Consider a career at Woods if:

• you like debating
• you are a talented writer
• you are driven by intellectual curiosity
• you are able to maintain a well-balanced lifestyle even though your workload can be demanding at times
• you see adversity as a challenge
• you inspire confidence
• you are not easily intimidated
• you stay calm and focused when under pressure and stress
• you are someone that is both active and reflective
• you are both willing to assume responsibility and able to work as part of a team
• you are well informed about the profession and want to have a career in this field

A very gratifying and demanding role

In litigation, the lawyers take centre stage. This role is at once very gratifying and very demanding. It requires a plethora of abilities. Lawyers must, of course, master the procedure and the substantive law. They must be able to identify what is at stake, the real issues and their solutions. They must be at once strategist, communicator, psychologist and negotiator, and always endeavour to understand human nature. They must know how to listen. They must know to speak, and, at times, how to hold one’s peace. They must above all other things demonstrate judgment and provide counsel and guidance to their client in a process to which the latter is often a stranger.

Litigation is a branch of the legal profession that concerns the resolution of disputes. Although prevention and alternative dispute resolution mechanisms play an increasingly important role in resolving disputes, when compromises cannot be met, the court system remains the only viable solution.

Our lawyers possess vast experience in litigations relating to all aspects of commercial relations, such as contract performance, civil and professional liability, unfair competition, shareholder remedies, injunctions and extraordinary recourses, class actions, private international law, bankruptcy and insolvency litigation, and individual employment contracts. Furthermore, the high level of trust that we have built with our clients has enabled us to develop expertise in domains related to commercial litigation, such as disciplinary and administrative law.

Beyond legal knowledge, the litigator’s craft is shaped by a multitude of strategies and practices which can only be acquired through experience. Understanding how to interact with the judiciary; communicating with opposing counsel; preparing, examining and cross-examining witnesses; drafting appropriate proceedings; pinpointing the weaknesses in the opponent’s pleadings and arguments; pleading effectively and with style, both orally and in writing; listening to the needs of the client, and providing advice and guidance to the client in view of the intricacies of the judicial process.

Litigators are resourceful. No matter how complicated the situation, they will always find an appropriate solution and are not intimidated by the challenges with which they are presented.

When they are not in court, litigators divide their work time between legal research and writing, developing their professional knowledge, and exchanging information and ideas with their clients or with professionals such as experts and other lawyers.

What we have in store for you:

• an environment that fosters rapid learning and complete mastery of the profession
• a culture that values the litigator
• a balance between your career and other interests
• responsibilities that are entrusted early on and for the resulting rewards
• a solid team, with an unparalleled level of expertise in Montreal
• a congenial working environment

Become part of our story

Woods is among the first litigation boutiques of its kind in Montreal. Our lawyers are devoted exclusively to the resolution of contentious matters through pleading, mediation, arbitration and negotiation. In Montreal and beyond, the Woods name is synonymous with professionalism and high-quality litigation.

Our firm is comparable to the litigation department of a full-service office in terms of size and resources. However, the resemblances end there. Woods offers its team a more flexible and less rigid hierarchical structure as well as a congenial working environment in which the junior litigator often plays a central rather than supporting role.

The superior reputation of Woods LLP is recognized both nationally and internationally. Our lawyers have played key roles in many significant and noteworthy litigations, such as Lac d’Amiante du Québec Ltée v. 2858-0702 Québec Inc. and Lac d’amiante du Canada, Ltée, [2001] 2 R.C.S. 743; Laidley v. Kovalik, [1994] R.R.A. 429 (C.A.); Del Guidice v. Honda Canada inc., [2007] 6 R.J.Q. 1496 (C.A.); Automobiles Jalbert inc. v. BMW Canada inc., [2006] QCCA 1068; and Quebecor inc. v. Société Radio-Canada, 2011 QCCA 387. We represent our clients before the courts in Quebec and Ontario, as well as the federal courts and the Supreme Court of Canada.

Recently, in Metcalfe & Mansfield Alternative Investments II Corp., (Re), 2008 ONCA 587, we represented the most important group of holders of asset-backed commercial paper in Quebec within the framework of a $32-billion  restructuring. We also successfully acted on behalf of the intended purchasers of BCE Inc. in the now famous case of BCE Inc. v. 1976 Debentureholders, [2008] 3 S.C.R. 560 (S.C.C.). We subsequently represented those parties in the dispute against BCE Inc. concerning an indemnification clause of $1.2 billion dollars.

Of course, our office also acts in disputes that are not in the multi-million-dollar range! Our well-balanced practice includes diverse cases which touch upon all avenues of the commercial disputes. Some of our lawyers also practice disciplinary and administrative law. Our clients, regardless of the monetary value in dispute, entrust us with quality files which allow us to maintain a high level of practice. At Woods, there is no second-class dispute. Every case is handled with the attention and professionalism that it deserves.

The beginning of your practice

At Woods, the articling period marks the start of a fruitful and independent professional career. Our lawyers are always available to lend a helping hand to their new colleagues. Because our office is relatively modest in size, our articling students quickly become a privileged centre of attention. Quality cases are plentiful and lawyers look forward to involving the talent of our articling students.

In addition to fulfilling the tasks with which they familiarized themselves during the course of their summer job at Woods, our articling students are encouraged to become increasingly independent and attend court for various matters. They assist experienced lawyers in complex files and, in parallel, assume more active roles in files that are less complex in nature. In this manner, the articling students are given the opportunity to learn through their experiences with all stages of a mandate, from preliminary research to trial.

Your summer position

Students recruited for an articling position may work at Woods during the summer if they wish to. We never lack stimulating mandates that can be entrusted to them. They can also work part-time during the school year.

Our students collaborate directly with the lawyers that seek their assistance. They are immersed in the files in which they work; their implication is proportional to their curiosity. Whoever wants responsibilities will have them!

We offer our students practical experience of the profession. A summer job at Woods involves more than just research—  communicating with clients, writing demand letters, drafting complete procedures, familiarizing yourself with the evidence and analyzing it, accompanying lawyers during negotiations, examinations and representations before the courts are all part of the experience. Our lawyers trust the students, often ask for their opinion and are happy to take advantage of their legal knowledge freshly acquired from law school.

We provide students with the best research tools and a library that is constantly being updated. We also encourage our staff to take advantage of training in the use of legal databases, word processors and information management.

By the end of the student’s first summer at Woods, he/she is perfectly equipped to evolve in the legal universe…and is doubly equipped for school!

Discover the recruits of our latest Courses aux stages
 

2024 Cohort

From articling students to lawyers: discover those who have recently joined our team of litigation, arbitration and insolvency lawyers

Ghazal Sari Université du Québec à Montréal	Jack Little University of Ottawa	Emmanuelle Lanctôt Université de Montréal
Marc-Antoine Côté Université Laval	Charbel G. Abi-Saad University of Ottawa	Dina Prokic McGill University
Joshua Crowe McGill University

Explore carrer opportunities here.