Benoit M. Duchesne, a partner in Gowling WLG's Ottawa office, has been appointed Prothonotary of the Federal Court of Canada.
As full judicial officers, Prothonotaries exercise many of the powers and functions of Federal Court judges. Their duties generally include case management, interlocutory motion hearings, and mediations. They can also conduct trials for claims of $100,000 or less.
Prothonotaries reside in major urban centres across the country, where they preside over each of the Court's weekly motions courts, and travel as needed. Appointments to the position are made by the Governor in Council, on the recommendation of the Minister of Justice.
"I wish Prothonotary Duchesne every success in his new role. I know he will serve Canadians well as a member of the Federal Court," said the Hon. David Lametti, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, who made the announcement in Ottawa on March 28.
"While we will certainly miss Benoit's many contributions to Gowling WLG, we are very proud that one of our own has been offered this opportunity, and we wish him all the best in future," said Wayne Warren, managing partner of the firm's Ottawa office.
Benoit, who is fluent in English and French, practiced primarily in civil and commercial litigation, administrative law litigation, bankruptcy and insolvency litigation, and insurance defence litigation.
He is called to the Bar in Quebec and in Ontario, and has argued at all levels of court in both provinces, at the Federal Court, the Federal Court of Appeal, the Supreme Court of Canada, and before numerous administrative tribunals. He is recognized by Best Lawyers in Canada and the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory for his excellence in corporate commercial litigation.
Outside of his legal practice, Benoit was a part-time civil procedure professor in the University of Ottawa's Canadian Law Program.