Nicolas Besner joined Lister Beaupré in 2023 as an associate lawyer and trained family mediator. He practices in family law, civil litigation, and wills and estates.

Having grown up on a dairy and maple syrup farm in rural Eastern Ontario, Nicolas has strong ties to his roots and identifies as a proud French Canadian. Nicolas has an innate ability to connect and empathize with people from all backgrounds and provides legal services in both official languages.

Nicolas is a graduate of the University of Ottawa, having completed his Bachelor of Arts degree in 2018 with a specialization in Philosophy and a minor in Psychology. He then worked solely in family law throughout his completion of his Juris Doctor through the French common law program at the University of Ottawa. After graduating in 2022, he joined a local firm for his articling term in family law where he also learned more on the practice of civil litigation and wills and estates.

Beyond his work as a lawyer, Nicolas has also had extensive training in family mediation. These include over one hundred hours of INSIGHTful Mediation Training, as well as certifications from NavOn in preparing Voice of the Child Reports and in conducting Child-Inclusive Mediation, which are both aimed at prioritizing children’s views, needs, and interests during a family’s separation.

Outside of the legal field, Nicolas serves as a reservist in a combat role with the Canadian Armed Forces and is also dedicated member of the Rotary Club of Ottawa. It is there that Nicolas developed a passion for volunteering for local fundraising efforts, specifically those with a focus on his local community’s wants and needs, such as eradicating homelessness or offering support for women and children in need.

In his spare time, Nicolas is an avid practitioner of mixed martial arts and enjoys cooking from scratch, reading books on history and ethics, engaging in jam sessions, participating in online or tabletop gaming, and helping on his family’s farm.

Memberships and Affiliations:
County of Carleton Law Association
Ontario Association of Family Mediators
Association des juristes d’expression française de l’Ontario
Rotary Club of Ottawa

Education
2022 – Juris Doctor – Université d’Ottawa
2018 – BA, spécialisation en philosophie et mineure en psychologie – Université d’Ottawa

You can reach Nicolas at 613-234-2500 or nicolas@listerlawyers.com.