Bio

A distinguished lawyer whose reputation stretches beyond Quebec and Canada, Andre Ryan is a partner in BCF’s Litigation and Governance groups. A commercial law practitioner, André advises clients on commercial litigation, corporate governance, media relations, and crisis management, as well as on the negotiation of national and international strategic agreements and partnerships. He regularly advises boards of directors of public, private, and governmental organisations. A litigation lawyer, André has acquired special expertise representing parties before commissions of inquiry, defending class actions, and advising in matters of shareholders disputes. He acts before civil and common law courts, and in arbitrations and mediations. He conducts and participates in internal investigations. He is also an accredited commercial mediator. His services are called upon by foreign companies seeking to set up operations in Canada, particularly with respect to foreign investment authorisation,and by local companies wanting to expand globally. From 2013 to 2015, André chaired the Meritas network, a group of 7,500 lawyers in 95 countries. During this time he made a number of presentations on legal developments in an era of globalization in Asia, Europe, Latin America and North America. In 2017, he was appointed "Fellow" of the American College of Trial Lawyers, a prestigious title reserved for less than 1% of lawyers. Previously a member of BCF’s Board of Directors, André has also been head of BCF’s Litigation group from 2013 to 2020. He is co-head of the firm’s Class Actions Defence team. He is also Chairman of the Le Devoir daily newspaper’s Board of Directors since 2017.