Fair trade pioneer Laure Waridel, PhD, joins Trudel Johnston & Lespérance as special advisor in social justice and environmental matters – a groundbreaking partnership that is set to further environmental law and social rights in Canada. Based in Montreal, TJL has won more class actions in Canada since its establishment 20 years ago than any other law firm. Its lawyers currently manage 41 class actions including the landmark case against the tobacco industry and the lawsuit against Just for Laughs founder Gilbert Rozon.
Laure Waridel is one of the most trusted and distinguished personalities in the environmental field in Canada. Since she co-founded the NGO Équiterre – one of the most influential environmental organizations in Canada- 25 years ago, she has worked relentlessly to steer Canadian society towards sustainable and fair development. The ecosociologist is now writing her fourth essay on ecological and social economics that will no doubt speed up the ecological transition in Quebec and Canada. She is also a researcher and associate professor at the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) and will be a keynote speaker at the upcoming ICLEI world congress on sustainable cities in Montreal from June 19-22.
TJL shares Ms. Waridel’s values. The firm only takes on cases that they feel can advance the nation towards a fairer society, i.e. one that is more respectful of the environment, the labour force, women’s rights and vulnerable groups. This is why its lawyers represent, amongst others, small communities suffering from industrial pollution in Quebec City and Abitibi, Aveos and Air Canada ex-employees in Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec, sexual abuse survivors in Chicoutimi and prisoners put in solitary confinement in federal penitentiaries in Quebec.
Laure Waridel explains in these terms why she chose to join TJL:
“Law is a powerful force for change in the world that is underused in Canada. I was drawn to TJL because of their pro bono work in many public interest cases, such as the safeguard of the habitat of beluga whales that forced TransCanada to end its oil drilling in Cacouna, Quebec in 2014. Also, its business model allows normal citizens to undertake class actions without having to pay a dime in advance. They contribute in making Canada a fairer and more ecological society.”
In addition to the lawsuits mentioned above, TJL also leads public interest cases on a pro bono basis such as the protection of the endangered Western chorus frog, the safeguard of the Woodland caribous’ habitat, and the prevention of the export of light armoured vehicles to Saudi Arabia.
