Lawyer
Maître
William Desrochers
Me William Desrochers is a litigator interested in many types of cases. He is passionate about the law and is an intellectual, however he prefers being in the action. He is also very practical in his approach to complex situations. He regularly pleads before civil law courts, both at the trial and appeal levels.
A member of the Bar since 2012, Me Desrochers is originally from Warwick, Centre-du-Québec, where his family operates a dairy farm. He is a graduate of the University of Ottawa (LL.L. – magna cum laude). He was a partner in a law firm for 5 years before co-founding Virtulex lawyers in 2021.
Me Desrochers has developed a particular expertise in family law, contract law and civil liability. He has also pleaded cases in bankruptcy law. Me Desrochers also has experience in civil liability for sexual misconduct and is a Juripop partner lawyer in this regard. He excels in complex cases that involve several areas of law at the same time.
Me Desrochers is very honest with his clients; at the risk of sometimes displeasing them. He truly says what he thinks and only has the best interest of his clients at heart. His dedication and valuable advice make him an advocate of justice and a front-line player appreciated by all.
William Desrochers at a Glance
| Title | Lawyer, accredited mediator (family and small claims) and professor at the Quebec Bar School (École du Barreau du Québec) |
|---|---|
| Mediation | Accredited family mediator; accredited small claims mediator (Court of Québec) — mandates from the Mediation and Arbitration Service of the Quebec Ministry of Justice, district of Gatineau |
| Member of the Barreau du Québec | Since 2012 |
| Education | LL.L., University of Ottawa (magna cum laude) |
| Firm | Virtulex avocats, Gatineau (co-founder, 2021) |
| Courts | Superior Court, Court of Québec, Tribunal administratif du logement, Court of Appeal of Quebec |
| Practice areas | Family law and personal rights, civil and commercial litigation, civil liability, latent defects, successions, rental housing, bankruptcy, appeals, mediation |
| Languages | English and French |
| Area served | Gatineau and the Outaouais; clients from the Ottawa area with a case before Quebec courts |
| Contact | 819 743-2955 · william@virtulexavocats.com |
Courts and types of cases
Me Desrochers pleads at trial and on appeal in family law matters (divorce, custody and parenting time, child and spousal support, family patrimony), civil and commercial litigation (contracts, latent defects, civil liability, successions), rental housing law, bankruptcy and insolvency. He regularly appears before the Superior Court and the Court of Québec in the district of Gatineau, as well as before the Tribunal administratif du logement and the Court of Appeal of Quebec.
Mediation
As an accredited family mediator and accredited small claims mediator, Me Desrochers assists parties who wish to settle their dispute without a trial. In family matters, sessions are paid for by the government under the Family Mediation Program, up to the number of hours it provides. In small claims, he is regularly assigned mediation mandates by the Mediation and Arbitration Service of the Quebec Ministry of Justice for the district of Gatineau; this mediation is free for the parties. He may also act as a mediator in civil and commercial disputes.
Teaching and professional involvement
Me Desrochers is a professor and supervisor at the Quebec Bar School (École du Barreau du Québec). He is a member of the Barreau du Québec’s expert group on civil procedure, chair of the private practice committee of the Barreau de l’Outaouais and a governor of the Fondation du Barreau du Québec.
In the media
His cases have been covered by Radio-Canada, La Presse and Droit-inc. He regularly publishes legal articles on Quebec civil and family law.