Lynne Kassie, Ad. E.

Lawyer, Partner and Head of the Family Law Group

Expertise

Family Law

Language

English, French

Office

Montréal

 

Lynne Kassie is a partner and the head of our Family Law Group. Her practice includes all aspects of matrimonial and family law, as well as related fields of civil law, including succession and protective supervision. She focuses her practice on complex litigation and on cases involving high-net-worth issues, division of property, and other financial issues related to business interests and trusts.

Lynne also advises parties prior to their marriage or cohabitation, and has extensive experience in the preparation of cohabitation agreements, prenuptial agreements and marriage contracts.

She has considerable skills in negotiation and mediation proceedings, and appears regularly before the Superior Court and Court of Appeal. She has also appeared before the Federal Court and the Supreme Court of Canada on several occasions.


Honours

  • Recipient of the Quebec Bar’s Christine-Tourigny Award (2022)
  • Named Lawyer Emeritus by the Quebec Bar (2007)
  • American College of Trial Lawyers:
    • President of the Quebec Province Committee (2003–2004)
    • Named a Fellow (1998)
  • Best Lawyers in Canada directory:
    • Recognized as a family law expert (since 2006)
    • Montreal Lawyer of the Year in Family Law (2021, 2018, 2016, 2009)
  • Lexpert legal directory: rated as a leading family law practitioner for several years
  • Benchmark Litigation directory: rated as a “Litigation Star” for Family and Matrimonial Law
  • Rated “AV Preeminent” by the Martindale-Hubbell legal directory for her ethical standards and legal ability


Associations

  • Director of Éducaloi (2007–2008)
  • Quebec Bar:
    • Director (1999–2001)
    • President of the Comité de la journée du Barreau (1988–1990)
    • Served on several committees
  • Montreal Bar:
    • Bâtonnière (1999–2000)
    • Conference of Former Bâtonniers
    • Presided over the Family Law Division of the Liaison Committee with the Superior Court
  • Family Law lecturer at McGill University (1997–1998)
  • President of the Lord Reading Law Society (1989–1990)
  • Served on several of the Canadian Bar Association’s committees
  • Governor and Governor Emeritus of the Quebec Bar Foundation


Publications and Conferences

Lynne is a sought-after speaker and writer, whose recent articles include:

  • “Faith in Family Law, a Practical Approach”, La révision en droit de la famille, Les Éditions Thémis Inc., 2020
  • “The Evolution of a Family Law Lawyer and Family Law”, Lecture at Concordia University, Faculty of Arts and Science, Jurist-in-Residence 2020–2021 Conference Series
  • “Can We Trust the Trust? Revisiting the Consequences”, conference before the Jewish Community Foundation of Montreal, June 2014
  • “La saisie avant jugement de biens en fiducie dans le cadre d’une action en divorce” (Seizure before judgment in divorce proceedings), Canadian Bar Association luncheon, November 2012
  • “Les faits sur l’union de fait: l’affaire Éric c. Lola” (The facts on common-law relationships: the Eric v. Lola case, with Benjamin Prud’homme), annual conference of the Association de planification fiscale et financière, October 2012


Community Involvement

A lifelong Montrealer, Lynne has deep roots in her community, as evidenced by some of the many positions she has held:

  • Combined Jewish Appeal (CJA):
    • Director (2002–2006)
    • President, Elan Division (1988–1990)
  • Director of the Jewish General Hospital (2001–2007)
  • President of the Jewish Rehabilitation Hospital (1988–1990)
  • Former Director and Secretary of the Executive Committee of the McGill University Alumni Association
  • Member of the McGill Friends of the Library board


Education

Bachelor of Civil Law (B.C.L.)

Université de Montréal

1975

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)

McGill University

1972


Call to Bar

Quebec

1976