Catherine Deslauriers

Recognized by Benchmark Litigation Canada for her expertise in Construction Law, Catherine Deslauriers has built a practice focused on one of the most complex regulatory environments in North America: the intersection of construction, workplace regulation, labour relations, occupational health and safety, and workers' compensation.

As Founder and Strategic Counsel of Novare Legal Strategist, Catherine advises employers, contractors, project owners, master contractors and organizations operating in highly regulated industries throughout Québec.

Unlike traditional construction lawyers whose practices focus primarily on contractual disputes and civil construction litigation, Catherine's work centers on the regulatory, operational and workforce challenges that can significantly impact an organization's ability to carry on business.

Her practice regularly involves matters before Québec's workplace health and safety authority (CNESST), the Commission de la construction du Québec (CCQ), the Régie du bâtiment du Québec (RBQ), and other regulators responsible for overseeing employers and construction industry participants.

Québec presents a uniquely complex environment for construction businesses and employers. Construction projects and workplaces are governed by multiple overlapping regulatory regimes that create significant compliance obligations and enforcement risks. A single workplace incident may simultaneously trigger CNESST investigations, workers' compensation claims, labour relations issues, CCQ compliance concerns, RBQ licensing implications, regulatory inspections and penal proceedings.

Few lawyers build their practice at the intersection of all these frameworks. Catherine has.

She is regularly called upon to help organizations navigate serious workplace incidents, regulatory investigations, compliance audits, inspector interventions, workers' compensation disputes, labour and employment litigation, construction workforce matters and statutory compliance obligations.

Catherine represents clients before the Administrative Labour Tribunal, including its Occupational Health and Safety, Labour Relations and Construction divisions, as well as before the Court of Québec and the Superior Court of Québec in employment, labour and regulatory matters.

Prior to founding Novare Strategic Legal, Catherine practiced with leading national and provincial law firms, served as legal counsel for Québec's occupational health and safety authority, and worked within the construction industry through the Association des constructeurs de routes et grands travaux du Québec (ACRGTQ).

This combination of private practice, regulatory and industry experience gives her a distinctive perspective on the realities faced by employers and construction industry stakeholders. She understands not only how regulators assess situations, but also how operational decisions are made on job sites and within organizations.

Known for her practical and field-oriented approach, Catherine frequently visits workplaces and construction sites to gain a firsthand understanding of operational realities and develop solutions that are both legally sound and operationally effective.

In founding Novare Strategic Legal, Catherine sought not only to build a different type of law firm, but also to create an organization capable of generating a broader impact. Inspired in part by her family's experience with Parkinson's disease, she is committed to supporting initiatives that contribute to the Parkinson's community and improve the lives of individuals and families affected by the disease.

This commitment to service also shaped her vision of legal practice. Rather than intervening only when disputes arise, Catherine wanted to help organizations strengthen their internal capabilities before problems occur. This led Novare to develop practical training programs, customized educational initiatives and strategic HR and Occupational Health and Safety Diagnostics, a proactive assessment designed to identify organizational, compliance, workforce and workplace risks before they evolve into regulatory interventions, litigation or operational crises.

This vision is rooted in a broader belief that legal knowledge should not be reserved for crises. By making practical legal and regulatory guidance more accessible to employers, managers and decision-makers, Catherine aims to help organizations build safer, healthier, more resilient and sustainable workplaces.

Today, Catherine is recognized not only as a construction and regulatory lawyer, but as a strategic advisor helping organizations navigate the increasingly complex legal and regulatory landscape governing modern workplaces.