Bélanger Sauvé loses one of its pillars

René Piotte, a pillar of the law firm Bélanger Sauvé, died on Friday, March 10, 2023, at the age of 66. The legal community has lost a distinguished lawyer who had an illustrious career. His legacy will live on though his major contribution to the growth and development of the firm.

“Through his immense talent, René Piotte greatly contributed to establishing the firm’s reputation for excellence. He was our managing partner for many years,” said Pierre Moreau, Bélanger Sauvé’s current managing partner.  “For many of us, he was a source of inspiration, the very model of kindness, professionalism and dedication, not to mention a sincere friend.”

“This is an immense loss for Bélanger Sauvé,” said Guy Pepin, President of the Quebec Bar and the firm’s General Counsel. “He was a highly cultivated man who shared his ideas and passions with understated enthusiasm. He deserves our recognition and deepest respect.”

A brilliant career 

René Piotte started out in his chosen profession over 40 years ago with Bélanger Sauvé, where he practiced for almost his entire career.

He received his law degree in 1978 from the Université de Montréal, where he went on to do a master’s degree in law, specializing in public law. After completing his Quebec Bar course requirements in 1981, he articled at the Quebec Court of Appeal and joined the firm in 1982.

During his long and illustrious career, he practiced labour, administrative and constitutional law and represented health and educational institutions, police forces, government departments, municipalities, professional orders, Crown corporations and other public bodies as well as the Government of Quebec. He acted as legal counsel and litigator before administrative tribunals and courts, including the Supreme Court of Canada.

Commitment to the upcoming generation of lawyers

René Piotte generously gave of his time to training the next generation of lawyers and in mentoring the firm’s junior lawyers. He was a lecturer in administrative and labour law at the École de formation professionnelle du Barreau du Québec and the Université de Montréal Faculty of Law. Highly regarded for his excellent command of French and his superior writing skills, he regularly served as a jury member for various excellence in legal writing awards.

The list of his own publications and instructional materials is impressive. He wrote on subjects ranging from police organization, retirement plans and collective bargaining.

Before he joined the firm, he worked at the Centre de recherche en droit public and co-authored articles on communications law for the Revue juridique Thémis (1978) and on information law for the Presses de l’Université de Montréal (1981).

Unifying leadership

René Piotte was Bélanger Sauvé’s managing partner for over 10 years, until February 2019. However, he continued to sit on the firm’s executive committee, thus remaining involved in management issues and their resolution. He played a decisive role in the reorganization of the firm, ensuring unifying leadership based on the firm’s values of expertise, know-how, respect and rigour.

He was an affable, broad-minded and kind man, who was a good listener who could always be relied on for sound advice.

“He was a brilliant lawyer, generous and erudite colleague, and an exceptional mentor to the firm’s young lawyers,” said fellow lawyer and friend, Marc Simard.

The entire Bélanger Sauvé team extends its heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones and wishes them solace and comfort in this difficult time.