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One of the oldest law firms in Canada

Lawyers Charles-Édouard Dionne and Auguste Tessier, both 22 years old at the time, found the Dionne et Tessier law firm in Rimouski. This firm is the direct ancestor of Casgrain Desrosiers Lévesque Bujold Villeneuve and marks Cain Lamarre’s beginnings in the Bas-Saint-Laurent region.

Establishment of the firm Tessier et Casgrain

Auguste-Maurice Tessier, son of Auguste Tessier, joins forces with Perreault Casgrain to form Tessier et Casgrain. In 1950, André-Perreault Casgrain joins his father and the firm starts operating under the name of Tessier, Casgrain et Casgrain.

Founding of the Chicoutimi office

Roland Fradette opens his Chicoutimi office, which is now nearly 100 years old and is a founding pillar of Cain Lamarre Wells.

Establishment of the firm Fradette Bergeron Cain

On March 1, 1956, Pierre Bergeron joins forces with Roland Fradette and Michael H. Cain to found Fradette Bergeron Cain.

Founding of the Sept-Îles office

Founding of the Sept-Îles office by Jean Dionne. André Gauthier joins in June 1970, resulting in the creation of the Gauthier Nepveu Leblanc law firm. In 1984, the firm's name is changed to Gauthier Nepveu Leblanc Brouillette. In 1990, André Gauthier becomes Bâtonnier du Québec, and in 2004, he is appointed Chair of the Board of Cain Lamarre Casgrain Wells.

Lucien Bouchard joins the firm

Lucien Bouchard joins the Fradette Bergeron Cain firm in 1964. He practises there for 10 years, during which he is joined by François Lamarre in 1966 and Guy Wells in 1968. The law firm is renamed Fradette Bergeron Cain Lamarre Bouchard Wells.

1976 to 1982

During this period, the three firms that will be part of the 1999 merger recruit nearly a dozen talented lawyers, including Raymond Nepveu, François G. Tremblay, Gaston Desrosiers, Jean Dauphinais, Pierre Lévesque, Richard Bergeron and Yvan Bujold, all of whom will contribute greatly to the development of their organization. Chantal Lavallée joins them in 1985.

Expanded presence across the province

Starting in 1981, André Gauthier and Guy Wells cross paths frequently, each of them serving successively as bâtonnier of their respective section and then as president of the Association des avocats de province. Their shared experiences increase their awareness of the challenges of practising law in the regions, and of the main dangers looming on the horizon. Their aim is to create a practice that is both dynamic and profitable, with a focus on operations outside the main population centres, but also be able to offer a wide range of high-quality specialized services to their clients.

Cain Lamarre Wells ipens its Montreal office

François Lamarre opens the Cain Lamarre Wells Montreal office on September 1. He is joined by Denis Cloutier just a few months later, and by Stéphane Gauthier in 2002. This opening marks a pivotal moment in the firm's expansion.

Cain Lamarre extends its presence in Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean

Cain Lamarre Wells opens a major office in Alma, thus strengthening its presence in the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region.

The beginning of a great project

Partners from Rimouski-based Casgrain Desrosiers Lévesque Bujold Villeneuve agree to take part in the project that has been under discussion since 1983. To coordinate the project, a committee is formed, consisting of Guy Wells, André Gauthier, François G. Tremblay and Gaston Desrosiers. These four lawyers will later be recognized as the founders of Cain Lamarre Casgrain Wells in 1999.

1992 to 1998

In the spring of 1992, the four partners meet in Chicoutimi and agree to the terms of an agreement-in-principle to merge the three firms. The name of the new company will be Cain Lamarre Casgrain Wells. It is decided, however, that this agreement will not go into effect until such time as a merger agreement has been reached with a well-established Montreal law firm to consolidate Cain Lamarre Wells' presence in Montreal. Over the next few years, several unsuccessful approaches are made to various offices in Montreal. Finally, in 1998, the group decides to move forward with the implementation of the 1992 agreement-in-principle.

Cain Lamarre Casgrain Wells is founded and opens its Quebec City office

On March 1, 1999, the Cain Lamarre Casgrain Wells law firm is officially established. To mark the occasion, a new office is inaugurated in Quebec City, with Linda Lavoie and Sylvain Lepage as its partners. At the time of its foundation, the new law firm has offices in Alma, Amqui, Chicoutimi, Montreal, Quebec City, Rimouski, Roberval, Saint-Félicien and Sept-Îles, and a total of 58 lawyers in its employment. André Gauthier is appointed National Managing Partner.

The firm expands into Abitibi-Témiscamingue

On January 1, 2002, the new company takes its first step towards its planned expansion across Quebec by opening an office in Val-d'Or, in the Abitibi-Témiscamingue region.

2002 to 2004

The firm undergoes a rapid expansion in Quebec City and Montreal, with the integration of some twenty new lawyers. François G. Tremblay is Managing Partner of the Montreal office during this period. In 2004, Gaston Desrosiers becomes the National Managing Partner and André Gauthier becomes the Chair of the Board. The Quebec City office is made the main administrative centre for the firm.

Continuing its growth, the firm establishes a presence in Estrie

July 2008 marks the arrival of Cain Lamarre Casgrain Wells in the Eastern Townships, with the opening of an office in Sherbrooke. This expansion is consolidated in 2017 with the establishment of a branch in Lac-Mégantic.

A firm rooted in Quebec

In January 2010, the firm extends its expertise to Centre-du-Québec with the opening of the Drummondville office, thus confirming its commitment to providing local legal services throughout Quebec.

The firm expands further into Abitibi-Témiscamingue

The firm consolidates its presence in Abitibi-Témiscamingue with the inauguration of its Rouyn-Noranda office.

On January 1, Gaston Desrosiers becomes Chair of the Board and Gina Doucet becomes National Managing Partner.

The firm expands in Outaouais

Cain Lamarre continues its expansion with the inauguration of its fifteenth office, this time in Gatineau. Yvan Bujold and Christian Dufour become President and Chief Operating Officer of the firm, respectively.

Cain Lamarre maintains its reputation of excellence

Cain Lamarre stands out for its culture of innovation, its vast network of experts and its commitment to excellence. It has fifteen offices across Quebec offering services in a wide range of fields, including litigation, Insurance Law, labour relations, Real Estate and Construction Law, Business Law, Indigenous Law and Environmental Law.