With extensive environmental compliance experience, Julie provides end-to-end support for clients’ most complex transactions and projects

Julie Belley Perron is a partner in McCarthy Tétrault’s Business Law and Environmental Groups based in Montréal. A seasoned environmental and energy law practitioner, Julie provides clients with full-service support in all areas of environmental compliance, implementation of project development and management of environmental liabilities in merger and acquisition transactions.

She has considerable experience with project implementation, especially renewable energy (hydroelectric, wind power, solar, biomass, biogas and hydrogen) projects. She plays a key role at all stages of clients’ projects, including securing of key environmental permits.

Julie leverages her deep understanding of the environmental and energy sector to help clients anticipate risks, identify solutions and capitalize on opportunities. She pilots complex environmental due diligence review and addresses environmental liabilities encountered in the context of merger and acquisition transactions, for instance through the negotiation of environmental indemnities and remediation agreements.

Julie has previous experience as the director of legal affairs and operations with a large renewable energy producer, and this unique, client-side perspective allows her to deliver practical advice for clients with an understanding of their internal realities. She is also clients’ go-to advisor for risk management, environmental compliance, project development permits and contaminated land issues.

She is actively involved in various industry organizations, as a Member and director of the Association québécoise de la production d’énergie renouvelable (AQPER) where she is the President of both Wind and Hydro Committee; and Presenter and Co-Director, Cercles d’enrichissement (professional enrichment groups) of the Association des femmes en finance du Québec (AFFQ) and Member of the Comité Énergie et Environnement (energy and environment committee) of the Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec (FCCQ).

Julie graduated from the Université de Montréal in 2002 and was called to the Québec Bar in 2004.

Recent Transactions

• Acted for Triple M Metal in its joint venture with ArcelorMittal Long Products Canada to create Integrated Metal Recycling Inc
• Represented hydroelectric power station owners in their negotiations with Hydro-Québec and in obtaining or renewing their hydroelectric power leases with the government departments concerned.
• Conducted a due diligence review and provided specialized advice regarding the overall financing of some US $1.1 G, for Nemaska Lithium Inc., for its Whabouchi lithium mine and its electrochemical plan in Shawinigan.
• Acted in a 100 MW wind power project in the Montérégie (from its development phase to securing permits to construction and start-up).
• Acted in the modernization of the (26 MW) Bromptonville Biomass Cogeneration Plant (preparing the call for tenders, amending permits, signing of the new contract with Hydro-Québec and financing).
• Acted in a matter involving increasing by 16 MW the capacity of a biogas facility (from the complete impact study process, up to and including the obtaining of the decree, including a mediation with governmental authorities).