Yann Bernard

Yann Bernard represents, since 1994, private and public institutions, and particularly school boards, at all judicial and quasi-judicial levels, from administrative tribunals to the Supreme Court of Canada.

Possessing a wealth of experience – 20 years in private practice combined with four years as director of legal affairs and secretary general for major anglophone and francophone school boards – Yann offers his clientele a concrete approach centred on the management needs of the education community. Furthermore, he takes special care to provide his clientele with advice in line with their institution’s strategic vision. 

Yann distinguishes himself by his ability to understand complex labour relations issues and the impact of each grievance arbitration or workplace injury case on employer-employee relations. The media and communications experience he gained while working as secretary general is much appreciated by his clients, especially in crisis management situations arising from labour conflicts or other high-profile confrontations. 

Yann also practices sports law. He gives strategic and legal advice to sports federations and athletes. He also represents Canadian anti-doping authorities, sits on the disciplinary committee of the laboratories of the World Anti-Doping Agency, and acts as ombudsman for the Canadian Olympic team at the Winter and Summer Olympic games.

A much appreciated conference speaker and training instructor, Yann is often asked to comment on the latest developments in labour and education law.

In 2013, he concluded the second major writing project of his career, managing the Langlois lawyers team in charge of updating the 7th edition of Le Droit du travail du Québec (Quebec Labour Law), originally written by Robert P. Gagnon, updated by Langlois lawyers LLP. 

Heavily involved in the world of high-performance sports, Yann acted as the ombudsman for the Canadian delegation to the 2007 Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro and the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto. He performed the same role at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, the 2012 Summer Olympics in London and the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sotchi. He is the current Chair of the Board of Directors of the Canadian Fencing Federation and a member of the Legal Commission of the International Fencing Federation.