Background

Sylvie Lalonde is an Associate in the Ottawa office and is a member of the Corporate Commercial Group. She is the Regional Leader (Ottawa) of Borden Ladner Gervais LLP’s Not-for-Profit Group. Sylvie graduated from the University of Ottawa in 1999 with a Bachelor of Laws (French Common Law Section) and a Bachelor of Social Sciences in 1996. She was called to the Ontario Bar in 2001. Sylvie is fluently bilingual and practises in both official languages.

Areas of Practice

• Charitable, not-for-profit and public organizations (including hospitals, museums, universities and colleges)
• Health care institutions and services (corporate/commercial and privacy matters)
• Corporate/commercial law
• Corporate Governance
• Privacy

Professional Experience

• Advises organizations concerning matters such as:
  • Legal issues relevant to the sector in which the client operates including specific legislation dealing with not-for profit organizations, charities, hospitals, colleges and trustees;
  • Legal issues specific to Health Care Institutions such as patient consent and capacity, ethics and implementation and review of internal policies;
  • Incorporation, organization and ongoing management of corporate law matters, including supplementary letters patent, by-laws, board policies (e.g. codes of conduct, conflict of interest policies, policies on nominations and elections, members’ agreements, etc.);
  • Fiduciary duties and governance concerns of directors and officers;
  • General contract drafting and review;
  • Confidentiality and Privacy legislation issues, such as compliance with the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act, and the Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2000; and
  • Strategic alliances in the non-profit sector.

Professional and Community Activities

• Director and Vice-President of Les services à l’enfance Grandir ensemble
• Former Director of The OutCare Foundation (2010-2011)
• Former Director and Secretary of Ryans’ Well Foundation (2004-2006)
• Member of the Canadian Bar Association
• Member of the Regroupement des gens d’affaires (RGA)
• Member of the Association of French Speaking Jurists of Ontario (AJEFO)

Publications

• “What You Need to Know About Continuing Under the New Canada Not-for-Profit Corporations Act" (Winter 2011).
• “Bill C-4 – Top Ten Things You Should Know About the New Canada Not-For-Profit Corporations Act” (Summer 2009).
• “Structuring the Expansion of the Activities of a (Non-charitable) Not-for-profit Organization” (Fall 2006).
• “Minutes of Meetings Should be Carefully Kept” (Winter 2003).