Maxime Cloutier

Partner | Department Head, M&A/Corporate

Maxime is a Partner in KRB’s Business Law group. His legal practice focuses on M&A, complex corporate reorganizations and various types of commercial transactions. Maxime regularly advises public and private companies in purchase or sale transactions and assists our clients with most of their corporate and commercial law needs. He routinely helps clients navigate through complex transactions, from structuring their deals to negotiating all necessary acquisition documents.

For over twenty years, Maxime has had the opportunity to hone his practice both in the mid-market, practicing out of a Montreal-based law firm, and thereafter as a Partner handling larger-scale transactions in a top-tier global firm. Highly involved with his clients, he has experience serving on various boards and acting as corporate secretary of several corporations. In addition to his private practice, Maxime taught business law at the Quebec Bar School for many years. He has also served at various leadership positions with the Business Law Section of the Canadian Bar Association and of the American Bar Association.

Over the years, Maxime has developed an expertise in cross-border transactions as well as in transfers of family-owned businesses. His vast experience of M&A transactions has been recognized by many, including Best Lawyers (corporate and commercial law, M&A) and Legal 500 Canada (M&A). Maxime is also a fellow of the American Bar Association Foundation.

Representative Work

Acted for Olivier Charest and Denis Charest in the sale of all their shares in 9413-1778 Québec Inc (SCP) and Service Cité Propre Inc. to Environmental 360 Solutions Inc, one of North America’s leading environmental management companies.

Acted of behalf of the shareholders of the clinics operating under the Axo Physio banner in their sale of all shares to Groupe Santé Universelle Inc., a subsidiary of Lifemark Health Corp.

Acted on behalf of Grisspasta Products Ltd. a group of manufacturing companies engaged in the conception, development, and production of dry pasta intended for sale to business customers, in connection with the sale of said companies to an Ontario-based strategic buyer

Acted in connection with the acquisition of a majority interest of an entity operating in the telecommunications industry responsible for distributing and selling products throughout Canada

Acted on behalf of Zac-Tranz, a transportation and logistics company and member of the Loyal Express Group, in connection with its acquisition of substantially all the assets of Valcourt Transport Express Inc., a company operating in the transportation sector

Acted on behalf of a leader in luxury travel agency services in respect of its acquisition of all the issued and outstanding shares of a competing entity specializing in corporate retreats and luxury vacations

Acted on behalf of WeCook, a leading provider of ready-to-eat food products in Quebec and Ontario, in connection with the $40M strategic sale of a majority of its issued and outstanding shares to Claridge Food Group

Acted for Mike Raffoul, a Montreal businessman, in his purchase of the Metro Newspaper and 25 regional newspapers from Transcontinental

Acted for the shareholders of Voyages Cortravco in the sale of all of their shares to Vision Travel

Acted for a leading lighting company in its acquisition of a complementary business

Represented Konica Minolta in its acquisition of a division of Ricoh, Inc.

Represented Conan Foods Inc. in the sale of its business to Sysco Canada Inc.

Represented Groupe Jean Coutu (PJC) Inc. in its acquisition of Pro-Doc Inc.

Represented MBI Drilling Inc. in the sale of its business to the Fonds de solidarité des travailleurs du Québec (FTQ)

Represented Solotech Inc. in its private placement to Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec

Part of the legal team which represented the Quebec government and related entities in connection with the P3 for Highway 30

Represented Ascot Capital Group in connection with its acquisition of Beghelli Canada Inc.

Memberships and Affiliations

American Bar Association (ABA)

Association for Corporate Growth (ACG) Quebec

M&A Club Canada

Quebec Bar (2000)

 

Practice Areas

M&A/Corporate

Strategic Structuring and Reorganization

Commercial, Privacy and IT

Private Equity and Venture Capital

 

Education

University of Montreal, LL.B. (1999)

Awards and Recognitions

Best Lawyers in Canada:

– Corporate Law, 2017-2025

– Mergers and Acquisitions Law, 2025