Partner
Julie Lessard
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Languages
- English
- French
Contact information
Julie advises corporate clients across multiple industries on strategic immigration planning that directly supports talent attraction and retention, business growth, workforce stability and operational continuity. She works with leadership teams to design immigration frameworks that meet immediate talent needs while positioning organizations for long‑term success in an increasingly regulated and competitive global labor market.
Julie is recognized for her ability to navigate highly complex regulatory environments and align them with commercial realities. She supports clients in developing government‑facing strategies, responding to audits and compliance reviews and advancing policy positions that protect business interests. Her work mitigate risks that could otherwise result in delays, financial exposure, or reputational harm.
Clients value Julie not only for precise legal execution, but also for her role as a strategic partner. She helps organizations treat immigration as a business enabler—supporting productivity, market expansion and talent attraction—rather than as a procedural obstacle. Her approach helps clients manage uncertainty, reduce operational bottlenecks and further growth and innovation in fast‑moving environments.
Education
- Ecole du Barreau du Québec, Professional Training and Practice, 1996
- Université de Sherbrooke, LL.B., 1994
More from Julie
Admissions
Bar Admissions: Barreau du Québec (Bar of Quebec)
Awards
Listed in Best Lawyers in Canada, 2014-2027
Named a “Leading Partner” by The Legal 500 Canada for Business Immigration, 2025
Listed in Chambers Canada, 2023-2025
Listed in Chambers Global, 2024-2025
Named a “Leading Individual” by The Legal 500 Canada for Business Immigration, 2023-2025
Listed in Lexology Index: Canada – Corporate Immigration, 2023-2025
Listed in Who’s Who Legal: Corporate Immigration, 2018-2022
Named to “Rising Stars — Leading Lawyers Under 40” by Lexpert, 2010
Finalist, Young Chamber of Commerce of Montreal's ARISTA Competition, Young Quebec Professional, 2009
Professional accomplishments
Member, American Chamber of Commerce in Canada (AmCham Canada), Montreal Chapter
Member, American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA)
Member, Canadian Bar Association
Member, Canadian Employment Relocation Council (CERC)
Member, Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal
Member, French Canada Chamber of Commerce
Member, Manufacturiers et Exportateurs du Québec
Member, Quebec Bar Association
Member, Quebec Immigration Lawyers Association (AQAADI)
Board of Directors, AQAADI
Past Co-Chair, AmCham Canada, Quebec Chapter, 2013-2014
Past Member, CERC, Government Relations Committee, 2012-2015
Publications and lectures
Contributor, "Votre entreprise est-elle prête pour le recrutement de travailleurs étrangers?", les affaires, 12 June 2024.
Quoted, “Saison des visas H-1B: que faire si votre demande n’a pas été sélectionnée?" French Morning, 16 April 2023.
Panelist, “Session 1 Roundtable: Looking to the North as an Opportunity for Business Expansion.” U.S.-Canada Financial, Economic, and Investment Executive Forum, Boston, MA, 12 April 2023.
Co-author, "Impact des changements en immigration: ce que vous devez savoir." Re:travail, 20 February 2023.
Co-author, “Immigration - Related Due Diligence in Mergers and Acquisitions: Impact on Work Visas and Permanent Immigration Processes – United States.” International In-house Counsel Journal, 3 January 2023.
Panelist, “Economic outlook and Québec’s changing Immigration Landscape.” CERC, 2023.
Speaker, "Impacts des changements en immigration, francisation et emploi en 2023." Conseil du patronat du Québec, 2023.
Speaker, "Enjeux de main-d’œuvre." Conseil du patronat du Québec colloque Re:travail, 2023.
Quoted, “Le recrutement international: une solution incontournable à la pénurie de main-d’œuvre." Ordre des conseillers en ressources humaines agréés (CRHA) Forum RH PME, 29 September 2022.
Co-author, "Recruter à l’international: implications et obligations légales." Re:travail, 19 August 2022.
Quoted, “Pallier à la pénurie de main-d’œuvre par le recrutement international." Fédération des Chambres de commerce du Québec, 31 May 2022.
Speaker, "Risk Management in a Global World: Ensuring Compliance with Immigration Regulations as Covid-19 Travel Restrictions Ease.” Mondaq, 2022.
Speaker, “Building a Competitive Talent Pool in Canada Through Efficient Immigration Strategies.” Mondaq, 2022.
Quoted, "Hauts dirigeants d’entreprise, écoutez votre département RH et mobilité pour faire face à la pénurie de main-d’œuvre." Who’s Who Legal, 8 December 2021.
Speaker, "Temporary Foreign Worker Program." Manufacturier & Exportateurs du Québec, 2021.
Speaker, “La pénurie de main d'œuvre chez les entreprises : plus néfaste que la pandémie.” Évènement Les Affaires 2e édition, 2021.
Speaker, “La nouvelle réalité du travail et ses enjeux : les mesures COVID-19, le télétravail et le recrutement international.” CRHA, 2021.
Panelist, “Mythes et réalités de l’immigration économique.” Conseil du patronat du Québec, 2021.
Moderator, “Understanding and Doing Business with the United States Today – New England Perspective.” AmCham Canada Quebec Chapter, 2020.
Quoted, "5 questions pour des relations internationales impeccables." Portail Artère, 9 May 2019.
Facilitator, “Transformer la pénurie de main-d'œuvre en opportunité de croissance.” Journée Gouvernance Desjardins, 2019.
Panelist, “Les nouvelles tendances en droit de l’immigration au Québec.” CERC, 2019.
Panelist, “Panels - L'humain au coeur de la 4e révolution industrielle.” CRIQ, 2019.
Speaker, “Pénurie de talents; Recrutement et fidélisation en mode solution.” Conférence Les Affaires, 2019.
Speaker, “La ‘DANSE’ des formalités en matière d'immigration.” Danse Transit, 2019.
Speaker, “Skilled foreign workers: the solution to overcoming the labour shortage in the railway industry?” 5th Annual National Railway Day Conference, 2018.
Speaker, “Business Travelers, Foreign Workers and Employer Strategies to Step up your Game.” ImmigCON, 2018.
Author, "Giving foreign workers their due.” Canadian HR Reporter, 29 May 2017.
Quoted, “Quand la frontière inquiète les entreprises." La Presse, February 2017.
Speaker, “Le droit de l’immigration au cœur des stratégies d’affaires et des transactions." Conférence Barreau de Montréal, 2017.
Speaker, "La mobilité globale des employés: les professionnels RH au cœur des stratégies." Congrès 2017 du CRHA, 2017.
Speaker, "Mobilité transfrontalière– le futur de l’ALENA." CERC, 2017.
Speaker, “La ‘DANSE’ des formalités en matière d’immigration." Danse Transit, 2017.
Speaker, "L'AECG entre le Canada et l'Union européenne: quelles opportunités pour les PME françaises?" France Canada Chamber of Commerce (FCCC), Webinar, 2016.
Speaker, "Prévoir le bon visa pour les États-Unis." Classe Export Tradeshow (Expansion Québec), 2016.
Speaker, "Immigration et émigration des particuliers/éléments périphériques." Association de planification fiscale et financière (APFF), Montreal, Canada, 2016.
Speaker, "Attirer le talent étranger et en faciliter l’intégration: considérations juridiques en immigration d’affaires et droit du travail." Convention Canada-France, Montreal, Canada, 2016.
Speaker, "Travailler au cœur des complexités du système économique d’immigration du Canada." CERC, Montreal, Canada, 2016.
Speaker, "Doing Business in Quebec: Business Formation & Movement of People/Immigration." Manhattan Chamber of Commerce-AmCham-IQ, New York, NY, 2016.
Speaker, "Les formalités en matière d'immigration pour les danseurs et artistes." Danse Transit, 2016.
Julie’s insights
September 9, 2026 | Conference
