Claude Bergeron
Partner

Claude Bergeron began his career as litigator before focusing his practice on commercial law. He has served as legal advisor to companies such as Lassonde Industries, Culinar, LGL/SNC, different subsidiaries of Steinberg, notably Smithy's Arizona, Metra Altex Aluminium, and investment firms and institutions such as SITQ, Novacap Investments Inc., and Business Development Bank of Canada. He has assisted several foreign companies such as Lyonnaise des Eaux S.A., Thompson S.A., Alain Manoukian, Groupe Yves Rocher, Bouygues Construction, Simon Mahier, and Groupe Le Duff in their efforts to expand across Canada and the United States. He has also completed several transactions in the construction and real estate sector.

In 1997, Claude created the firm’s Venture Capital group, whose expertise extends to life sciences. His team has been involved in more than 150 investment transactions in Canada, and in the U.S. It has served several Canadian, American, and French ventures and institutions, particularly Capital CDPQ, CDP Capital Technologies, GemChem Technologies, Business Development Bank of Canada, Société Innovatech du Grand Montréal, Investissement Desjardins, Royal Bank Financial Group, Société générale de financement du Québec, Siparex SA, T²C², TechnoCap, Anthem Capital LP, GTI Capital Inc., Novacap Investments Inc., Working Venture Investor Limited Partnership, Caisse de dépôt et consignation de France, and Thompson Ventures of France.

Claude has completed numerous public funding transactions for biotech companies, notably DSM Pharmaceuticals, as well as projects on behalf of Quebec institutions such as Institut de recherche en biotechnologie de Montréal, Centre de recherche de Saint-Hyacinthe, Université Laval, and Université du Québec à Montréal.

In 1999, he oriented his practice toward transaction advisory services, taking on up to ten major transactions per year. From 1999 to 2002, he completed several transactions for CDPQ, SGF, and certain European companies that led to the sale or acquisition of target companies, including the sale of RTP Pharma to Elan Pharmaceuticals, and Bio-Inova’s merger with a U.S. firm.

In 2003, after completing the acquisition of an important restaurant chain in Dallas, Texas in 2002, Claude created, with his partner Louis Le Duff, Groupe Le Duff America (“GLDA”). Today, he is president and CEO of GLDA, a company operating in Canada and the U.S. with a turnover of more than C$340M, and 3,900 employees across North America. He is also in charge of Groupe Le Duff S.A. (Europe)’s international affairs.

Claude remains an active member of the firm and with five years experience in corporate management, he uses his expertise in operating French and North American manufacturing and retail businesses to assist his colleagues. He also remains active as an advisor for cross-border transactions between Canada and the U.S., and transactions on the European market.

• Commercial Law
• Mergers and Acquisitions

• M.Fisc., Université de Sherbrooke, 1982
• LL.L., Université de Montréal, 1974

• Member of the Quebec Bar
• Founder of Au nom de l'enfance
• Member of the French Chamber of Commerce in Montrea
• Member of the French American Chamber of Commerce of Dallas (“FACC Dallas”)
• Member of various other associations in the retail and manufacturing area (Canada and U.S.)