Mr. Roger P. Simard

Roger P. Simard
Counsel, Montréal
Telephone: +1 514 878 5834
Email: roger.simard@dentons.com
Website bio: https://www.dentons.com/en/roger-simard

Roger P. Simard is a member of the Restructuring, Insolvency and Bankruptcy group in Dentons Montréal office.
Roger represents corporations being restructured, financial institutions, receivers, trustees in bankruptcy, purchasers of distressed assets and unsecured creditors in local, national and international insolvencies. He acts in numerous cases involving insolvency matters including the sale of distressed assets, the validity of security and conflicts of priority between secured lenders and other creditors. He also advises several insurers, manufacturers, suppliers, landlords, guarantors and directors in connection with their obligations and the protection of their rights in bankruptcy and insolvency-related matters. Roger has particular expertise in the areas of claims against the directors and officers, bank security realization, commercial reorganizations and bankruptcies, drafting and reviewing bank and commercial security documents, the exercise of hypothecary rights, the collection of commercial accounts, asset protection planning, and the exemption of annuities and insurance from seizure.
Roger has published many articles on bankruptcy, insolvency, restructuring and commercial credit, and has written blogs on these topics. He has been invited to present papers by a variety of organizations and associations across Canada. He was a member of the Bar of Montréal’s Liaison Committee with the Bankruptcy Registrar between 1985 and 1998. In 1993, he was a member of the Oral Examination Committee for the licensing of bankruptcy trustees in Québec. Between 1996 and 1998, he was President of the Bankruptcy and Insolvency section of the Québec Division of the Canadian Bar Association and he has sat on the executive committee of this section from its inception until 2022.
Experience
Groupe Finstar : Acting for the receiver in the liquidation of a real estate portfolio on 40 properties (2026-…).
Asbestos Corporation Limited : Acting for insurers in a restructuring under the CCAA (2025-..).
• Lion Électrique : Acting for insurers in a liquidation under the CCAA (2025-…).
• Laurentian Bank of Canada: Advised Laurentian Bank of Canada (LBC) in in the CCAA liquidation of Groupe Sélection, involving 10 loans on senior residences, land, construction facilities and aircraft financing.
• Cosette Pharmaceuticals Inc.: Advising on its CA$25 million acquisition of the IP assets of Endoceutics Inc.
• Groupe Sélection: Representing a secured lender on multiple retirement residences loan facilities (2022- 2023)
• Nemaska Lithium: Acting for a purchaser in a reverse vesting order under the CCAA (2020).
• Groupe Dynamite: Acting for the banking syndicate in a 300 retail stores restructuring in Canada and the USA (2020-2021).
• Laura’s Shoppe: Acting for the secured lender in the restructuring of a Canadian retail store chain (2020-2021).
• Chubb Compagnie d’assurance du Canada: Retained in connection with the orderly liquidation of Groupe Atis under the CCAA, as well as defending directors and officers in insolvency related claims.
• Bluberi Gaming: Acting for a gaming machine manufacturer in a CCAA restructuring and under Ch 15 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, including approved litigation financing (2017).
• Montréal, Maine & Atlantic: Acting as counsel to directors, officers and certain related companies of US and Canadian cross border debtors Montréal Maine & Atlantic Railway, Ltd. and Montréal Maine & Atlantic Canada Co. in simultaneous cross-border insolvency proceedings arising from the derailment of 72 tanker cars carrying Bakken crude oil through eastern Québec, resulting in 47 casualties and hundreds of millions of dollars of bodily injury, property and environment claims. A mass tort case that achieved an unprecedented CA$450 million settlement fund to be administered jointly between the debtors’ US and Canadian estates.
• Schwartz, Levitsky, Feldman: Advising the client on releases and injunctions obtained through CCAA proceedings to resolve a class action in the Mount Real investment fraud.
• Pascan Aviation Inc.: Advising as counsel to the regional airline on the CCAA proceedings that concluded in 2017 with a management buy-out of the assets.
• Amdocs Canadian Managed Services Inc.: Representing in connection with the Mobilicity CCAA proceedings in Ontario.
• Bayerische Landesbank, New York Branch: Advising the bank as sole lead arranger, administrative agent, and lender, on its US$55 million project financing for the 21.15 MW Le Plateau 2 wind farm in the MRC d’Avignon, Québec, the first community partnership wind power generation project between Invenergy Wind LLC and Le Plateau Wind Community Power LP.
• AVEOS Fleet Performance Inc.: Advising in connection with its Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act proceedings. Founded as Air Canada Technical Services (ACTS), AVEOS was one of the largest airline maintenance, repair and overhaul providers in the Americas (2012-2013).
• Investissement Québec: Advising on the slate financing deal with Dark Castle Entertainment.
• Cogeco Cable: Representing in connection with legal proceedings concerning the determination of the voting rights of the holders of subordinate shares in the context of a mutual transaction contemplated between CFCF and Vidéotron, which later became a takeover bid, and the liability of directors in connection with representations made in the prospectus.
• TQS Inc.: Representing a potential buyer in connection with TQS Inc.’s arrangement.
• ETI Inc.: Representing the trustee in the bankruptcy of E.T.I. Experts en Traitement de l’Informatique in a litigation regarding an arbitration provision up to the Supreme Court of Canada.
• Confidential client: Acting for important stakeholders in the insolvencies of Nationair, J. Pascal Inc., Pascal Stores, Steinberg’s and Intair.
• Les Entreprises Powermotive: Representing in a receivership matter.
• Sonaca S.A., a Belgian company involved in aeronautics: Advising in connection with the acquisition of its plants in North America.
• LAB Chrysotile: Representing in connection with the bankruptcy of the Bell Asbestos Mine in Thetford Mines.
• LAB Chrysotile S.E.C.: Representing in connection with the dissolution of a limited partnership and the sale of its assets.
• Temlam and Jager Building Systems: Representing in connection with the liquidation of their assets in the forestry industry.
• Skyservice Airlines: Representing in connection with the bankruptcy of Voyages Maestro.
• Fotoclick, Teleplus, Peoples Department Stores, Wise Stores, etc.: Representing numerous businesses in restructuring matters in the retail trade or their creditors.
Recognition
First recognized in 1998, Roger has been commended for his extensive knowledge and experience in a variety of respected publications, including:
• Chambers Global: Restructuring/Insolvency – Canada.
• Chambers Canada: Restructuring/Insolvency.
• The Legal 500 Canada: Restructuring and Insolvency.
• The Best Lawyers in Canada: Insolvency and Financial Restructuring Law.
• The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory: Insolvency & Financial Restructuring.
• Lexpert Special Edition – Canada’s Leading Lawyers: Global Mining; Litigation.
• IFLR 1000 Canada: Restructuring and Insolvency.
• Martindale-Hubbell: BV Distinguished Peer Review Rating.
Honors and Awards
• Lexology Legal Writing Awards 2010: Winner in the category Author of the Year – Banking Canada
Insights
Blogs 2014 –Le Blogue Edilex – Section Insolvabilité (available in French only)
• L’ARC peut saisir le compte d’un syndic !
• Timminco et les paiements d’équilibre
• Un « flip d’actifs » qui tourne mal
• Super Bowl 2014
• Noël en janvier pour les pensionnés
Blogs 2013 – Le Blogue Edilex – Section Insolvabilité (available in French only)
• Vivre avec ses décisions
• Caveat Fenerator
• Indalex, un pétard mouillé?
• J’ai mal été cité!
Blogs 2012 – Le Blogue Edilex – Section Insolvabilité (available in French only)
• Payez votre loyer!
• Opression et Dépression
• Les litiges de ventes d’actifs (available in French only)
• Le sport extrême des ventes d’actifs
• La vente de WhiteBirch est conclue!
• L’inénarrable Nunc Pro Tunc
• Barrières à l’entrée : l’usage du latin
• Barrières à l’entrée : les règles non-écrites
• Astuces : comment remettre le dentifrice dans le tube
• Le Fermier Jean me consulte!
• Prêts participatifs et capitaux propres
• Une prescription pour Vincent Lacroix
• Promesse d’ivrogne et régimes de retraite
• J’ai serré la main du demon
• Ne jamais vendre la demie indivise de la peau de l’ours
• Jamais deux sans trois, quatre ou cinq faillites!
• Chambre à louer, chauffée, meublée, située rue de Lorimier…
• Prêts participatifs et faillite : le doute subsiste-t-il?
• La Cour suprême valide les demandes formelles signifiées avant la faillite
Blogs 2011 – Le Blogue Edilex – Section Insolvabilité (available in French only)
• White Birch, la CSN et la manufacture de balais
• Indigné par les fiducies réputées
• Comment entrer dans le monde de la franchise par la petite porte…
• Boutique Jacob: le banquier avec un revolver est mal armé!
• La vue du Château Frontenac (Partie 2) : Les chantiers Davie
• La vue du Château Frontenac (Partie 1) : La Papetière White Birch
• Le «Flip d’actifs» et les ombres chinoises de l’insolvabilité (Partie 2)
• Le « Flip d’actifs » et les ombres chinoises de l’insolvabilité (Partie 1)
Other
• Make the rich pay, or the taxman’s attempts to have the outstanding taxes of insolvent taxpayers paid by their financial institutions, despite the lack of clear statutory provisions establishing such liability ( available in French only)
• “The Never Ending Story” (continued) of Goods and Services Tax Claims in Bankruptcy
• Supreme Court of Canada rules that the CRA has no claim on the GST component of a bankrupt’s accounts receivable
• Technical Update: Recent Developments in Canada Insolvency Law
• “Utilisation novatrice de certains recours des créanciers”, Canadian Institute, September 2002 (Author and lecturer)
• “Mise à jour sur l’insaisissabilité des REER”, Association québécoise des professionnels de la réorganisation et de l’insolvabilité, November 2001 (Author and lecturer)
• “Le super-séquestre : un mal nécessaire?”, Association canadienne des professionnels de l’insolvabilité, June 2001 (Author and lecturer)
• “Château d’Amos: municipal taxes the party is over”, with Mr. Denis St-Onge, Insolvency Institute of Canada, October 2000 (Lecturer)
• “Recours des ministères du Revenu en cas de faillite et d’insolvabilité”, Service de formation permanente du Barreau du Québec, Number 107, Colloque sur les récents développements en droit de la faillite (1998), May 1998 (Author and lecturer)
• “Pouvoirs spéciaux des ministères du Revenu en matière de recouvrement”, Young Bar Association of Montreal, October 1997 (Author and lecturer)
• “Enforcement of Foreign Judgments”, edited by Dennis Campbell with the Center for International LegalStudies, LLP Limited, 1997 (Co-author)
• “Recours des ministères du Revenu en cas de faillite et d’insolvabilité”, April 1996 and Annual Congress 1997(Author and lecturer)
• “Recours des ministères du Revenu en cas de faillite et d’insolvabilité”, The Law and You, McGill University, March 1996 (Author and lecturer)
• “Prêteurs, couronne et syndics : conflits et priorités”, Canadian Institute, November 1995 (Author and lecturer)
• “Mise sous séquestre”, Industry Canada – Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy, October 1995 (Author and lecturer)
• “Les priorités de la couronne : évolution récente”, Canadian Bar Association, December 1994 (Author and lecturer)
• “La réalisation des sûretés en cas de faillite et d’insolvabilité”, Young Bar Association of Montreal, October 1994 (Author and lecturer)
• “Bilan jurisprudentiel 1993”, Canadian Insolvency Practitioners Association, October 1993 (Author and lecturer)
• “Planification préventive : la protection de l’actif face aux droits des créanciers”, Association de planification fiscale et financière (Fiscal and Financial Planning Association), Québec and Montréal, May 1993 (Author and lecturer)
• “Fournisseurs, locateurs d’immeubles et créanciers non garantis : droits et recours en vertu de la Loi sur la faillite et l’insolvabilité”, Canadian Institute, December 1992 (Author and lecturer)
• “La réalisation des sûretés en cas d’insolvabilité”, Insight Educational Services, May 1992 (Author and lecturer)
• “La cession d’un REER en garantie”, Le bulletin du comité de la PME de l’Ordre des comptables agréés du Québec, March 1992 (Author)
• “The New Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act”, Borden, DuMoulin, Howard, Gervais, August 1991 and October 1992 (Co-author)
• “Attacking Foreign Assets”, edited by Dennis Campbell with the Center for International Legal Studies, LLOYD’S of London Press Ltd., 1992 (Co-author)
Activities and Affiliations
• Member, Québec Bar
• Member, Canadian Bar Association
• Member, Insolvency Institute of Canada since 1998
• Member, Canadian Bar Association, National Section – Bankruptcy and Insolvency
• Affiliate member, Québec and Canadian Associations of Insolvency and Restructuring Practitioners
• Member, Canadian Turnaround Association
Presentations
• Lecturer, ”Certains droits des autorités fiscales et impacts dans les dossiers de restructuration”, annual conference of Conseil des syndics de faillite, November 20 and 21, 2012 (in French only)
• Lecturer, ”Attaques collatérales contre l’ordre de collocation de faillite”, colloques sûretés, insolvabilité et restructuration, Laval University , October 26, 2012 (in French only)
• Lecturer, “Château d’Amos; municipal taxes the party is over”, with Mr. Denis St-Onge; Insolvency Institute of Canada; October 2000
• Lecturer, “Les amendements récents à la Loi sur la faillite et l’insolvabilité et à la Loi de l’impôt sur le revenu”, Association Québécoise des Professionnels de l’insolvabilité, May 2000
• Lecturer, “Colloque sur les réclamations des ministères du Revenu”, Association Québécoise des professionnels de l’insolvabilité, April 1999
• Lecturer, “Les fiducies présumées et les réclamations de biens des ministères”, Canadian Bar Association, Quebec, February 1999
• Lecturer, “Les Droits Respectifs des Créanciers et des Débiteurs en cas de faillite et d’insolvabilité”, Association Québécoise de la Franchise, with Ms. Solange Tremblay, trustee, March 1993
• Lecturer, “Les créanciers garantis et non garantis et la Loi sur la faillite et l’insolvabilité”, with Mr. Louis Gouin, Canadian Bar Association, Quebec Division, Business Law Section September 1992
• Lecturer, “La réalisation des sûretés en cas de faillite”, Insight Educational Services, October 1990
• Lecturer, “Le crédit, les sûretés et la faillite”, Association de crédit Crecoplan, May 1990
Areas of Focus
Practices
• Asset Finance and Lending
• Creditor Composition and Assignment Agreements, Schemes of Arrangement and Voluntary Arrangements
• Cross-Border Restructuring Matters
• Insolvency Proceeding Financing
• Debtor Representation
• Financial Services Litigation
• Fraud, Corruption and Asset Recovery
• Independent Advice to Directors of Distressed Companies
• Insolvency Administrators, Monitors, Receivers, Trustees and Other Officeholders
• Insolvency Litigation and Enforcement
• Investment Funds and Income Trusts
• Out-of-Court Restructurings and Work-outs
• Pensions and Benefits in Transactions and Reorganizations
• Protective Shield Proceedings
• Representation of Government and Quasi-Government Organizations
• Restructuring, Insolvency and Bankruptcy
• Securities and Shareholder Litigation
• Supplier and Customer Representation in Restructurings
• Tax Related Insolvency Transactions and Reorganizations
• Litigation and Dispute Resolution in Canada
Industry Sectors
• Agency and Trust Services
• Aviation and Aerospace
• Biotechnology Companies
• Commercial Banks
• Construction and Engineering
• Contractors and Suppliers
• Distressed Asset Investors
• Financial Institutions
• Industrial Production
• Mining
• Professional Services
• Retail
• Transportation, Freight and Logistics
Education
• École du Barreau du Québec, 1980,
• Université de Montréal, 1979, LLL
Admissions and Qualifications
• Québec, 1980
Languages
• English
• French