The Centre's team

Assistant Directors

ALEXANDRA BAHARY-DIONNE

alexandra.bahary-dionne [at] mcgill.ca (Alexandra Bahary-Dionne) is a doctoral candidate at the Civil Law Section of the University of Ottawa's Faculty of Law, where she is conducting research on the evolution of the legal framework governing personal debt in the context of economic financialization. Her work examines the interaction between law, economics, and social inequality from an interdisciplinary perspective grounded in the sociology of law, economic sociology, and socio-legal history. She is particularly interested in the role of private law in regulating economic power relations and in the interactions between social law and private law that characterize the transformation of the welfare state.

As part of her doctoral research, Alexandra was a visiting scholar at the Centre for the Sociology of Organizations at Sciences Po Paris (2023鈥�2024), and at the Interdisciplinary Research Institute in Social Sciences at Universit茅 Paris-Dauphine (2025). She also coordinated the Pluridisciplinary Observatory on the Evolution of Private Law at the University of Ottawa and has taken part in various collaborative research projects on topics ranging from access to justice and consumer law to postcolonial perspectives on private law, artificial intelligence, and digital cultures.

Her work has been published in several academic journals, including Les Cahiers de droit, Revue de droit de l鈥橴niversit茅 de Sherbrooke, Revue Femmes et droit, European Review of Digital Administration and Law, and Sociologie et soci茅t茅s. She is also the author of L鈥檃cc猫s 脿 la justice au prisme des savoirs profanes (PUL, 2024), a book based on her award-winning master鈥檚 thesis, which received the Minerve Prize. Her doctoral research was also recognized with the Rel猫ve en droit civil award from the Jean-Louis Baudouin Chair at the Universit茅 de Montr茅al.

Her research has been funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC), the Fonds de recherche du Qu茅bec (FRQ), and the Montreal Centre for Research on Social Inequalities (CREMIS), among others.

Since 2022, Alexandra has taught the law of obligations at the University of Ottawa鈥檚 Faculty of Law. In 2026, she will begin a postdoctoral research at the 脡cole des hautes 茅tudes en sciences sociales (EHESS), funded by the FRQ, on the impact of pension fund real estate investments on the right to housing.

ANNE IAVARONE-TURCOTTE (Interim)

anne.iavarone-turcotte [at] mail.mcgill.ca (Anne Iavarone-Turcotte) will join the Centre as Interim Assistant Director on September 1st, 2025. A lawyer by training, she holds a doctorate in law from 黑料不打烊 University (2021) and has completed postdoctoral fellowships in philosophy at the Centre for Research in Ethics (2022鈥�2023), the Canada Research Chair in Feminist Ethics (2022鈥�2023), and the Graduate Center of the City University of New York (2023鈥�2025). Her research in these institutions was supported in part by SSHRC, FRQ, and the R茅seau qu茅b茅cois en 茅tudes f茅ministes.

Anne鈥檚 work explores several contested topics in feminist theory, including the relationship between choice and patriarchy, harm reduction, the practice of allyship and the problem of speaking for others. Her first book, Choisir sans pr茅f茅rer: le multiculturalisme et les femmes au-del脿 du paradigme lib茅ral (PUL, 2024), was shortlisted for the W. Wesley Pue Prize awarded by the Canadian Law and Society Association (2025). It will be the subject of a symposium in Dialogue, the official journal of the Canadian Philosophical Association (2026). This acclaimed book is based on her doctoral dissertation, which earned numerous accolades, including the Minerve Prize (2022), the annual award of the Association des doyennes et des doyens des 茅tudes sup茅rieures au Qu茅bec (2022), the Governor General's Gold Medal (2022) and the 黑料不打烊 Alumni Association Graduate Award (2022).

Before entering academia, Anne practiced health law at a Montreal litigation firm, representing victims of medical and hospital malpractice in civil liability cases. She has also been actively involved in community work, volunteering with non-profit organizations such as the Mile End Legal Clinic and 罢丑猫蝉别锄-惫辞耻蝉.

VAL脡RINE PINEL

valerine.pinel [at] mcgill.ca (Val茅rine Pinel) became Assistant Director of the Paul-Andr茅 Cr茅peau Centre for Private and Comparative Law in December 2024. Prior to this role, she worked there as听Researcher/Project Coordinator since February 2024.

Trained in civil law in France, Val茅rine has a bachelor鈥檚 degree in private law and a master鈥檚 degree in criminal law from Toulouse Capitole University. Alongside her studies and numerous student jobs, she worked at the Genepi student association for four years. As a volunteer, Val茅rine taught incarcerated women, hosted a radio program, and participated in civil society awareness events on prison issues.

She discovered bijuralism in Quebec in 2018 thanks to a double degree between Laval University and Toulouse Capitole University, allowing her to obtain two master鈥檚 degrees in law from each country. Her research essay focused on the repercussions of preventive detention on fundamental rights.

Thanks to her experience in Quebec, Val茅rine developed a love for research, which pushed her to work as a research assistant at Laval University, in criminal and civil law with several professors from the Faculty of Law. She coordinated the Louis-Philippe-Pigeon Chair in Legal Writing for a year, before returning to France during the pandemic. During this transition period in France, Val茅rine worked for the Ministry of Justice as a probation officer. She also worked as a school teacher for a few months before returning to Quebec.

From 2022 to January 2024, Val茅rine was the coordinator of the Antoine-Turmel Research Chair at Laval University. Her research work has mainly focused on gender and age biases during the sentencing trial concerning older women, as well as on end-of-life care in Quebec.

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Senior Administrative Coordinator

SONIA DE RIGGI

sonia.deriggi [at] mcgill.ca (Sonia De Riggi) works part-time as Senior Administrative Coordinator for the Paul-Andr茅 Cr茅peau Centre for Private and Comparative since March 2025.

She has worked at 黑料不打烊 for 7 years and been at the Faculty of Law for 3 years.

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Researchers

M脡LISANDE CHARBONNEAU-GRAVEL

melisande.charbonneau-gravel [at] mcgill.ca (M茅lisande Charbonneau-Gravel) works part-time as a researcher at the Paul-Andr茅 Cr茅peau Centre for Private and Comparative Law. During her law studies at 黑料不打烊 University, she worked as a student researcher at the Centre, where she notably contributed to the bilingual dictionaries project. She later led and coordinated other initiatives at the Centre. She rejoined the Centre in May 2025, after clerking at the Supreme Court of Canada, practising law for a few years, and completing a Master鈥檚 degree in law.

L脡A DECASTER

lea.decaster [at] mcgill.ca (L茅a Decaster) is a researcher at the Paul-Andr茅 Cr茅peau Centre for Private and Comparative Law as part of a project to develop a dictionary on the law of persons. She is also a PhD candidate at Laval University's Faculty of law and the at Le Mans University's Faculty of Law, under the supervision of Professors Christelle Landheer-Cieslak and Val茅rie Lasserre. Her dissertation is titled "Sex Identity and the Person in French and Quebec Civil Law." Her research focuses on the identification of individuals by the mention of sex in civil status records and on the protection of fundamental human rights through this mention of sex.

At Laval University, she is a member of the Research Ethics Committee. She has been a mentor for the Graduate Student Support Center in Law, as well as a teaching and research assistant, from January 2021 to December 2023. At Le Mans University, she teaches on contract law, family law, civil enforcement procedures, and family patrimonial law.

As a member of Laval University's Institut d鈥櫭塼hique Appliqu茅e and the Th茅mis-UM laboratory, L茅a is interested in comparative law, civil law, fundamental rights, and鈥攎ore specifically鈥攑ersonal and family law. She has published articles in several collective works on the topics of legal education in France and Quebec and the procedure for changing the mention of sex in civil status records. She has also organized and participated in numerous conferences and scientific seminars in Quebec and France.

KAYLEY LAURA LATA

kayley.lata [at] mcgill.ca (Kayley Laura Lata) has been a researcher at the Paul-Andr茅 Cr茅peau Centre for Private and Comparative Law since May 2024.

She is interested in the interconnection between law and the humanities. She is also interested in legal exceptionalism, specifically as it applies to pharmaceutical policy. In the past, she has also shown interest in the reasons and legal reasoning animating administrative and judicial decisions.

Kayley Laura completed her LL.M. at 黑料不打烊 University under the supervision of Professor Daniel Weinstock. She wrote her master's thesis on the notion of medical necessity underlying the coverage of health care services in Quebec and Canada. Her thesis traces the genealogy of medical necessity while inquiring into the methods and epistemology of law.

During her studies, she was a fellow of the Department of Equity, Ethics and Policy at 黑料不打烊 University's School of Population and Global Health.

She also completed her Quebec Bar exams.

MAXIME LEBLANC

maxime.leblanc3 [at] mcgill.ca (Maxime Leblanc) is a researcher at the Paul-Andr茅 Cr茅peau Centre for Private and Comparative Law as part of a project to develop a dictionary on the law of persons. He is a master鈥檚 student at University of Sherbrooke's Faculty of Law, under the supervision of Professor Mathieu Devinat. He also completed his Bachelor of Laws at the same university.

His master鈥檚 thesis focuses on the adage "nul ne peut se faire justice 脿 soi-m锚me" and its influence on Quebec civil law. He is particularly interested in the origins of this principle, its role within the Civil Code of Qu茅bec, as well as the exceptions that stem from it. His project is supported by a research excellence scholarship from the University of Sherbrooke.

In addition to his role as a research assistant at the Faculty of Law, Maxime has also worked as a teaching assistant. His research interests include property law, fundamental private law, and comparative law.

LAURENCE SAINT-PIERRE HARVEY

laurence.saint-pierreharvey [at] mcgill.ca (Laurence Saint-Pierre Harvey) is a researcher at the Paul-Andr茅 Cr茅peau Centre for Private and Comparative Law, where she works on the private law dictionary on the law of persons project. She was previously a researcher on the private law dictionary on the law of successions project, as well as the Assistant Director of the Centre.

She is currently pursuing doctoral studies at 黑料不打烊 University under the supervision of the Honourable Robert Leckey. Her research focuses on extra-contractual liability within families. She is interested in the types of compensation that may arise between family members, the behaviors that justify such compensation, those that are subject to certain immunities, and the limits of state intervention in family relationships.

For her master鈥檚 thesis at 黑料不打烊 University, she studied compensatory allowance under Qu茅bec law鈥攊ts adoption, evolution, and interpretation in case law. During her undergraduate law degree at the Universit茅 de Montr茅al, she worked as a research assistant in the field of obligations law.

She began her legal career as a law clerk for Justice Martin Vauclair at the Quebec Court of Appeal, and went on to practice as a litigation lawyer with the Office of the Attorney General of Qu茅bec, where she specialized in civil liability and constitutional law.

NATACHA TRAUTMANN

natacha.trautmann [at] mcgill.ca (Natacha Trautmann) is a researcher responsible for event coordination and communications at the Paul-Andr茅 Cr茅peau Centre for Private and Comparative Law.

After a bachelor's degree in law and a bachelor's degree in modern literature from Aix-Marseille University in France, Natacha continued her studies at the Institute of Public Management in Aix-en-Provence. There, she obtained a master's degree in cultural project management, specializing in management and law. This training allowed her to combine her interest in law and her appetite for the cultural field by giving her the skills necessary to create projects and the legal knowledge required to protect artists.

Before arriving in Montreal in 2024, Natacha worked for two years as a project manager at a community center in Arles, where she had the opportunity to participate in the creation and development of its activities.

Once in Montreal, she joined the Survenants team as a logistics project coordinator for cultural and gastronomic events. This experience greatly helped her discover Montreal and Quebec culture in its most gourmet aspects.

Natacha has a keen interest in the legal field and is delighted to be able to combine all the different facets of her training at the Centre Cr茅peau and learn more about Quebec's bijural context.

Scholars

Students

Justin Ang茅lil-Danis

1. What were your motivations to become a researcher at the Cr茅peau Centre?

What motivated me to become a researcher at the Cr茅peau Centre was, first and foremost, my strong interest in the legal dictionary project. During the first three years of my law degree, I learned to use this invaluable tool, which helped me better understand legal language and interpret texts with greater precision. Realizing how useful such a dictionary can be, both in academic and professional settings, sparked in me the desire to actively contribute to its development. Participating in its creation is, for me, a meaningful way to help make legal language more accessible and accurate.

Furthermore, I see the Cr茅peau Centre as an exceptional learning opportunity. As I begin my final year of undergraduate studies, I鈥檓 eager to deepen my knowledge and immerse myself in the field of legal research. The Centre strikes me as an ideal environment to develop methodological, critical, and writing skills while contributing to a project with real impact.

Finally, the former members of the Centre I had the chance to meet have all shared positive and enriching experiences, which has only increased my motivation to apply and to become fully involved in this work!

2. How does bilingualism influence your approach to or understanding of the law and its issues?

In my view, the bilingualism of Quebec civil law acts as a kind of double safeguard against the misinterpretation of legal texts. One very 黑料不打烊-like reflex I developed during law school is to consult the English version of a legal text whenever I encounter ambiguity in the French version. Having access to an equivalent text, not merely a translation but one written entirely in another language with the same underlying intent, is an invaluable tool. This back-and-forth between languages often helps clarify complex legal concepts and deepens overall understanding of the law.

Quebec law is undeniably strengthened by this bilingualism. It gives the legal system a uniqueness that I find particularly appealing. In my eyes, it鈥檚 also a beautiful metaphor for Quebec society: the obligation to think and express law simultaneously in two languages. This bilingual structure allows for a certain emancipation from the rigid frameworks of both continental and common law traditions, making room for a hybrid, original, and inclusive approach. It is truly a strength of the Quebec legal landscape to work with bilingual tools and references.

As a Francophone at 黑料不打烊鈥檚 Faculty of Law, bilingualism is also a source of reflection for me. I naturally tend to write in French, but I constantly ask myself whether an English-speaking reader would fully grasp the nuances of my reasoning. This concern for clarity has pushed me to adapt my writing style so it can transcend linguistic barriers by simplifying my phrasing and making my ideas more explicit. I鈥檓 convinced that this exercise has greatly improved my legal writing and communication skills.

3. What in your past experiences or achievements marked your choice to pursue a career in law?

I suspect that my answer to this question may stand out a bit at the Faculty of Law. I tend to see law, both in my academic and professional journey, as a tool rather than as an end in itself. I entered the BCL/JD program directly after cegep, knowing that studying law would give me a deeper understanding of the system we live in. I aspire to a career in international relations, and to me, it feels only natural to first study the system that governs interpersonal relations before analyzing them on an international scale. Moreover, the tools we learn to master in law鈥攕uch as contracts, research, persuasive writing, and negotiation鈥攁re all essential in that field.

The connection between my career aspirations and the Paul-Andr茅 Cr茅peau Centre might seem unclear at first glance, but to me, it鈥檚 quite obvious. First, there鈥檚 no doubt that working as a research assistant is an immensely formative experience. Furthermore, the jurilinguistic nature of the private law dictionary project has opened the door to a world I hadn鈥檛 realized was so vast or so fascinating. If I see law as a tool, then contributing to the development of a legal dictionary feels like the culmination of my legal education; a perfect expression of what I have gained from it.

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Julien B茅rub茅

1. What prompted you to become a researcher at Cr茅peau Centre?

During my second year of law school, I had the opportunity to make my first steps in academic research. I then understood the importance of going further and learning about the foundations of our legal environment. Adding this to my passion for languages, I jumped at the opportunity to combine my interests. I hoped to explore new ways of thinking and to deepen my knowledge of Qu茅bec private law, and I can say that my wish has been fulfilled.

2. In your opinion, what is the quintessence of Quebec private law?

For me, the quintessential piece of Qu茅bec private law is our Code of Civil Procedure. By its organization, it is a profoundly civilist code. However, the procedure it creates is much closer to the common law one. By taking principles from the Common Law and integrating them into the civil law organization, Qu茅bec civil procedure demonstrates the unique characteristics of Qu茅bec private law. In my opinion, this is not a weakness of civil law at all. Instead, it demonstrates the continued vivacity of civil law in Canada and the historical evolution of the society that is ruled by that code.

3. How would you describe the Cr茅peau Centre community?

I would describe it as the Centre鈥檚 greatest strength. Since the first day, we have had the luck of being welcomed at the Centre by leading experts colleagues. At conferences, seminars or simply in the hallways, interactions I had with community members were genuinely inspiring. Being amongst so many enthusiasts of Qu茅bec private law is a rare chance, and the conversations we have are always precious. It鈥檚 a community that fosters curiosity and research and encourages us to broaden our horizons in a welcoming environment.

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Andrew Jiaxin Chen

1. What made you decide to become a researcher at Cr茅peau Centre?

Having grown up as an immigrant in Montreal鈥檚 bilingual environment, I was never able to speak exclusively French or English with friends鈥攅ach language carries its own nuances鈥攁nd no word ever seemed to have a perfect equivalent in the other. Yet in law, unlike in daily conversations, 鈥淔renglish鈥� is not an accepted form of expression.

That is precisely what drew me to the Paul-Andr茅 Cr茅peau Centre, and in particular to its French-English lexicon project. Indeed, I wanted to contribute to an initiative that seeks to bridge the gap between languages, which I have been exposed to since childhood. The desire to foster my sensitivity to the semantic subtleties of translation, something that comes instinctively to every polyglot, is what ultimately led me to the Cr茅peau Centre.

2. How does bilingualism influence your approach to or understanding of the law and its issues?

Law is inevitably shaped by the language in which it is expressed. The legal system in Quebec, which is fundamentally bilingual, thus gives rise to something unique: two parallel versions of the same law.

Indeed, because no language can be perfectly translated, the French and English versions of Quebec law often diverge in subtle but meaningful ways. These differences compel jurists to look beyond the literal text of either version to grasp the legal concepts they aim to convey. In this way, learning Quebec law through a bilingual framework encourages a teleological approach that goes beyond the text itself, fostering critical engagement with the law.

3. In your opinion, what is the quintessence of Quebec private law?

To me, the quintessence of Quebec private law lies in its civilist tradition. While the Civil Code of Quebec is its most prominent and well-known expression, elements of this tradition extend far beyond the Code itself. For example, one of its defining features is the systematic categorization of legal concepts鈥攕een in areas such as contracts, obligations, and legal relationships鈥攚hich reflects a rational, coherent structure opposed to the case-based common law tradition.

This civilist emphasis on categorization is precisely what makes the dictionary project at the Paul-Andr茅 Cr茅peau Centre so relevant. Indeed, in order to structure the law into categories, we must first define them. In this sense, the dictionary serves a civilist function: it aspires, much like the Code, to provide a coherent and unified articulation of legal concepts.

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Chlo茅 Desjardins

1. In your opinion, what is the quintessence of Quebec private law?

In my view, the quintessence of Quebec private law lies in its historical richness, born from the encounter between the French civil law tradition and English common law. Together, they give it a hybrid character that is truly unique. Admittedly, standing at the crossroads of two major legal traditions can sometimes make things complex. Yet this is precisely what makes Quebec law such a fascinating field of study: to this day, I remain fascinated by the fact that some concepts now fully integrated into Quebec law actually originate from the English tradition.

2. What are the qualities or shortcomings of a good legal researcher?

A good legal researcher must above all demonstrate rigour and curiosity. It is essential to ensure the accuracy of the information presented. Some of the projects we work on may become reference points for the broader community, so it is crucial not to mislead readers. Curiosity, in turn, encourages us to dig deeper, to explore the nuances of the legal concepts we encounter, and to consider the theoretical and practical implications of law. That being said, this same curiosity can sometimes be misleading. In the context of writing the Dictionary of Private Law, for example, it is easy to get carried away by our desire to delve into every concept that we come across. One discovers fascinating elements that they would like to include in the remarks or definitions, but it is important to keep in mind that the goal is to produce a work that is concise, clear, and accessible. Curiosity must therefore be channeled by carefully selecting what is truly relevant to the tool being developed.

3. How would you describe the Cr茅peau Centre community?

The Cr茅peau Centre members are curious and generous with their time. I remain particularly struck by the fact that people who already possess great expertise continue to question and explore Quebec private law. Moreover,听the researchers' and directors'听approachability makes听the Centre an exceptional place to learn. Being able to engage with people who are so knowledgeable, open, and available is a real privilege, especially when one is a legal expert in training. In short, I am deeply grateful to this community, which allows me to grow in an environment where one feels supported, heard, and encouraged to actively contribute to research.

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Thomas Lessard

1. What prompted you to become a researcher at the Cr茅peau Centre?听

In my first year of law school, I had the opportunity to participate in multiple workshops and seminars, explore numerous doctrinal texts, and engage in a variety of discussions with professionals from different fields. Every time I found myself interested in a particular assignment or project, the Centre was always involved in one way or another. I recall reading family law texts by Professor Christine Morin and attending a conference by Professor Micha毛l Lessard, noticing that all these experts who interested me were either directly or indirectly involved with the Centre's activities. Consequently, I too wanted to get involved in this "epicenter" for private and comparative law research.

2. How does bilingualism influence your approach and understanding of the law and its issues?

"To imagine a language means to imagine a form of life," said Wittgenstein. Some see bilingualism as a simple tool for translation. However, a word represents much more than its letters and pronunciation, which is why words evolve and definitions change. Between French and English, we realize the influence that human "creations," like forms of law or types of languages, have on their own "creators." It is through this lens that law and its issues must be considered鈥攏ot as a simple tool for justice, but as one of those living machines, whose parts have been assembled through trial and error. Certainly, some of these parts are rusted or broken, but we will continue to change and improve them, for鈥攍ike our language鈥攖his machine needs us as much as we need it.

3. What are the qualities or shortcomings of a good legal researcher?

In my view, the foremost quality of a good legal researcher is an awareness of their interests. Identifying what sparks our curiosity and drives us to delve deeper transforms a simple research topic into a personal quest for knowledge. Whether through the perspective from which one addresses a legal issue or through the choice of approach, a good legal researcher will find a way to become passionate. This not only makes the process more personal and enriching but also results in a final product of superior quality. However, this attribute can become a drawback when our interest causes us to lose track of time and overlook the typically demanding schedule of legal research.

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Charlotte Ruffo听

1. What prompted you to become a researcher at the Cr茅peau Centre?听

When you study law, you learn a new language. As I have always loved words, writing and reading, I must admit that this year, more than ever, I have discovered their power. I wanted to work at the Centre because I think that the work being done there is essential. Legal dictionaries are invaluable tools that enable a dialogue between French and English within the same legal tradition. I believe that this project contributes to dismantling certain barriers that language creates for law students, legal experts and citizens.听

2. How does bilingualism influence your approach and听understanding of the law and its issues?听

Issues of translation and linguistics deeply touch me as a Francophone who doesn't want to see French disappear from the 黑料不打烊 community, and who certainly does not want to see English-speaking colleagues hindered in their study of Quebec civil law due to a lack of resources in English. In this sense, bilingualism is a real advantage in my eyes. It is very rewarding to work with a team of people whose mother tongue is either French or English. The Centre's researchers are always helping each other out, which I think encourages wonderful exchanges! I learn tremendously from my colleagues.听