Marcel-Olivier Nadeau
Lawyer, Partner, Bâtonnier du Québec
Marcel-Olivier Nadeau joined Cain Lamarre in 2024. Prior to that, he was a partner at another major law firm. His practice focuses on civil litigation, construction law and insurance law. He regularly appears before the Quebec courts, including the Court of Appeal. Mr. Nadeau is First Vice-President of the Barreau du Québec.
In his construction law practice, he represents major companies in the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region and elsewhere in Quebec, as well as government agencies and municipalities. Mr. Nadeau also focuses his practice on general civil liability, professional liability and municipal and school board liability. He has developed in-depth expertise in fundamental rights and freedoms, representing employers and public bodies in individual lawsuits and in litigation initiated by the Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse and the Canadian Human Rights Commission. He regularly appears before the Human Rights Tribunal of Quebec and the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal.
Mr. Nadeau has a Bachelor’s degree in Actuarial Science, giving him a unique perspective on the insurance market. In this field, he advises Canadian and foreign insurers on the scope of coverage for commercial general liability (CGL) policies. Renowned for his expertise in false claims cases (see Soucy v. Intact, 2023 QCCS 3098), he is well versed in every step of the process, from initial analysis to closing arguments. He is also the author and editor of the Insurance Law section of the Collection de droit published by the Quebec Bar School.
Mr. Nadeau has been listed in the Best Lawyers in Canada directory for his insurance law practice since 2021.In 2014, he took a break from practising to complete a Master’s in Comparative Private Law at the University of Lausanne. During his stay in Europe, he taught certain aspects of Quebec law at the University of Neuchâtel.
Education
2015
- Master of Laws, Université de Lausanne
2010
- Barreau du Québec
2009
- Bachelor of Laws, Université de Montréal
2006
- Bachelor’s degree in Actuarial Science, Université de Montréal
Teaching, conferences and publications
2023
- “Insurance clauses in commercial leases: Quebec and Canadian case law developments” (in French), conference for the Colloque Développements récents en droit des assurances, Service de la qualité de la profession du Barreau du Québec, January 2023
2022
- “Discrimination remedies under the Charter of human rights and freedoms” (in French), RSS webinar offered to the legal community and the insurance industry, September 2022
2021
- “Subrogation and assignment of a claim: two distinct legal regimes” (in French), RSS webinar offered to the legal community and the insurance industry, April 2021
- “Recent case law in insurance law in construction” (in French), conference for the Colloque Développements récents en droit des assurances, Service de la qualité de la profession du Barreau du Québec, June 2021
2019
- “Recent decisions in the liability of construction stakeholders and in construction insurance law” (in French), conference given for the annual RSS training on insurance, which was accredited by the Chambre de l’assurance de dommages and recognized by the Barreau du Québec and the Chambre des notaires, June 2019
- “Case law developments in insurance law” (in French), conference given in October 2019 (Montreal) and in November 19 (Québec) for the Colloque Droit de l’assurance, 4th edition, organized by Les Éditions Yvon Blais
- “Production of evidence in matters of arson” (in French), conference for the Colloque Développements récents en droit des assurances, Service de la qualité de la profession du Barreau du Québec, December 2019
2017
- “Recent developments in civil liability” (in French), conference given at the convention of the Association des avocats et avocates de province, recognized as a continuing education activity by the Barreau du Québec, September 2017
2016
- “Recent developments in civil liability” (in French), conference given for the annual RSS training on insurance, which was accredited by the Chambre de l’assurance de dommages and recognized by the Barreau du Québec and the Chambre des notaires, June 2016
Engagements
Barreau du Québec
- Vice-president (2022-2024)
- Director (2021-2022)
- Management Commitee
- Finance and audit Committee
- Governance and ethics committee
- Sections council
- Working group on the North Shore Traveling Court
- Working group on the justice system in Nunavik
- Working group on the future of the profession
- Working group on the succession shortage in regions
- Working Group on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
- Working group on the purpose of section bars
- Working Group on Access to Justice
Barreau du Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean
- Bâtonnier (2020–2021)
- Treasurer (2018–2020)
- Director (2017-2018)
Since 2023
- Director, Saguenay Blues and Jazz Festival
2023
- Director, Cegerco Inc
Mentions
Since 2022
- Ranked in the Best Lawyers in Canada directory, Insurance category
2015
- Summa cum laude honour, Master in Law, Université de Lausanne