in immigration law.
29/09/2009
Les avocats du carbone
Jean Piette explains to Droit-inc.com that he now spends some of his time working on carbon trading, a rapidly developing field that could become a new area of expertise.
03/07/2009
Greening Your Product? Be Sure the Label Backs it Up
Many companies claim their products are environmentally friendly to appeal to the growing green sentiment in Canada. Now they must be more specific than ever when advertising their environmental ways, or it could cost them.
21/07/2008
Ogilvy Renault Partners with MCeX: Canadian Trade in Carbon Credits Begins
Ogilvy Renault has partnered with the new Montréal Climate Exchange (MCeX).
05/06/2008
(Also at Montreal Office)