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regional wrap-up been involved with as both a litigator and a political activist," said the 1998 Université de Montréal law gradu- ate who has been a member of the Liberal party since 1995 and held different executive positions with it starting with the youth wing. She was the first black woman to be on the executive of a political party in Quebec. Caroline Amireault, head of the Association des couples Karine Joizil infertiles du Québec, is "pleasantly pleased" with the progress taking place through Joizil's tireless efforts. "If Quebec keeps its promise, that will help us a lot," she says, noting one in eight North American couples are affected. "The wind has changed," adds Amireault, also a lawyer who has had three children through in vitro fertilization. Joizil, born in Montreal to Haitian parents, under- went two unsuccessful in vitro treatments at the McGill Reproductive Centre at Royal Victoria Hospital in 2004. The third attempt in 2006 resulted in the birth of twin boys and there is still a frozen embryo that will be used when she and her husband decide it "is the opportune moment." Since the birth of her sons, Joizil has been active with the reproductive centre's Little Miracles Fund that pro- vides financial aid to patients who need to pursue fertility treatments for medical reasons with an emphasis on can- cer patients and patients who cannot afford treatments. Joizil, winner of Montreal's 2009 Young Haitian Chamber of Commerce political leader award is on the fund committee that holds the annual money-raising galas. Snyder and her partner, media mogul Pierre Karl Péladeau, who had their son through the centre's assist- ance in 2005, are honorary chairpersons. Joizil said Dion, Snyder, and most recently, actress Angelina Jolie, "put the subject in the spotlight and personalized the issue." Their high-profile involvement turned a moral debate into more of a dialogue about medical requirements, she suggests. Snyder, Joizil, and other supporters of assisted repro- ductive technology point out the provincial govern- ment covers 100 per cent of abortions and surgeries that prevent conception, like vasectomies and tubal ligation. "They pay for a procedure that prevents women from getting pregnant so why not for one that helps?" Joizil wonders. She expressed encouragement with the evolution of the fertility subject — a hot-button issue across the country and around the globe. Joizil said people are now more socially informed and accepting. "The psychological barrier has been broken." — MIKE KING mking@videotron.ca 8 APRIL 2009 www. mag.com — GAIL J. COHEN gcohen@clbmedia.ca FMC first to appoint a chief client officer F raser Milner Casgrain LLP has created the new and unique position of chief client officer, bringing in Bernard Bougie to fill the role. FMC is the first to create the CCO position. Bougie will be responsible for the co-ordination and supervision of the firm's client, industry, geographic, and business development teams, as well as client-related knowledge management. FMC chairman and CEO Michel Brunet tells Canadian Lawyer FMC is a result of the merger of entrenched firms across the country and partners felt they need- ed someone to bring the teams together, and strengthen the firm's over- all culture and standards regarding client service. The firm has more than 500 lawyers in offices in Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Edmonton, Calgary, and Vancouver. "We wanted someone at the level who could talk eye to eye with partners," Brunet says of the new COO position that will report directly to him. "He will monitor and supervise our client teams . . . and make them more efficient and work better together," says Brunet. "When [he] talks to me about these issues, I listen very carefully." Prior to joining FMC, Bougie spent 30 years at Deloitte Bernard Bougie is Fraser Milner Casgrain's new chief client officer. where he was actively involved in strategic development, team building, coaching and training, and built and managed mar- keting and business development plans. Professional services firms like Deloitte are "years ahead" of the legal profession in these areas and that has brought them great success, says Brunet. He notes many of his partners have told him "it's about time" someone with Bougie's experience and expertise was brought in to boost the firm. "We need channels and structural tools to make them work together better, so the teams will deliver what we expect them to deliver," says the chairman. He adds he's already spoken to a few clients about the new role and a number of general counsel's "eyes lit up" with inter- est. "Any investment that a firm like ours will make to become more efficient can only be met with [approval from clients]."