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Mr. Clément is the leader of the Aboriginal law group at Gowlings Montréal. He joined Gowlings in March 2004 after having worked at O’Reilly & Associés from 1997 to 2004. He first practised in prison law which allowed him to be involved in numerous cases of rights and freedoms as well as public law. His specialized knowledge helps him handle matters that are in constant evolution. He knows the latest developments and is able to anticipate future ones.
His practice has been focusing on aboriginal law for the past twelve years, with a particular interest for matters pertaining to natural resources and self-governance. During his career, Mr. Clément has acted and played a major role in many litigation cases including constitutional cases. He has also pleaded before all common law tribunals, including the Supreme Court of Canada, the Québec Court of Appeal and Superior Court, and before various administrative tribunals. Besides his specialization in aboriginal law and natural resources law, he has worked or works in the areas of constitutional law, public law, administrative law, environmental law, commercial law, construction law and transportation without ever losing sight of his first specialization.
Mr. Clément has participated in major negotiations related to forestry for the James Bay Cree in the context of the New Relationship Agreement known in Québec as “La Paix des Braves”. He also works on the implementation of this agreement as well as of the James Bay and Northern Québec Agreement and other Cree Agreements, including the Cree-Canada New Relationship Agreement. He is involved in the negotiation of amendments to these as well as the negotiation and implementation of contracts and agreements. Mr. Clément is also involved in developments relating to aboriginal governance, including in the areas of administration of justice, economic development for the aboriginals, policing, education and health and social services.
He has also been involved in the drafting of legislations.
Besides providing legal counsel, Mr. Clément regularly acts as a pleading lawyer in many cases, some of which deal with important constitutional matters. In the course of his career, he has drafted several legal opinions and he has also published legal texts as well as been a speaker at various conferences.
He has also completed his master’s degree level courses at the University of Montréal in 1997 and practises law in French and English.
Publications
Various papers and columns in La Presse juridique.
Several publications related to the conferences outlined below.
Conferences
Aboriginal forum on the natural resources and territory management (Insight, Montréal, October 5 and 6, 2005), “Les dispositions de la Paix des Braves et l’obligation de consultation et d’accommodement”
Forum on business opportunities related to Québec’s 2006-2015 energy strategy (Canadian Institute, Montréal, December 5 and 6, 2006), “Partenariat avec les autochtones – Les partenariats d’affaires avec les communautés autochtones lors du développement des projets énergétiques au Québec”
Third Edition – Aboriginal forum on the natural resources and territory management (Insight, Montréal, September 17 and 18, 2007), “Le guide intérimaire en matière de consultation des communautés autochtones : qualités et critiques constructives”
Sixth Edition – Aboriginal forum (Insight, Québec, March 27 and 28, 2008), “L’identité du ou des interlocuteur(s) autochtone(s) varie-t-elle en fonction des situations?”
Fourth Edition – Aboriginal forum on the natural resources and territory management (Insight, Montréal, September 23 and 24, 2008), “Régionalisation de la gestion des ressources naturelles : impacts pour les autochtones”
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