Canadian Lawyer

18 www.canadianlawyermag.com ing on new software using AI tools. "Our friends doing financing are focused on helping [startups] find funds, and we're starting to see working products," as well as starting to analyze AI products for use in the legal landscape, he says. Quebec has also become a jurisdiction of choice for class action litigation, with spe- cialized judges and courts, resulting in in- creased filings in Quebec. Formerly a "big law" exclusive, more class action litigation is now being done by regional firms and bou- tiques, says Lalanne. "We've developed a presence we didn't have a few years ago." One shrinking area of practice for Que- bec law firms may be the government sector. QUEBEC IS IN BLOOM, and with it its law firms. That's the consensus of every lawyer and firm in the province who spoke to Canadian Lawyer for its biannual survey of the top Quebec regional firms. Business is booming in Montreal, Quebec's largest (and Canada's second largest) city, where retail construction projects and class action lawsuits are steaming ahead. Artificial intelligence is also a burgeoning industry in Montreal — with Facebook following Google and Microsoft in setting up shop there — as is technology. "It's a great time to be in Quebec right now," says Sophie Perreault, a partner and board member of Langlois LLP in Montreal, this year's top-ranked Quebec regional firm. "The Montreal economy is booming and investing in infrastructure," she says, citing the Réseau Express Métropolitain light rail transit public-private partnership. "It's very exciting; there's a lot of public investment, a lot of new business growing. It's very vibrant." Pierre Allard, managing partner of BCF Business Law in Montreal, says that "2019 was an exceptional year in law firms and in the economy in general in Quebec." The real estate, construction and infra- structure sectors have all been very strong, Allard says. The surge in real estate retail development, including a luxury mall called Royal Mount being developed on the island of Montreal, has been surprising, he says, given the advent of online shopping through com- panies such as Amazon. But the developers have proven "that they can succeed." De Grandpré Chait LLP managing partner Eric Lalanne says that "we've had probably the best two years of growth and employment in Quebec in the past 25 years." His firm is in hiring mode, he says adding that, not long ago, "we moved into new premises, but we're already looking to expand." AI continues to be big business in Montre- al, he says. "Everyone's feeling we are a hub on the world scene" with angel investors focus- Top 10 Quebec regional firms With a vibrant economy, law firms leaders tell Elizabeth Raymer that it's a great time to be in Quebec FEATURES TOP 10 QUEBEC REGIONAL FIRMS

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