François Painchaud

François Painchaud

Lawyer, Partner

Montreal

[javascript protected email address]
Tel. Montréal: 514 987-8895
Languages: English, French
Believe in what you do!

François Painchaud specializes in business law applied to key technology sectors such as Life Sciences and Information Technology. He is frequently involved in the drafting and negotiation of complex transactions related to technology transfers and joint ventures, as well as in commercial and corporate law, including creation of consortiums, venture capital, and mergers and acquisitions. He was named Lawyer of the Year in 2014 and 2018 – Information Technology in Montréal and in 2015 and 2019 – Technology Law, two categories of Best Lawyers. He was also named Technology Transfer Lawyer of the Year in Canada by the Corporate INTL Magazine Global Awards, and he has been a constant member of the Intellectual Asset Management‘s Leading 300 IP Strategists for over 10 years.

Called to the Québec Bar in 1986, François Painchaud has been a partner at ROBIC for more than 25 years. He is a member of the firm’s management committee and heads the Business Law group.

He serves on the board of directors or as corporate secretary of various private and public organizations operating in life sciences and other technology driven fields, including: Specialty Pharma Searchlight Pharmaceuticals Inc., CQDM – Consortium Québécois en développement du médicament, Neomed Institute, CATALIS Québec, and more. He also serves on the Board of charitable organizations such as the Cancer Research Society, La Mosaïque Foundation and the Canadian Louis Pasteur Foundation.

He is also a member of several business associations. He is past president of both the Licensing Executives Society International (LESI) and the LES USA & Canada Inc. Academically, he was a lecturer at McGill University for four years for the course entitled Complex Legal Transactions – Trade Secrets Law and Technology Transfers and lecturer in courses on business law at Concordia University’s MBA program. He has also been involved for several years as part of a licensing course on Trademark Law, jointly organized by the Intellectual Property Institute of Canada (IPIC) and McGill University.

François Painchaud is frequently solicited to give lectures in various areas of technology transfers and intellectual property in commercial transactions for several business groups and associations.

He also contributed to the annual update of the book Robic-Leger, Canadian Trade Marks Act Annotated and the drafting of Robic-Leger, Canadian Copyright Act Annotated, both published by Carswell. He regularly publishes articles in his fields of specialization.

  • Member of the Québec Bar (1986)
  • Bachelor of Civil Law (LL.B.), Université de Montréal (1985)
  • Certification: Certified Licensing Professional (CLP)
  • Association des diplômés en droit de l’Université de Montréal (ADDUM)
  • Canadian Bar Association (CBA) – Executive committee of the Business Law Section (Québec Branch) and Past-President of the executive committee for the Information, Telecommunications and Intellectual Property Section of the Quebec Branch
  • Canadian Healthcare Licensing Association (CHLA)
  • Canadian Society of Corporate Secretary (CSCS)
  • The Canadian Club of Montreal
  • Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal (BTMM)
  • Institute of Corporate Directors – Quebec Chapter
  • Licensing Executives Society (USA & Canada), Inc. (LES USA & Canada) - Past-President of and member of the board of directors from 2001 to 2010
  • Licensing Executives Society International (LESI) - Board member of LESI, Past-President and past corporate secretary to the board of directors and a member of the board of directors since 2011
  • National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD)
  • Réseau capital
  • Society of Corporate Secretaries & Governance Professionals
  • Best Lawyers 2008 - 2023: Information Technology Law, Technology Law and Intellectual Property Law
  • IAM Patent 1000 2023: Highly Recommended in Transactions
  • IAM Strategy 300 2014 - 2023: Leading IP Strategists : Legal, Licensing, M&A et Technology Transfer
  • The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory 2020 - 2023: Repeatedly Recommended in Biotechnology, Intellectual Property and Technology Transactions
  • Martindale-Hubbell 2021 : Distinguished - Peer Rated for High Professional Achievement
  • LEXPERT 2014 - 2021: Repeatedly recommended for Intellectual Property Law
  • IAM 1000 : Individuals – Transactions
  • Corporate Intl Magazine Global Awards: Technology Transfer Lawyer of the Year in Canada
  • Best Lawyers 2019: Lawyer of the year in Technology Law
  • Best Lawyers 2018: Lawyer of the year in Information Technology Law
  • Best Lawyers 2015: Lawyer of the year in Technology Law
  • Best Lawyers 2014: Lawyer of the year in Information Technology Law
  • Chemical and Petrochemical
  • Energy and Oil & Gas
  • Gas sequestration
  • Separation processes
  • Research and development projects
  • Plastics
  • Chemistry / Pharmaceuticals
  • Life Sciences
  • Emerging Technologies
    • Financial Technologies
  • Business Law
    • Due Diligence
    • Confidentiality and Trade Secrets
    • Franchising
    • Contracts
    • Licensing and Technology Transfers (Business Law)
    • Financing (Including Venture Capital)
    • Mergers and Acquisitions
    • Management and Commercialization of Intellectual Property Rights
    • Consortiums and Joint Ventures
  • Patents - Counsel
    • Portfolio Management
    • Strategic Planning
  • Trademarks
    • Trademark Portfolio Management
    • Protection Strategies for Trademarks and Trade names