Fiset Legal is a law firm and notary office with a specialized practice in divided co-ownership in Montreal.
When asked about what led to the creation of Fiset Legal, Mr. Sébastien Fiset shared his journey.
As a young man, Mr. Fiset never considered pursuing law or becoming a lawyer. On his mother’s recommendation, he thought about becoming an engineer, though he didn’t know what engineers did, or following in his father’s footsteps to become a doctor. Deep down, Mr. Fiset always wanted to do a job that he enjoyed and where he could continue learning every day.
For the love of learning, he wanted to earn three bachelor’s degrees: one in psychology, one in business administration, and one in law. He completed two out of three, in law and business administration, before his stepfather told him, “My daughter, if you want to marry her, maybe you should work one day.”
So, he began working and completed his bar internship at a firm with a practice in real estate. One of the lawyers at the firm became his mentor and inspired Mr. Fiset to become the lawyer he is today.
At the end of his internship, to deepen his knowledge and not lose the administrative side of his education, Mr. Fiset went to work for a management company while running his legal consulting company on the side.
Eventually, Mr. Fiset was approached by a boutique firm specializing in divided co-ownership and decided to follow that path. He was then surrounded by knowledgeable lawyers who educated him in the profession and prepared him for what was to come.
Proud of his convictions, Mr. Fiset left that firm and founded his own practice in 2009, Fiset Legal. He then put in writing what he believed made a good lawyer and decided to apply those principles in his practice.
In the beginning, it was just Mr. Fiset and his legal technician. He believed that as long as he provided good service and hired more professionals, he could take on more cases and grow the firm.
Over time and with effort, Mr. Fiset's ideas gradually took shape.
As Ms. Daina Joseph, a legal technician at Fiset Legal for over 11 years, says:
“I believe in Mr. Fiset’s vision. We often talk about what he wanted 11 years ago, and today I see that it has become a reality. When Mr. Fiset speaks, he speaks with such life. He has a way of explaining things that makes you believe him and draw you into his story. Over the years, I’ve truly seen his vision take shape.”
Today, Fiset Legal is a growing firm, now consisting of five (5) lawyers and one (1) notary, all specializing in real estate. Fiset Legal offers its clients luxury service and legally sound opinions.
Mr. Samuel Gaudet, a lawyer at Fiset Legal for over three years, says:
“I am proud to work at Fiset Legal, a law firm and notary office specializing in real estate founded by Mr. Sébastien Fiset, a renowned lawyer with extensive experience in this field. I was drawn to Fiset Legal because I was looking for a firm that valued collaboration, communication, and transparency. I was impressed by the quality and rigor of Mr. Fiset and his team, and I knew it would be an ideal place to develop my skills and knowledge in this field.
What I appreciate most about Fiset Legal is the stimulating work environment and the company culture focused on collaboration. Everyone is encouraged to give their opinion and share their ideas, creating a dynamic and motivating work atmosphere. Additionally, as specialists in real estate, we have the opportunity to work on a wide variety of projects and cases, allowing us to continuously develop our skills and expertise.
I think our clients choose Fiset Legal because we are a passionate team committed to providing the best possible legal services in real estate.
We have a solid reputation for our expertise and experience in this field, and we are known for our collaborative and client-oriented approach. We are committed to offering our clients effective and practical solutions while ensuring that their needs are at the center of all our actions.”
In the words of Mr. Gérald Denoncin, after reading Mr. Gaudet’s comments:
“What can I say after what Samuel has already said, except that I share his views on the Fiset Legal team and Mr. Fiset. Rigor, humanity, inventiveness, a focus on work quality, and the client’s best interests. I would add the privilege of being able to grow and learn under Mr. Fiset’s guidance and supervision, who is generous with his time and knowledge. An outstanding trainer. This is also what leads clients to choose the Fiset Legal team to guide them toward an optimal result, knowing that nothing is overlooked.”
Mr. Simon Oliva, a lawyer for over seven years at Fiset Legal, says:
“The advantage of working at a boutique firm is that we are specialized. When we practice in areas that require specialized knowledge, unless we work with colleagues who are also in a specialized firm, our knowledge gives us a head start in our cases.
I enjoy handling different kinds of cases, learning from each one, each being unique. In co-ownership, we touch on several areas of law, which makes the practice interesting.”
Moreover, Fiset Legal is a firm where everyone works collegially—three (3) assistants, three (3) legal technicians, six (6) lawyers and notaries, and one (1) intern. The work is carried out by the professional who can do it at the lowest cost for the client. This is also Mr. Fiset’s motto.
Mr. Fiset places great importance on choosing his employees to provide everyone with a healthy work environment where everyone can thrive:
“I look for people who are meticulous and have a joy for life. We spend a lot of time together in a week, so it’s important to me to have people who get along well, which allows for good communication. For me, that is more important than raw knowledge. That can be learned, but some qualities cannot be learned, and it’s important to have happy, calm, passionate people.”
In this regard, Mr. Fiset has indeed succeeded in making his team a second family. In talking with the team, what comes up the most is always the atmosphere and the friendliness that reigns among us.
Mr. Denoncin also mentions this very well:
“Fiset Legal is also a family, a group of passionate people, open and sensitive to others. Fiset Legal is, after all, a humane employer, with a lot of humor, but also a lot of care for its collaborators. It’s my one and only choice, and I have no regrets.”
In addition to being a boutique firm, Fiset Legal is also a family. Ms. Jessica Acevedo Martinez, a legal assistant, and Ms. Éloïse Botrel, a legal technician, also remind us that we spend more time in a week with our work colleagues than we do with our respective families, hence the importance of being well surrounded. What they like most about their job is being part of the Fiset Legal family, an employer who listens to its employees and values everyone’s well-being. As Ms. Martinez says, not all employers hold office lunches to celebrate employees’ birthdays.
Moreover, Ms. Martinez, a legal assistant for Mr. Fiset, is currently completing her legal technician degree and shares her experience:
“Mr. Fiset knows how to make someone who is learning feel at ease, and I don’t take that for granted; I appreciate it greatly. I appreciate Mr. Fiset immensely; he is very patient and truly wants me to become an excellent legal technician, not just for the firm but also for myself. I appreciate the confidence he gives me. He combines work with humor, so I don’t feel pressure and am happy to come to work in the morning. I am proud to say he is one of the best bosses I’ve had.”
Mr. Fiset’s role as a trainer and his emphasis on sharing knowledge are what most surprised Ms. Angie Pelonis, a notary:
“After 74 years of practice as a notary, it’s common to fall into a frantic pace and lack time for training. The first thing that struck me was the lunches to discuss jurisprudence and the training sessions that are offered naturally, but also the diversity of this training—many areas touch on co-ownership. I really feel like I’m in a law firm and notary office where law is the primary source of conversation.
The atmosphere is really calm and friendly, and I know that’s not the case everywhere; it really struck me.
Mr. Fiset inspires me to always give my 700%. I took his course, which allowed me to see his academic side, and I see it in his daily practice. It comes naturally to him to be a teacher and share his knowledge. His knowledge of the Code and the Law is remarkable. After 74 years, it’s something I aspire to have such in-depth knowledge. He is patient, kind, professional, courteous. The quality of work always comes first.”
Mr. Fiset, always eager to learn more but also to share his knowledge, tells us what led him to become a mediator, arbitrator, and lecturer at McGill University:
“I enjoy mediation, I believe in it. My goal is to find solutions; I like that. Think out of the box. It’s important for me to develop my practice and add new strings to my bow. It makes me happy to do several things in a day, for example, to mediate in the morning and teach my course at the university in the evening. Similarly, it makes me happy to teach; I like sharing my knowledge.
Arbitration is another way of doing things, and it leads us to see our role as lawyers differently, putting ourselves in the position of the judge who will listen to us. Being an arbitrator requires us to force ourselves to analyze each party's positions and determine, in law, what the solution is."
As for myself, I can only agree with my colleagues. About a year and a half ago, I called Me Fiset and left him a message; I was completing my bar exam, looking for an internship, and my research kept leading me back to your firm. A year and a half later, here I am, a lawyer at Fiset Legal.
We cannot say it enough—Me Fiset is an exceptional mentor. Day after day, Me Fiset impresses me with his knowledge and his analytical mind, which allows him to find solutions that serve both the client and the law. Me Fiset does not hesitate to challenge me and push me further. I am fortunate to learn from him and to be able to have discussions based on law.
The human aspect is also very important. Once again, I consider myself lucky to have a boss who listens, with whom we can laugh, and who knows how to make us feel comfortable. Furthermore, I am proud to say that I am part of the Fiset Legal team, and I am fortunate to work with the wonderful and amazing people I see every day at the office.
Finally, Fiset Legal is a firm where everyone is valued for what they bring to the team. The important role, or rather roles, that Ms. Heitiare Crawford plays are essential to the team:
"I could not describe what I do in just one word. I handle administration, reception, accounting, IT support, and training.
In fact, I could describe myself as a resource person for the team and the office. I think my colleagues know they can rely on me for any reason, at any time. It makes me happy to help them, and I will always be there for them.
Fiset Legal is my second family. I feel as comfortable at work as I do at home. I love my team, and I will continue to care for them as I did on the first day.
Me Fiset is a very generous, funny, and kind boss. It is clear every day that he cares about the well-being of his team. For all these reasons, I am happy to come to work every day."
To conclude this text, we asked Me Fiset to share what he sees as the biggest challenge in co-ownership and to offer some recommendations for the administrators, managers, and co-owners who will read this:
"For me, the biggest challenge in co-ownership is that our legal system in Quebec, even in 2023, allows buildings of poor quality to be constructed under the guise of a numbered company, for example, to avoid serving consumers and/or co-owners with enforceable guarantees. Therefore, the biggest challenge is to establish a system that protects buyers, ensuring that buildings are of better quality by prohibiting the use of the corporate veil to circumvent the enforcement of certain guarantees.
The best advice I could give to an administrator or manager is to consult and not make decisions on their own. Do you have a financial problem? Consult an accountant. Whatever the situation, it is important to consult a qualified professional, whether it be an accountant, an engineer, or a lawyer, for example.
For a co-owner, the best advice I could give is to communicate. Too often, co-owners waive their rights without even knowing it. The longer you wait, the less likely you are to succeed."
