One of Canada’s most respected international arbitrators and litigators is retiring from Norton Rose Fulbright Canada in June and moving to a prominent chambers and international arbitration center.
Pierre Bienvenu, the firm’s Montreal-based global co-head of arbitration and an experienced commercial and public law litigator, will be joining the roster of Arbitration Place to focus on international arbitration. Other members of Arbitration Place’s top-flight roster include former Canadian Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin, a host of retired Supreme Court of Canada and other superior court judges, and industry experts.
“I have had a most fulfilling career at Norton Rose Fulbright Canada,” said Bienvenu in a statement. “I am excited to begin a new chapter, focusing on work I know I will enjoy and which I look forward to pursuing unhampered by conflicts.”
Bienvenu practiced with Norton Rose and its precursor firm, Ogilvy Renault, for more than 35 years. He was national managing partner of Ogilvy Renault from 2005 to 2009, chaired its executive committee from 2005 to 2011, and after the merger served on Norton Rose’s supervisory board from 2011 to 2014.
Lauding Bienvenu’s role as a mentor who “has contributed to molding the next generation of litigators,” Montreal office managing partner Luc Morin said the firm wished Bienvenue “continued success in his work as an international arbitrator.”
Bienvenu has extensive international arbitration experience with the ICC International Court of Arbitration, the Arbitration Court of the Singapore International Arbitration Centre, and the LCIA Court, and is currently serving a six-year term as the Government of Canada-appointed member of the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes Panel of Arbitrators.
“Pierre, who has long supported us, has a wonderful reputation in arbitration for his sound judgment, depth of knowledge, fairness and decency,” said Kimberley Stewart, founder and chair of Arbitration Place, who recently handed over the CEO role to Jeffrey Mandell.
Additionally, Bienvenu will be joining Montreal-based litigation boutique IMK in June.
IMK managing partners Jean-Michel Boudreau and Julien Lussier said Bienvenu has “an outstanding reputation and they are “happy and proud” that he will be joining the firm to continue his international arbitration practice.
“We believe the IMK team is perfectly suited to helping Pierre continue to develop what has already been a remarkable career,” they said in an email.
