BAR ADMISSION
Quebec Bar, 2013
EDUCATION
LL.B./B.C.L. (magna cum laude), McGill University, 2013 (Nathan Cotler Prize in Humanitarian Law; Fern Gertrude Prize in Jurisprudence)
M.A. (philosophy, summa cum laude), Université de Montreal, 2009
B.A. (Political Science, with honours), University of Victoria, 2006
DISTINCTIONS
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in Canada, 2025 edition, as a “Lawyer to Watch” in corporate and commercial litigation
William Colish
Partner
William Colish joined Alexeev Attorneys in 2023 after practicing for several years with a leading litigation firm in Montreal. He also clerked for the Honourable Justice Rothstein and Brown of the Supreme Court of Canada, and for the Honourable Justice Léger of the Québec Court of Appeal.
During his studies, William was editor-in-chief of the McGill Law Journal and senior editor of the McGill Journal of Sustainable Development Law and Policy. He has been an intern with the Human Rights Watch in New York. He also gave frequent lectures at McGill University’s Law Faculty and occasionally at the University of Montreal’s Law Faculty.
Parallel to his studies, William spent 17 years as a naval officer in the Naval Reserve and as a watch officer, where he was notably qualified to act as a judge presiding summary trials.
PRACTICE AREAS
Civil and commercial litigation
Class action
Public and constitutional law
Personal injury
Medical liability
Insurance law
REPRESENTATIVE WORK
A.B. v. Attorney General of Québec et al: representation of the plaintiffs in an authorized class action concerning the flagrant inadequacies of youth protection services in Nunavik and for Métis and First Nations people living off-reserve and regarding the systemic failure to provide essential services to Nunavik children and families.
Picard v. Ville de Gatineau: representation of the plaintiff in an authorized class action concerning the imprisonment of unhoused people for non-payment of fines.
Doan v. Clearview AI: representation of the plaintiff in an authorized class action concerning the violations of privacy rights created by the defendant company’s massive online collection of facial photographs of Quebecers.
Lindsay v. Attorney General of Quebec and al: representation of the plaintiff in an authorized class action concerning sexual and physical abuses suffered by children placed in youth centres under provincial youth protection legislation.
A.D. v. Attorney General of Québec et al: representation of the plaintiff in a proposed class action concerning sexual and physical abuses suffered by children placed in reception centres under federal young offenders legislation.
Dandy v. Attorney General of Québec et al: representation of the plaintiff in an authorized class action regarding sexual and physical abuses, as well as discriminatory behaviours such as the prohibition to use one’s language or culture, suffered by children of First Nations, Inuits and Métis placed in youth centres under provincial or federal youth protection legislation.
Moushoom v. Attorney General of Canada: a member of the national consortium of lawyers that obtained the largest settlement in Canadian history for First Nations children and families, namely $23.3 billion.
Reference re Genetic Non-Discrimination Act: a member of the legal team that successfully defended the constitutionality of the Genetic Non-Discrimination Act before the Supreme Court of Canada.
Rosenbloom v. Blouin: representation of the seller of a building against a promisor-buyer who was reneging on his promise, he succeeded by obtaining one of the largest punitive damages against an individual in Quebec.
Schneider v. CHSLD Herron: a member of a team of lawyers who, in this class action representing elderly residents against a CHSLD, obtained in record time, a settlement providing for the defendant’s acquiescence to the payment of almost the entire claim.
Professional liability: he has successfully defended (at trial and on appeal) various lawyers facing claims from former clients or third parties.
REPRESENTATIVE WORK
A.B. v. Attorney General of Québec et al: representation of the plaintiffs in an authorized class action concerning the flagrant inadequacies of youth protection services in Nunavik and for Métis and First Nations people living off-reserve and regarding the systemic failure to provide essential services to Nunavik children and families.
Picard v. Ville de Gatineau: representation of the plaintiff in an authorized class action concerning the imprisonment of unhoused people for non-payment of fines.
Doan v. Clearview AI: representation of the plaintiff in an authorized class action concerning the violations of privacy rights created by the defendant company’s massive online collection of facial photographs of Quebecers.
Lindsay v. Attorney General of Quebec and al: representation of the plaintiff in an authorized class action concerning sexual and physical abuses suffered by children placed in youth centres under provincial youth protection legislation.
A.D. v. Attorney General of Québec et al: representation of the plaintiff in a proposed class action concerning sexual and physical abuses suffered by children placed in reception centres under federal young offenders legislation.
Dandy v. Attorney General of Québec et al: representation of the plaintiff in an authorized class action regarding sexual and physical abuses, as well as discriminatory behaviours such as the prohibition to use one’s language or culture, suffered by children of First Nations, Inuits and Métis placed in youth centres under provincial or federal youth protection legislation.
Moushoom v. Attorney General of Canada: a member of the national consortium of lawyers that obtained the largest settlement in Canadian history for First Nations children and families, namely $23.3 billion.
Reference re Genetic Non-Discrimination Act: a member of the legal team that successfully defended the constitutionality of the Genetic Non-Discrimination Act before the Supreme Court of Canada.
Rosenbloom v. Blouin: representation of the seller of a building against a promisor-buyer who was reneging on his promise, he succeeded by obtaining one of the largest punitive damages against an individual in Quebec.
Schneider v. CHSLD Herron: a member of a team of lawyers who, in this class action representing elderly residents against a CHSLD, obtained in record time, a settlement providing for the defendant’s acquiescence to the payment of almost the entire claim.
Professional liability: he has successfully defended (at trial and on appeal) various lawyers facing claims from former clients or third parties.