Hugo-Pierre (HP) is a Montréal-based partner in Osler’s Private Equity and Corporate groups, whose practice is largely focused on M&A, leveraged buyouts, carveout transactions, recapitalizations, joint ventures and other private equity and strategic transactions.
As a trusted advisor, HP works with private equity sponsors, portfolio companies, and strategic acquirers, as well as private and public sector pension plans, sovereign funds, emerging and high growth companies, multinationals, and listed issuers. He advises clients across a diverse and vast array of industries, including technology, pharmaceutical, food and health products, agribusiness, healthcare, entertainment, defence, security, dual use products, professional services, distribution, manufacturing, mining, infrastructure, electric vehicles (EV) and energy transition.
With his extensive cross-border expertise, HP regularly advises clients with their direct and indirect investment activity, and their business-critical transactional matters across Canada and abroad.
Over the course of his career, HP has led numerous marquee mandates for private equity sponsors, including working on the largest private equity buyout deals in Canada’s history in 2025, 2019 and 2018; namely, the $14 billion recapitalization transaction of GardaWorld by HPS in 2025, the $5.2 billion recapitalization of GardaWorld by BC Partners in 2019 (Lexpert’s 2020 Private Equity Deal of the Year); and the $5.125 billion recapitalization of GFL Environmental led by BC Partners and Teachers in 2018.
In addition, HP represented TPG in relation to its investment in Cirque du Soleil and advised Apollo and BC Partners in 2025 on their $8 billion acquisition of the Environmental Services business of GFL Environmental.
HP is also a key contact in Osler’s E-Mobility and EV Supply Chain practices, advising clients with respect to ZEV mandates and a full range of investment vehicles and agreements for EV, critical mineral and battery materials projects across Canada. In 2023, he represented SK On CO., Ltd. in a $1.2 billion investment with Ford and EcoPro BM to build a cathode active materials (CAM) manufacturing facility in Bécancour, Québec.
Recognized as a Lexpert Rising Star in 2021, and by Best Lawyers Canada in Corporate law and M&A from 2024 to 2026, HP has co-authored and, since 2009, regularly updated a chapter on M&A in a Québec-based legal work (JurisClasseur:Droit des sociétés, LexisNexis). He also presents on trends and developments in the corporate landscape.
HP obtained a Certificate in Mining Law from Osgoode Hall Law School of York University, a professional training program designed to provide practical knowledge and skills for the resolution of complex ownership, regulatory, contractual and legal issues arising in the mining industry. He previously practiced as foreign counsel at a leading Brazilian firm where his practice was focused on project finance within the mining, oil and gas, and infrastructure industries.
Representative Work
Select Private Equity Experience
- BC Partners in connection with the sale of a majority of its equity interest in Garda World Security Corporation
- Apollo Global Management, Inc. and BC Partners in connection with their agreement to buy GFL Environmental Inc.’s environmental services business valued at $8 billion
- TPG in its submission of a stalking horse bid for Cirque du Soleil’s assets in partnership with Fosun, Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec and Investissement Québec
- BC Partners in the $5.2 billion recapitalization of GardaWorld
- Investors led by BC Partners and Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan in the $5.125 billion recapitalization of GFL Environmental Inc.
- Exosens, a portfolio company of HLM Investment Partners, in its acquisition of LR Tech
- Photonis Group, a portfolio company of HLM Investment Partners, in its agreement to acquire Telops
- Bailey International, a portfolio company of EBSCO Capital, in connection with its acquisition of Hydrolico International
- IVC Nutrition Corporation, a portfolio company of Affinity Equity Partners, Goldman Sachs Growth Equity and Henderson Investment Corp, in its acquisition of Vita Health Products Inc. from KKR and Carlisle Group
- Advanced Personnel Management, a portfolio company of Madison Dearborn Partners, in their A$972 million IPO and listing on the ASX
- Madison Dearborn Partners in its acquisition of the APM Group International
- TRC Companies, then a portfolio company of New Mountain Capital, in its acquisition of Quatric
- Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec in its $200 million investment in Plusgrade, a portfolio company of TA Associates
- National Tire Distributors Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of American Tire Distributors, Inc, then a portfolio company of TPG Capital and Ares Management, in its acquisition of Pneus Supérieurs Inc.
- Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, in its equity investment in Atlantic Broadband, a subsidiary of Cogeco Communications Inc., in relation to the acquisition of the MetroCast cable systems
- TPG in its agreement to form a partnership and acquire the Cirque du Soleil
- Certain minority shareholders in relation to the sale of Amicus Attorney (Gavel & Gown Software) to Abacus Data Systems, Inc., a company which is part of Providence Equity Partners’ portfolio
- The minority shareholders of iBwave Solutions Inc., a portfolio company of Vicente Capital Partners, in relation to its sale to Corning Incorporated
- Atrium Innovations Inc. (a Quebec based global leader in natural health products) in connection with its acquisition by the Permira funds, the Fonds de solidarité FTQ and Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec in a transaction with an enterprise value of $1.1 billion (the largest private equity deal in Québec in 2014)
- iBwave Solutions Inc., in relation to the sale of a significant equity interest to Vicente Capital Partners, Farol Asset Management, LP and New York Common Retirement Fund
- Vector Capital Corporation, in its $77 million acquisition of 20-20 Technologies Inc.
- A major private equity fund, in connection with potential investments in junior mining companies with operations in Northern Quebec.
- Aveos Fleet Performance Inc., a portfolio company of KKR Private Equity Investors and Sageview Capital LLC, in its out-of-court US$875 million debt and equity restructuring
- KKR Private Equity Investors and Sageview Capital LLC in their US$975 million acquisition of the Air Canada Technical Services division from ACE Aviation Holdings Inc.
Other Select Transactional Experience
- SK On in connection with an $1.2 billion investment with Ford and EcoPro BM in the Province of Québec
- Novari Health Inc. in its acquisition by VitalHub Corp.
- FTI Consulting Inc., in its capacity as CCAA Monitor of Pelican International Inc. and Confluence Outdoor Inc.
- Nichi-Iko Pharmaceutical Co. in its US$100-million sale to Ellimist Singapore Pte. Ltd.
- A selling shareholder in Newen Studios’ acquisition of Johnson Production Group
- Russell Reynolds Associates in its acquisition of Kilberry
- A+E Networks acquisition of a 35% stake in Reel One Entertainment
- ArcelorMittal Long Products Canada in its joint venture with Triple M Metal
- Lavergne Industries Inc. in its connection with a $20 million investment from Fondaction
- Parity Inc. in its securing of $25 million of Series B Funding
- Parity Inc. in its closing of a US$4 million loan facility from NY Green Bank
- Parity in its $8 million financing from strategic investors
- Smooch Technologies Holdings ULC in its acquisition by Zendesk, Inc.
- Vervent Audio Group in its acquisition of Audio Plus Services & Plurison
- Scientific Games Corporation in its acquisition of Don Best Sports
- Sphinx Resources Ltd. in the creation of a new gold exploration company, Québec Precious Metals Corporation, and strategic investment by Goldcorp in such company
- Sphinx Resources Ltd. in its Private Placement for approximately $260,000
Awards and Recognition
-
Recognized in Corporate Law; Mergers and Acquisitions Law (2024-2026)
—Best Lawyers in Canada -
Recognized in Finance and M&A (2022)
—Lexpert Special Edition -
Recognized as a Rising Star (2021)
—Lexpert Rising Stars
Media Mentions
-
Osler News November 25, 2021
Hugo-Pierre Gagnon, Emily MacKinnon and Jennifer Thompson named 2021 Lexpert Rising Stars
Osler is proud to announce that Hugo-Pierre Gagnon, Emily MacKinnon and Jennifer Thompson have been recognized as Lexpert Rising Stars: Leading...
Read more
Community Involvement
- Volunteer Coach, Québec Tech (formerly Startup Montréal and Montréal Inc.)
- Co-president of Centraide Fundraising Campaign of the Montréal office since 2019
- Fundraising Committee Member, Pediatric Research Foundation, Montreal Wine Auction since 2023
Speaking and Writing
Speaking Engagements
Les étapes d’un contrat : droit civil vs common law (in French only)
Speaker, Montréal, Friday, October 18, 2019
Les différentes étapes du processus contractuel – Quelques distinctions importantes entre droit civil et common law (in French only)
Speaker, Montréal, June 6, 2018
Published Work
Quoted in Will three be the charm? Quebec makes third attempt to amend mining law, Financial Post, National Post, July 31, 2013.
Quoted in Pushing for Plan Nord, Canadian Lawyer, September 2012.
Robert Yalden and Hugo-Pierre Gagnon : « Fusion et acquisition d’une société par actions » in Stéphane Rousseau, dir., JurisClasseur Québec – Collection Droit des affaires – Droit des sociétés, Montréal, LexisNexis, 17/1.
Credentials
Education
- McGill University, LL.M. (Institute of Comparative Law)
- University of Ottawa, LL.L. (summa cum laude)
- Osgoode Hall Law School (Certificate in Mining Law)
Languages
- English
- French
Professional Affiliations
- Barreau du Québec
- Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montréal
