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Karl Bissonnette

Lawyer

Karl Bissonnette

Contact

514-264-0185
Business Card (vCard)

Montreal

25th Floor
1100 René-Lévesque Blvd. West
Montreal, Quebec H3B 5C9
CANADA
514 397-8500 514 397-8515

Profile

Karl Bissonnette is a lawyer in BCF's Technology and Artificial Intelligence team. His extensive knowledge of commercial law and, more specifically, of contractual and transactional issues relating to the management of technological assets and intellectual property, gives him particularly relevant expertise in assisting organizations in the creation, use, exploitation and governance of technology and artificial intelligence.

He has more than ten years of practical experience, gained directly in the field with major companies operating in the technology, entertainment, media and telecommunications sectors. As a result, he has built a results-oriented practice focused on managing technology and intellectual property portfolios, first in the arts and media sectors, then as General Counsel of a major company with local and international operations in the technology field. This career path has enabled him to gain an in-depth understanding of the operational realities of his clients and to deliver practical advice in line with their strategic needs and growth challenges.

Drawing on his corporate experience, Karl knows how to implement legal tools tailored to operations and create targeted training that empowers internal teams. He integrates legal solutions aligned with his clients' business models, promoting their organizational agility and value creation. These solutions include contractual templates tailored to business activities, internal training plans, contractual toolkits including essential clauses, as well as the implementation of internal policies and governance structures consistent with the realities of modern businesses.

His experience in rapidly changing sectors and hypergrowth companies has enabled him to develop a keen ability to explain complex legal issues in layman's terms and to propose practical, pragmatic and strategic solutions. He knows how to reduce legal risks without hampering innovation or operational agility. His leadership skills are evident in the negotiation of complex technology and intellectual property contracts, as well as in project management and support for senior executives, always with a view to generating value and respecting the risk tolerance of each organization.

In 2023, he was nominated for YBM Lawyer of the Year - Litigation Practice / Government Lawyer by the Young Bar Association of Montreal.

Expertise

Partnering, Licensing, and Other Commercial Transactions
Copyright and Entertainment Law

Industries

Information Technology and Telecommunications

Education

  • Barreau du Québec (2012)
  • Bachelor of Law, Université de Sherbrooke (2010)

Recognition(s)

  • Young Bar of Montreal, Finalist YBM Lawyer of the Year - Litigation Practice / Government Lawyer (2023)

Representative Work

  • Carried out post-investment and integration activities of an institutional investor in the capital of a technology company, from reviewing the shareholders and modifying the governance and the board of directors, up to , and implementing internal policies conditional on the investment and the applicable legislative compliance (harassment, EDI, ethics, signing authorities);
  • Advised on the development and creation of an automated system for managing share capital and shareholder transactions related to the profit-sharing program of a private company with over three hundred shareholders;
  • Performed due diligence for the acquisition of small and medium-sized technology companies, with a particular focus on intellectual property and technology portfolios;
  • Contributed to the contractual review and legal integration of major transactions in the telecommunications sector;
  • Developed post-acquisition integration plans to minimize the loss of customers, employees and partners, and to ensure the continuity of critical government certifications;
  • Managed the share register and corporate governance of a major technology company;
  • Created, drafted and negoted the first sub-distribution agreements for a streaming and Québec television content platform;
  • Adapted a major cable company's contractual distribution models to the new realities of multiplatform broadcasting, taking into account the requirements of rights holders;
  • Negotiated, drafted and reviewed major audiovisual content broadcast licences for prominent U.S. studios;
  • Implemented errors and omissions insurance required for the development and production of audiovisual content in Québec;
  • Advised on the development and production of audiovisual productions in the fields of fiction, documentary and advertising;
  • Negotiated, drafted and reviewed important advertising partnership and sponsorship agreements for major sports and entertainment events;
  • Negoted, drafted and reviewed artists' contracts in the entertainment industry, including advertising, audiovisual production, music and the performing arts.

Professional Affiliation(s)

  • Barreau du Québec

Involvement

  • Association des Juristes pour l'Avancement de la vie artistique, Secretary to the Board of Directors (since 2025) 
  • Member of the organising committee for the Soirées inédites du Théâtre La banquette arrière (since 2025)