Education
- Executive MBA, McGill University-HEC (2012)
- Quebec Bar (1995)
- LL.B. / B.C.L., McGill University (1994)
- B.A. (Political Science), Université de Montréal (1990)
Practice Area
- Business law
- Mergers and acquisitions
- Technology transactions and licenses
- Compliance / governance (public and private companies)
- International development and operations outside Quebec
- Financing
Implications and Associations
- New York Bar (1995)
- Massachusetts Bar (1994)
Attentive to the needs of the client
Francis Harvey is a versatile and experienced lawyer with a practical mindset focused on achieving results for his clients. An accomplished negotiator, his experience as a business executive and in-house counsel allows him to approach legal issues with an eye toward their commercial impact on the business. “Legal considerations are critically important, but they are not what makes businesses grow“, he says. “What makes them grow is their ability to take risks. Lawyers have to respect that.“
Experience abroad
A lawyer trained in business and commercial law, he specializes in the pharmaceutical, technology, manufacturing and export sectors. Francis also practiced law in Southeast Asia for a number of years, where he observed the opportunities available to companies diversifying their markets and sources of supply. These opportunities create risks, but his experience allows him to identify them and ways to avoid these risks.
Technology and risks
Some industries are evolving faster than others, but there is no doubt that technology has given companies a jolt and put more pressure on risk management, says Francis. “Intangible assets such as goodwill, intellectual property and corporate reputation are more valuable than ever before. That’s why companies need to be more sensitive than ever to what consumers are saying. As attorneys, we need to be just as attentive to the company’s needs in this area.“