Bio

Francois Brais has developed a business law practice with a focus on serving the investment management industry. He regularly counsels asset and fund managers in connection with setting up new investment funds and ensuring compliance with applicable securities laws and regulations. François also frequently accompanies clients through mergers and acquisitions of investment management businesses, helping clients at all stages of the process, from the initial deal structuring to the post-closing integration of assets. Combining his business training to his legal practice, François proposes innovative solutions to clients’ challenges in an ever-changing competitive and heavily-regulated landscape. He has advised clients in connection with the establishment, offering and administration of several investment funds, whether retail mutual funds, commodity pools, pooled funds or hedge funds, investing in all types of asset classes, traditional and alternative, such as infrastructure, private equity, private lending, real estate and, more recently, cryptocurrency. Having been involved in drafting some of the registration rules that lead to the current regulatory environment for registered firms, François regularly helps new businesses through the registration process and helps established firms complying with a constantly-evolving regulatory regime. His deep understanding of all facets of the investment management industry has also led several investment management businesses to seek his advice in connection with their acquisitions, joint ventures or when auctioning themselves off to the highest bidder. François is one of the few lawyers in Canada to be recognized for his expertise in investment funds and asset management (or similar categories) by each of Lexpert, Chambers Canada, Best Lawyers and Who's Who Legal Canada.