François Laurin Pratte

François is recognized for the rigour of his analysis, the quality of his legal arguments, and the strength of his writing. He brings this expertise to bear on high-stakes litigation matters, developing strategies and compelling arguments before trial and appellate courts alike. He also delivers complex legal opinions relied on by every one of the firm’s practice groups in their most demanding mandates.

On the litigation side, François works alongside the firm’s teams on significant trials and appeals, from shaping the overall strategy to building the case to be made. He has a particular knack for pinpointing the strongest arguments and presenting them in clear, well-structured, and persuasive written advocacy. Beyond the courtroom, he puts the same skills to work for every practice group at the firm, leading in-depth research projects and writing legal opinions on the most challenging questions, often in connection with major transactions and regulatory reviews.

François’s practice spans civil, commercial, administrative, and constitutional law. He works in particular on matters involving consumer protection, competition law, securities law, the distribution of financial products and services, professional regulation, corporate and commercial law, franchising, municipal law, private international law, and fundamental rights.

With training in both Quebec civil law and Canadian common law, François draws on this dual background whenever a mandate calls for it. He studied civil law at the Université de Montréal before earning his Juris Doctor from Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto, and went on to clerk at the Supreme Court of Canada for the Honourable Justice Clément Gascon. He is a member of the Barreau du Québec and the Law Society of Ontario.

The Xebec Group in its cross-border restructuring and eleven plans of arrangement under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act