Gabriel Serena-Bélisle, B.C.L., LL.B, B.A.

Associate

Mr. Gabriel Serena-Bélisle graduated from the Faculty of Law at McGill University with a double bachelor’s degree in civil law and common law. He also holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from UQAM. He practiced law in a major national firm for about ten years before joining our team, where he now leverages his acquired expertise and experience with business, institutional, and entrepreneurial clients. His main focus is on restructuring and insolvency, commercial litigation, and corporate and transactional law.

In his restructuring and insolvency practice, Mr. Serena-Bélisle is called upon to represent and advise private and institutional creditors, commercial landlords, trustees, and debtor companies, particularly in construction, industrial, and retail sectors. He has worked on complex restructuring cases filed under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act, whether in the mining, agri-food, or real estate sector. He frequently handles bankruptcy or proposal files filed under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act, in which he has participated in establishing recovery and asset protection strategies, notably through the appointment of receivers or by taking extraordinary remedies such as opposability actions, safeguard orders, or pre-judgment seizures.

In litigation and contentious procedures, Mr. Serena-Bélisle focuses his practice on commercial disputes, disputes arising from business sales, shareholder conflicts, real estate and commercial leasing disputes, and mortgage remedies, particularly in construction. An experienced litigator, he has represented his clients and argued numerous cases before both the Superior Court and the Court of Appeal of Quebec. He has also been actively involved in a case heard on its merits before the Supreme Court of Canada. In 2024, Mr. Serena-Bélisle enhanced his practice and consolidated his knowledge by participating in the Barreau du Québec’s intensive seminar on advocacy techniques held at the Université de Sherbrooke. He is occasionally invited to share his experience and expertise with students and young professionals through university workshops and practical courses on examination and cross-examination techniques.

Additionally, Mr. Serena-Bélisle works with and supports his clients in corporate and transactional cases, corporate restructurings, business purchases and sales, business transfers, or minority shareholder buyouts. He has overseen several commercial transactions in recent years, whether in the industrial or manufacturing sector, retail, or real estate. He also advises his clients on drafting and negotiating shareholder agreements, as well as on taking and publishing securities and other guarantees.

Lastly, Mr. Serena-Bélisle has considerable experience in real estate law, divided co-ownership, and commercial leasing, following which he has notably been sought for drafting and negotiating numerous commercial leases, whether for institutional landlords, private developers, or individuals.

Involved in his native region with various organizations as a volunteer or board of directors’ member, he also serves as a counselor and member of the executive council of the Barreau d’Arthabaska. Mr. Serena-Bélisle stands out for his human and creative side, his analytical and writing skills, as well as a sincere desire to work as a team with his clients, enabling him to establish personalized relationships and strategies adapted to their needs.