8 mai 2025
Mtre Valérie Assouline, Montreal’s new Bâtonnière
Benevolence at the Heart of Justice
The Montreal Bar’s annual general meeting was held yesterday, marking the beginning of the term of office of Valérie Assouline, who will succeed Caroline Larouche as Montreal’s Bâtonnière. Mtre. Assouline is the 160th person and the 10th woman to fill this position in the section’s history.
“I welcome this new challenge with a great deal of humility, compassion and pride. As Montreal’s Bâtonnière, I intend to devote my experience, energy and commitment to the legal community and especially to Montrealers involved in the legal system. I will continue the work begun by my predecessors to advance the law, advocate for more accessible justice and promote our profession with compassion”, noted Valérie Assouline, Montreal’s Bâtonnière.
“The protection of the most vulnerable has always been at the heart of my practice. I firmly believe that protecting the public is a fundamental principle, particularly when it comes to the most fragile members of society. This conviction will guide me during my term of office”, she added.
Professional background
Valérie Assouline was admitted to the Quebec Bar in 1998 after obtaining a law degree from the University of Montreal. She has worked in family and youth law since the beginning of her career. Her expertise in these areas of practice is widely recognized in the legal community.
In 2007, she founded SOS-Avocats Inc., a boutique firm specialized in these two areas of the law. As head of the firm, she defends the rights of children and parents daily, ensuring their voice is heard before the courts.
She is also very involved in the community. From 2022 to 2024, she was President of the Canadian Bar Association’s youth section. An active volunteer with the Fondation des enfants de la DPJ de Montréal and several community groups, she has also advocated for a greater representation of women in politics, a commitment for which she was awarded the Senate Medal.
A director of the Montreal Bar since 2019, Mtre. Assouline acted as Councillor and then First Councillor, and was also Chair of the Governance Committee in 2024-2025. Drawing on her experience and in-depth knowledge of the issues specific to the section, she brings a clear vision to her position as Batonnière.
Benevolence at the Heart of Justice, a unifying theme that goes back to basics
Bâtonnière Assouline has chosen Benevolenceat the Heart of Justice as the theme for her mandate. This conviction will guide her as she steers the actions of the Montreal Bar to ensure the public is protected and support section members in their legal practice.
These priorities will form part of the actions related to the new 2025-2029 strategic plan, which will begin under her leadership. The following are some of the other goals for her term of office:
- Promote the Montreal Bar by asserting its role and unique contribution;
- Strengthen ties between the Montreal Bar and stakeholders in Montreal’s legal community in order to defend and improve access to and the administration of justice in the metropolis;
- Highlight the legal issues associated with the Montreal Bar’s mission, paying particular attention to people in vulnerable situations, including children and immigrants;
- Support the next generation of lawyers in less favoured areas of the law and stress the importance of a caring culture within the legal community.
Composition of the 2025-2026 Council
Other than Bâtonnière Assouline, the 2025-2026 Council will be made up of Alice Popovici (First Councillor) as well as 11 Councillors: Harry H. Dikranian, Sophie Estienne, Gabrielle Gayrard, Mathieu Jacques, Marie-France Le Bel, Peter Moraitis, Patrycja Nowakowska, Félix Rhéaume, Marc-André Séguin, Joey Suri and Pascale Vigneau.