Hugo-Pierre Gagnon

Hugo-Pierre Gagnon

Partner, Corporate

Key Contact: Electric Vehicle Supply Chain

Contact Information

hpgagnon@osler.com

tel: 514.904.5630

Office

Montréal

Bar Admission

Québec, 2006

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)

Language(s)

English, French

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 EV supply chain practice 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 2023, 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.

  • Parity Inc.

    Parity Inc. in its closing of a US$4 million loan facility from NY Green Bank

  • SK On

    SK On in connection with an $1.2 billion investment with Ford and EcoPro BM in the Province of Québec

  • Russell Reynolds Associates

    Russell Reynolds Associates in its acquisition of Kilberry

  • Lavergne Industries Inc.

    Lavergne Industries Inc. in its connection with a $20 million investment from Fondaction

  • Photonis Group

    Photonis Group in its agreement to acquire Telops

  • Nichi-Iko Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd

    Nichi-Iko Pharmaceutical Co. in its US$ 100 million sale to Ellimist Singapore Pte. Ltd.

  • Parity Inc.

    Parity in its $8 million financing from strategic investors

  • Bailey International

    Bailey International in connection with its acquisition of Hydrolico International

  • Advanced Personnel Management

    Advanced Personnel Management in their A$972 million IPO and listing on the ASX

  • IVC Nutrition Corporation

    IVC Nutrition Corporation in its acquisition of Vita Health Products Inc.

  • A+E Networks

    A+E Networks acquisition of a 35% stake in Reel One Entertainment

  • TRC Companies Inc.

    TRC in its acquisition of Quatric

  • ArcelorMittal

    ArcelorMittal Long Products Canada in its joint venture with Triple M Metal

  • TPG

    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

  • Madison Dearborn Partners

    Madison Dearborn Partners in its acquisition of the APM Group International

  • BC Partners

    BC Partners in the $5.2 billion recapitalization of GardaWorld

  • Smooch Technologies Holdings ULC

    Smooch Technologies Holdings ULC in its acquisition by Zendesk, Inc.

  • Vervent Audio Group

    Vervent Audio Group in its acquisition of Audio Plus Services & Plurison

  • Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec

    Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec in its $200 million investment in Plusgrade

  • GFL Environmental Inc.

    Investors led by BC Partners and Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan in the $5.125 billion recapitalization of GFL Environmental Inc.

  • Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec

    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

  • National Tire Distributors Inc.

    National Tire Distributors Inc. in its acquisition of Pneus Supérieurs Inc.

  • Sphinx Resources Ltd.

    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.

    Sphinx Resources Ltd. in its Private Placement for approximately $260,000

  • Find More

  • Lexpert Rising Stars: Recognized as a Rising Star (2021)
  • Lexpert Special Edition: Recognized in Finance and M&A (2022)
  • Best Lawyers in Canada: Recognized in Corporate Law; Mergers and Acquisitions Law (2024)

  • Volunteer Coach, Startup Montréal (formerly Montréal Inc.)

  • Barreau du Québec
  • Canadian Bar Association
  • Chambre de Commerce et d’Industrie Française au Canada
  • Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montréal

Previous 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

Publications

  • 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.