Hugo-Pierre Gagnon

Hugo-Pierre (HP) is a partner in the Business Law Group of our Montréal office. His practice is largely focused on M&A, corporate finance, joint ventures and strategic business transactions.

He serves clients from various industries and sizes including pension & sovereign funds, private equity players, emerging and high growth companies, multinationals, listed issuers, as well as technology, pharmaceutical, food & health product, entertainment and electric vehicle (EV) related businesses.

HP also regularly advises private and public sector pension plans in their direct and indirect investment activity in Canada and abroad, and is a key contact in our eMobility and EV supply chain practices having represented in 2023 SK On CO., Ltd. in an $1.2 billion investment with Ford and EcoPro BM to build a cathode active materials (CAM) manufacturing facility in Bécancour, Québec.

Over the course of his career, HP has led numerous marquee mandates, including working two years in a row on the biggest private equity buyout deals in Canada’s history, namely the $5.2 billion recapitalization of GardaWorld by BC Partners in 2019 (Lexpert’s 2020 Private Equity Deal of the Year), the $5.125 billion recapitalization of GFL Environmental led by BC Partners and Teachers in 2018, and the launch of QuadReal Property Group in 2015-2018. HP also has significant experience in large corporate debt and equity restructurings, including the Cirque du Soleil and Homburg Invest CCAA proceedings and the Aveos out-of-court workout.

Recognized as a Lexpert Rising Star in 2021 and by Best Lawyers Canada in Corporate law and M&A in 2024 and 2025, HP has co-authored and continually updates since 2009 a chapter on M&A in a Québec-based legal work (JurisClasseur: Droit des sociétés, LexisNexis). He also presents on developments and trends in the corporate landscape. HP obtained a Certificate in Mining Law from the Osgoode Hall Law School of York University, a professional training program designed to provide practical knowledge and skills on the resolution of complex ownership, regulatory, contractual, environmental and legal issues arising in the mining industry. HP previously practiced as a foreign counsel at a leading Brazilian firm, where his practice was focused on project finance within the mining, oil and gas and infrastructure industries.


Awards and Recognition

  • Recognized in Corporate Law; Mergers and Acquisitions Law (2024-2025)

    —Best Lawyers in Canada
  • Recognized in Finance and M&A (2022)

    —Lexpert Special Edition
  • Recognized as a Rising Star (2021)

    —Lexpert Rising Stars

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

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