麻豆色情片

Assistant Directors

Anne Iavarone-Turcotte (Interim Assistant Director)

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Val茅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 schoolteacher 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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Associates

Alexandra Bahary-Dionne

alexandra.bahary-dionne [at] mcgill.ca (Alexandra Bahary-Dionne) is a doctoral candidate at the Civil Law Section of the Faculty of Law at the University of Ottawa, 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 researcher 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 Prix Minerve. Her doctoral research was also recognized with the 鈥淩el猫ve en droit civil鈥� 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 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.

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M茅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 麻豆色情片, 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 in private practice for a few years, and completing a Master鈥檚 degree in law.

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L茅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 the Faculty of Law at Laval University and the Faculty of Law at Le Mans Universit茅, under the supervision of Professors Christelle Landheer-Cieslak and Val茅rie Lasserre. Her thesis 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. She lectures at the University of Le Mans on contract law, family law, civil enforcement procedures, and family patrimonial law.

As a member of the Institut d鈥櫭塼hique Appliqu茅e de l鈥橴niversit茅 Laval 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.

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Tiphaine Dourges

tiphaine.dourges [at] mcgill.ca (Tiphaine) joined the team at the Paul-Andr茅 Cr茅peau Centre for Private and Comparative Law as a researcher in April 2024. After a Bachelor鈥檚 degree in law at the University Bordeaux 4 Montesquieu in France, Tiphaine continued her studies at the听University of Bordeaux. She holds a research-based Master's degree in private law, with a specialization in criminal law. This training allowed her to explore the criminal law regimes of several foreign jurisdictions during a week of seminars presented by professors from Europe and Canada.

Driven by her desire to conduct academic research in comparative criminal law, Tiphaine completed a joint doctoral program between 2014 and 2022 under the co-supervision of professors Olivier D茅cima (University of Bordeaux) and Simon Roy (University of Sherbrooke). Her thesis, titled 鈥淧enal and extra-penal repressions in French and Canadian comparative law. Contribution to the general theory of repression鈥�, seeks to respond to issues of the qualification of punitive sanctions in French and Canadian law by proposing a prospective legal definition of the term 鈥榬epression鈥�. At the end of her defense, the jury unanimously awarded her a mark of excellence. She also received authorization to publish her thesis without revisions, was encouraged to apply for thesis prizes, and was advised to publish her work. Tiphaine is also the recipient of the 2023 Ch茅nier-Picard Fund Prize for the best law thesis from the University of Sherbrooke.

Alongside her doctoral research, Tiphaine had the pleasure of lecturing at the University of Bordeaux on various subjects of civil law (contracts and civil liability), criminal law (general principles, offenses, and comparative law), and legal methodology. She also had the chance to participate for several years in the training of judges at the 脡cole de la magistrature (France), as a tutor specialized in the law of obligations.

Before moving to Montreal in 2024, Tiphaine worked for a year as a researcher and editor in the Direction des affaires civiles et du sceau of the French Ministry of Justice. The main part of her mandate was to collaborate on the drafting of regulations for the legal and judicial professions. She found this experience very enriching and complementary to her academic training.

Tiphaine is particularly interested in civil liability, criminal liability (especially from the point of view of legal sanctions), and comparative law. The issues raised by the use of artificial intelligence in law are also part of her research interests.

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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.

Kayley Laura 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 麻豆色情片 under the supervision of 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 麻豆色情片's School of Population and Global Health.

She also completed her Quebec Bar exams.

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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 the Faculty of Law of the University of Sherbrooke, 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.

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鈥檝e 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 麻豆色情片-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 麻豆色情片鈥檚 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 will 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 journey and professional ambitions, as a tool rather than 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; such as contracts, research, persuasive writing, and negotiation; are 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鈥檝e gained from it.

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Julien B茅rub茅

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

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 more similar 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 Centre Cr茅peau community ?

I would describe it as the Centre鈥檚 greatest strength. Since the first day, we have had the luck of being welcomed to the Centre by leading experts as colleagues. In 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 always are 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 Centre Cr茅peau?

Having grown up as an immigrant in Montreal鈥檚 bilingual environment, I was never able to speak exclusively in French or English with friends 鈥� each language carries its own nuances, and 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 Centre Paul-Andr茅 Cr茅peau, and in particular to its French-English lexicon project. Indeed, I wanted to contribute to an initiative that seeks to bridge the gaps between languages, gaps I鈥檝e been exposed to since childhood. The desire to foster my sensitivity to semantic subtleties of language translation, something that comes instinctively to every polyglot, is what ultimately led me to the Centre Cr茅peau.

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

Law is inevitably shaped by the language through 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 into another, 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 extends far beyond the Code itself. For example, one of its defining features is the systematic categorization of legal concepts 鈥搒een in areas such as contracts, obligations, and legal relationships鈥� which reflects a rational, coherent structure opposite to the case-based common law tradition.
This civilist emphasis on categorization is precisely what makes the Dictionary project at the Centre Paul-Andr茅 Cr茅peau 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, for its part, drives us to dig deeper than the obvious, 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 the desire to delve into every concept that comes 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 channelled by carefully selecting what is truly relevant to the tool being developed.

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

The Centre Cr茅peau community is 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, the accessibility of the researchers and directors at the Centre makes this environment 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 jurist 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 Centre Cr茅peau ?听

In my first year of law school, I had the opportunity to participate in multiple workshops and seminars, explore numerous doctrinal texts and legal articles, 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 presentation by Professor Micha毛l Lessard, noticing that all these jurists who intrigued me were either directly or indirectly connected to the Centre's activities. Consequently, I too wanted to get involved in this "epicentre" of 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 of 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 the interest invested in a task 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 Centre Cr茅peau ?听

When you study law, you learn a new language. As I've always loved words, writing and reading, I must admit that this year, more than ever, I've discovered their power. I wanted to work at the Centre because I think that the work being done here 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, jurists and citizens.听

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

The issues of translation and linguistics touch me deeply as a Francophone who doesn't want to witness French disappear from the 麻豆色情片 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 sources in English. In this sense, bilingualism is a real advantage in my eyes. It is very rewarding to work in a team made up 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