Maxine Vincelette
Lawyer
Prior to joining Power Law at the firm’s founding, Maxine worked as a litigation associate in the Vancouver office of a national firm, where she also completed her articles.
Maxine has quickly gained considerable experience in civil litigation and strategy. She has also gained experience in matters concerning the interpretation and negotiation of intergovernmental agreements. Maxine began her career as a key member of a team working on the largest and most complex education rights trial since the adoption of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Maxine’s litigation experience includes trial management, extensive evidentiary record review, and lay and expert witness preparation.
She has acquired in-depth knowledge and experience in education law, including federal-provincial funding agreements, minority-language education guaranteed by legislation and Section 23 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, as well as language rights more generally. She assists institutional clients in securing capital and operational funding.
Maxine has appeared before the Supreme Court of Canada and the Supreme Court of British Columbia.
Maxine is passionate about human rights, including minority rights, the freedoms of expression and association, and public international law.
Maxine practices in English and French. She is fluent in Spanish.
Antes de incorporarse a Power Law en la conformación de la firma de abogados, Maxine trabajó en la oficina de Vancouver de una firma nacional como asociada de litigios, donde también completó su práctica profesional para obtener su título de abogada .
Maxine ganó rápidamente una considerable experiencia en litigios civiles y en estrategia jurídica. Comenzó su carrera como miembro clave de un equipo de abogados que litigaron un juicio sobre derecho a la educación de minorías lingüísticas francoparlantes fuera de Québec, el cual también fue el más grande y complejo litigio en materia de derechos educativos desde la adopción de la Carta Canadiense de Derechos y Libertades en 1982. La experiencia en litigio de Maxine incluye la preparación de actuaciones en procedimientos judiciales, la revisión de extensos registros de evidencia, y la preparación de testigos y peritos.
Ha adquirido un profundo conocimiento y una amplia experiencia en derecho a la educación y de la educación, incluyendo acuerdos de financiamiento que involucran al gobierno federal y gobiernos provinciales, educación en lenguas minoritarias garantizada por la legislación y sección 23 de la Carta Canadiense de Derechos y Libertades, así como los derechos lingüísticos de manera general. Asiste a clientes institucionales en la obtención de capital y financiación operacional.
Maxine ha comparecido ante la Corte Suprema de Canadá y la Corte Suprema de la provincia de Columbia Británica.
Maxine es una apasionada por los derechos humanos, incluyendo los derechos de las minorías, las libertades de expresión y asociación, y el derecho internacional público.
Maxine desarrolla su práctica profesional en inglés y francés. Además, habla español de manera fluida.
Presentation: “Analyse pratique de la cause de l’éducation en français en Colombie-Britannique : Comprendre l’impact sur le droit canadien”, PratiquO webinar, June 22, 2020 (with Christian Monnin, François Larocque, Jennifer Klinck, Marion Sandilands and Pierre Foucher)
Presentation: “La Constitution et les droits linguistiques au Canada : l’annexe de la Loi constitutionnelle de 1982”, November 15, 2019 (with Andrée-Anne Martel, Benoit Pelletier and François Larocque)
UDocs Training: “L’Inspecteur” (with Christiane Saad, Mark Power, Sonia Ouellette and Yves le Bouthillier)
Presentation: “Panel 1 – Droit linguistiques : Ontario et Nouveau-Brunswick”, 2018 AJEFO Annual Conference (with Michel Doucet, Christine Ruest Norrena and Pr Érik Labelle Eastaugh)
Presentation: “Teaching Culture and Religion: How Education can Foster Understanding of Diversity without imposing Ideologies”, CAPSLE (3rd April 2017) (with Jennifer Klinck)
Presentation : « Panel 1 – Les multiples façades de la Loi sur les services en français », 2017 AJEFO Annual Conference
Presentation: “Le droit au Yukon. Notions de bases et ressources”, Association franco-yukonnaise et Association des juristes d’expression française de la Colombie-Britannique (2016)
Book Review: “La réparation en common law et en equity by Denis Boivin” (2012-2013) 44 Ottawa LR 379
Presentation: “L’élargissement du concept d’obligation fiduciaire au profit des communautés de langue française en situation minoritaire dans leurs relations avec l’État”, Association francophone pour le savoir (“ACFAS”) conference, Université Laval, 9 May 2013 [unpublished]
Presentation: “Le statut du français devant les tribunaux en Colombie-Britannique”, POL 329F – Langue et Politique au Canada, Simon Fraser University (10 November 2013)
“L’élargissement du concept d’obligation fiduciaire au profit des communautés de langue française en situation minoritaire dans leurs relations avec l’État” (2012) 63 UNBLJ 368 (with Mark Power and François Larocque)
Conseil scolaire francophone de la Colombie-Britannique, Fédération des parents francophones de Colombie-Britannique et al v British Columbia (Education), 2016 BCSC 1764 (equivalency challenge to ministerial decisions as they relate to school funding)
Morasse v Nadeau-Dubois, 2016 SCC 44 (contempt of court for media statements, freedom of expression)
Yukon Francophone School Board, Education Area #23 v Yukon (Attorney General), 2015 SCC 25 (judicial impartiality, section 23 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms)
Association des parents de l’école Rose-des-vents et Conseil scolaire francophone de la Colombie-Britannique v British Columbia (Education), 2015 SCC 21 (challenge to ministerial decisions as they relate to the funding of school facilities)
Caron v Alberta, 2015 SCC 56 (constitutionality of unilingual legislation in Alberta)
Conseil scolaire francophone de la Colombie-Britannique et al v British Columbia, 2013 SCC 42 (law of reception, admissibility of evidence in civil proceedings in British Columbia)
During her legal studies, Maxine was awarded the Gowlings Prize for Excellence in Legal Writing (2013), the Language Rights Prize from the University of Ottawa, Common Law Section (2012), as well as the University of Ottawa Professional Training Award.
During her legal studies, Maxine served as research assistant to Professor Mark Touffayan, providing support in drafting a reference book on public international law, as well as a teaching assistant in a mandatory course on civil procedure.
Maxine was a member of the team representing the University of Ottawa at the Jean-Pictet Moot Court Competition in international humanitarian law (2011), and at the Charles-Rousseau Moot Court in International Public Law (2012).
During her undergraduate studies in international relations and international law at the Université du Québec in Montreal (UQAM), Maxine was actively involved with the Revue québécoise de droit international, notably as a member of its Editorial Board (2008-2009).
Maxine studied for six months at the Universidad nacional autónoma de Mexico in Naucalpan (Mexico State).
Association des juristes d’expression française de l’Ontario
Association des juristes d’expression française de la Colombie-Britannique
Put a combination of knowledge, experience, and creativity to work for you.
