Sylvain
Rigaud
Member of the Quebec Bar since 1990Languages: English, French
Sylvain Rigaud is regarded as a leading insolvency and restructuring lawyer. Over the last thirty years, he has devoted his legal career to resolving corporate and commercial disputes, especially in restructuring, bankruptcy and insolvency matters. Sylvain has acquired a wide range of experience both before the civil courts of first instance and appeal, including before the Supreme Court of Canada.
The experience he has acquired representing insolvent debtors, creditors, court officers, purchasers of distressed assets, interim lenders, directors and officers, boards of directors and shareholders, puts him in a position to offer practical and innovative advice tailored to the specific issues of each case. Sylvain is widely recognized for his ability to handle complex cases with skill and tact before the courts, as well as in the context of developing and negotiating arrangements.
A regular speaker, he is also a member of the Insolvency Institute of Canada, the Turnaround and Management Association, INSOL International, the American Institute of Bankruptcy and has served as Chair of the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Section of the Canadian Bar Association, Quebec Division. He is listed as one of Canada's leading insolvency practitioners in the most reputable legal directories, including The Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory, Chambers Canada and The Best Lawyers in Canada. Prior to joining Woods, he practiced and acted as co-head of the Insolvency and Restructuring team at a leading international law firm.
Recent distinctions
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DISTINCTIONS
- Chambers Canada– Ranked since 2016 as one of Canada's leading restructuring and insolvency practitioners
- Chambers Global - ranked as a leading practitioner in the Restructuring and Insolvency category
- Lexpert® American Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada
- The Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory– recommended since 2020 in Insolvency & Financial Restructuring - Insolvency Litigation
- The Legal 500– Recognized in 2016 for its achievements in dispute resolution
- The Best Lawyers in Canada – Recognized since 2008 in the categories of: Corporate and Commercial Litigation and Insolvency and Financial Restructuring
- Who's Who Legal– ranked among the leaders in Restructuring and Insolvency in 2020
- Benchmark Litigation Canada– named as a Litigation Star in 2018 and 2022
EDUCATION
1991 London School of Economics and Political Science
LL.M. (International Business Law)
1989 Dalhousie University
LL.B., Common Law
1988 Université de Montréal
LL.B. Civil Law
1987 Dalhousie University
Certificate in common law
PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES AND ASSOCIATIONS
Canadian Bar Association - Quebec Former president of the bankruptcy and insolvency section of the Quebec division
Quebec Bar - Bankruptcy and Insolvency Committee
Insolvency Institute of Canada
Institut de développement urbain du Québec
Insol International
Turnaround Management Association
American Bankruptcy Institute
CONFERENCES AND PUBLICATIONS
“SCC Ruling Affirms Authority to Approve Litigation Funding Agreement as Interim Financing”, A. Mojtahedi, S. Pousht-Mashhad and S. Rigaud, Insolvency Insider, January 30, 2020.
“Authority to Bar a Creditor from Voting & Litigation Funding Agreement as Interim Financing: The Supreme Court of Canada’s Ruling in Blueberi”, A. Mojtahedi, S. Pousht-Mashhad and S. Rigaud, Insolvency Insider, May 13, 2020.
“Deductibility of Professional Fees for Income Tax Purposes by a CCAA Debtor Company”, M. Basso, D. Chiasson, A. Oliver and S. Rigaud, Insolvency Insider, July 31, 2019.
« La réforme en matière d'insolvabilité: nouveautés et codification de pratiques existantes », Philippe H. Bélanger et Sylvain Rigaud, Les Éditions Yvon Blais, 2013.
« Le nouveau séquestre de la partie XI : un nouveau régime parallèle de mise à exécution des garanties? » Canadian Association of Insolvency and Restructuring Professionals, May 31, 2010.
« Comment profiter des opportunités en contexte de récession (Turning Distress Markets to Your Advantage) », presentation Young Presidents’ Organization, November 19, 2009.
« Bilan jurisprudentiel en insolvabilité et restructuration commerciale » (coconférencier : Christian Roy), Canadian Association of Insolvency and Restructuring Professionals, November 25 and November 27, 2009.
« Les neuf décisions-clés de 2009 », Insolvency, restructuring and bankruptcy conference, L’Institut Canadien, October 28, 2009.
« Le rôle du conseil en contexte d’insolvabilité d’entreprises », Institute of Corporate Directors (Quebec Section), October 15, 2009.
« Serpents et échelles : la réforme de la législation en matière d’insolvabilité sous l’angle des droits des prêteurs », 6th Annual Security Conference, Insight, April 7-8, 2008.
« L’affaire Minco : anomalie, hostilité des tribunaux à l’égard des spéculateurs ou évolution de la théorie de la bonne foi dans un contexte d’insolvabilité? », Canadian Bar Association, Quebec Division, November 14, 2007.
« An Overview of the CCAA with Comparisons to the US Bankruptcy Code: A Canadian Perspective », National Association of Credit Management Connecticut Inc., National Fine Paper Manufacturers Credit Group, September 13, 2007.
« Réflexions sur l’arrêt TCT Logistics : impacts pratiques et questions en suspens », 5th edition, Insight Information, April 23, 2007.
« Discussions quant aux impacts de la décision de la Cour suprême du Canada dans l’affaire de TCT Logistics Inc. », Canadian Bar Association, Quebec Division, bankruptcy and insolvency law section, February 22, 2007.