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Québecor is seeking a permanent injunction against Juste pour rire in the Superior Court of Québec

Fasken
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Overview

Client

Québecor Média inc.

Fasken represented Québecor Média, a media empire based in Quebec, in complex commercial and contract litigation in connection with the process for the sale of Juste pour rire/Just for laughs, an entertainment company centred on Montréal’s Juste pour rire festival, the most well-known humour festival in the world.

In the wake of a sex scandal surrounding Gilbert Rozon, the founder and majority shareholder of Juste pour rire, that arose out of the #MeToo movement, Juste pour rire undertook an urgent sale process. Québecor wanted to ensure that Juste pour rire could not be sold without its consent and therefore filed an injunction application in the Superior Court of Québec. The media empire argued that there was a right of first offer and first refusal arising out of a partnership agreement signed in 2012. Québecor cited its right to receive an offer from Juste pour rire before any negotiations with third parties and to exclusive negotiations.

The process initially led to an interim settlement that enabled our client, Québecor, to negotiate exclusively and to receive an offer. Extremely urgent proceedings were then brought in the Superior Court of Québec to determine the extent of Québecor’s rights.

This case has received extensive media coverage as a result of the allegations of sexual assault and harassment made against Gilbert Rozon, who is famous as the founder of Juste pour rire.

A Fasken team led by Alain Riendeau and including Vincent Cérat Lagana, Christine Provencher and Camille Duguay represented Québecor in this matter.

Team

  • Alain Riendeau, Partner, Montréal, QC, +1 514 397 7678, ariendeau@fasken.com
  • Vincent Cérat Lagana, Partner, Montréal, QC, +1 514 394 4520, vcerat@fasken.com
  • Christine Provencher, Partner, Montréal, QC, +1 514 397 7465, cprovencher@fasken.com
  • Camille Duguay, Associate, Montréal, QC, +1 514 397 7599, cduguay@fasken.com