Description
William Hart practices in the area of corporate & commercial law. He is head of the firm’s France-Quebec practice group, an experienced team that provides business solutions adapted to the needs of European companies seeking to do business in Quebec.

His background in management and his experience as Vice President & General Counsel of a large Quebec-based public company for several years allow him to better understand and advise large clients, including several well-known French companies. 

William has a diversified practice with a concentration in mergers & acquisitions, where he works chiefly with French and American clients. He is also very active in the area of compensation agreements for senior executives in change-of-control situations, and has been involved in some of the most important acquisitions of the last few years in Quebec.

These fields of practice have also allowed William to develop a deep understanding of corporate governance issues which he regularly offers to his clients.

Associations & Achievements
2009 - Member of the Executive Committee of the French Chamber of Commerce in Canada (Member of Board of Directors since 1996)

2004 - 2008 - Chair of the French Chamber of Commerce in Canada (Member of Board of Directors since 1996)

Since 2004 - Co-founder of the Forum for Venture Capital and Private Equity of the French Chamber of Commerce in Canada

2004-2007 - Member of the Executive Committee of the Union of French Chambers of Commerce and Industry Abroad (UCCIFE), Paris, France

Since 1997 - President of the Association of Essec Business School Graduates in Canada

Since 1993 - Canadian Bar Association

Since 1993 - Jury Member – International Admission Center for French Management Studies

Presentations & Conferences
2011 “Corporate Governance in Canada and in France” (Workshop Luncheon – French Chamber of Commerce in Canada)

2007 - "Free Trade in North America: Myth or Reality?" (North America Forum of the French Industrial Club (NAFIC) – How to stay competitive in North America).

2006 - "Selling and Distributing Products and Services in Canada" (Ubifrance Conference on NAFTA, Paris).

2005 - "NAFTA - A few observations and comments ten years later (Forum on French investments in Canada organized by the Canadian Embassy and the Quebec Delegation in Paris)".

2004 - "Remuneration of CEO and Members of Board of Directors" (Federated Press).

2002-2004 - "Negotiation of Commercial Leases (Federated Press)"

1996 - "Corporate Governance" (L.P. Nolet Conference)

Representative mandates
Mergers & Acquisitions    
Acts on behalf of several major French companies in their acquisitions or legal affairs in Quebec, including Adecco, Somfy, Moulage Plastique de l’Ouest, Euralis and La Brosse & Dupont.

Compensation of senior management in change-of-control situations    
Frequently acts on behalf of senior executives in their employment and equity incentive arrangements in the context of acquisitions of large companies such as Yellow Pages, Bombardier Recreational Products, CCM/The Hockey Company, Van Houtte and Air Canada Technical Services (ACTS).