Paul Martel Partner, Lawyer

Paul Martel Partner, Lawyer

Office

  • Montréal

Phone number

514 397-2074

Bar Admission

  • Québec, 1970

Languages

  • English
  • French

Profile

PARTNER

Paul Martel is a partner in the Business Law Group. He practices primarily in the area of corporate law, focusing on corporations, not-for-profit corporations and general partnerships. He is also an expert in commercial contracts. Paul is recognized for his ability to find effective, innovative solutions to the most complex legal issues in corporate law.


He taught law for over 25 years and has authored numerous landmark legal texts on corporate law. He has also contributed to most major corporate law journals, including La Revue du Barreau du Québec. As a reputable expert in corporate law, and a respected teacher, lecturer and author, he is regularly called upon by government authorities to assist with major legislative changes, including those to the Civil Code of Québec, Quebec’s Companies Act, the Canada Business Corporations Act and the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act. He has also acted as a consultant to the Minister of Finance of Quebec in developing and drafting the new Business Corporations Act, and to the Agence du Revenu du Québec in updating the Quebec Enterprise Register.

PUBLICATIONS

  • Droit des affaires, Cours de formation professionnelle du Barreau du Québec, annual editions since 1995. Chapters “La Loi sur la publicité légale des entreprises,” “La constitution de la société,” “Le fonctionnement interne,” “Le capital-actions,” “Les transactions d’actions,” “Les changements au capital-actions,” “Les conventions entre actionnaires” and “Protection des actionnaires minoritaires,” approximately 350 pages.
  • Business Corporations in Canada – Legal and Practical Aspects, loose-leaf, Carswell, since 2005, approximately 2,500 pages.
  • La société par actions au Québec, 3 volumes, “Les aspects juridiques,” loose-leaf, Éditions Wilson & Lafleur, Martel ltée, since 1980, approximately 5,000 pages.
  • La corporation sans but lucratif au Québec, loose-leaf, Éditions Wilson & Lafleur, Martel ltée, since 1987, approximately 1,300 pages.
  • Les conventions entre actionnaires, Éditions Wilson & Lafleur, Martel ltée, 14 editions, 744 pages.
  • Administrateurs de personnes morales sans but lucratif : le guide de vos droits, devoirs et responsabilités, Éditions Wilson & Lafleur, Martel ltée, 4 editions, 117 pages.
  • Loi sur les sociétés par actions (Québec), Réforme en profondeur de la Loi sur les compagnies, Éditions Wilson & Lafleur, Martel ltée, 2010, 319 pages.
  • Loi canadienne sur les organisations à but non lucratif – Loi, règlement et commentaires, Éditions Wilson & Lafleur, Martel ltée, 2012, 355 pages.

Distinctions

  • Mérite du Barreau du Québec award, 2011
  • Best Lawyers in Canada in the area of corporate law since 2020
  • Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory in the area of commercial and corporate law, since 2021

Education

  • LL.M., Université de Montréal, 1975
  • LL.L., Université de Montréal, 1969
  1. Seven partners named as Canadian leaders in finance and mergers and acquisitions by Lexpert

    On April 16, 2025, Lexpert recognized the expertise of seven of our partners in its 2025 Lexpert Special Edition: Finance and M&A. Josianne Beaudry now ranks among Canada’s leaders in the area of finance and Étienne Brassard, Jean-Sébastien Desroches, Édith Jacques, Paul Martel and André Vautour are among Canada’s leading lawyers in mergers and acquisitions. Finance Josianne Beaudry is a partner and a member of the firm’s Business Law group. Josianne is primarily focused on securities law, investment funds and mining law. She also advises financial sector participants on the application of regulations relating to securities and corporate governance. Mergers and Acquisitions Étienne Brassard practises business law, more specifically corporate financing, mergers and acquisitions and corporate law. He advises local and international businesses in relation to all forms of private financing, from traditional or convertible debt to equity investments. Jean-Sébastien Desroches practises business law and focuses primarily on mergers and acquisitions, infrastructure, renewable energy and project development as well as strategic partnerships. Édith Jacques is a partner in our Business Law Group in Montréal. She specializes in mergers and acquisitions, commercial law and international law. Édith acts as strategic business advisor for medium to large private companies. Paul Martel is a partner in the Business Law Group. He practises primarily in the area of corporate law, focusing on corporations, not-for-profit corporations and general partnerships. He is also an expert in commercial contracts. Paul is recognized for his ability to find effective, innovative solutions to the most complex legal issues in corporate law. André Vautour practises corporate law and commercial law, and is specifically interested in corporate governance, strategic alliances, joint ventures, investment funds, and mergers and acquisitions of private companies. About Lavery Lavery is the leading independent law firm in Quebec. Its more than 200 professionals, based in Montréal, Québec City, Sherbrooke and Trois-Rivières, work every day to offer a full range of legal services to organizations doing business in Quebec. Recognized by the most prestigious legal directories, Lavery professionals are at the heart of what is happening in the business world and are actively involved in their communities. The firm’s expertise is frequently sought after by numerous national and international partners to provide support in cases under Quebec jurisdiction.

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  2. 33 partners from Lavery ranked in the 2025 edition of The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory

    Lavery is proud to announce that 33 partners are ranked among the leading practitioners in Canada in their respective practice areas in the 2025 edition of The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory. The following Lavery partners are listed in the 2025 edition of The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory: Advertising Isabelle Jomphe Aviation Étienne Brassard Asset Securitization Brigitte M. Gauthier Class Actions Laurence Bich-Carrière Myriam Brixi Construction Law Nicolas Gagnon Marc-André Landry Corporate Commercial Law Laurence Bich-Carrière Étienne Brassard Jean-Sébastien Desroches Christian Dumoulin Édith Jacques    Alexandre Hébert Paul Martel André Vautour    Corporate Finance & Securities Josianne Beaudry          René Branchaud Corporate Mid-Market Étienne Brassard Jean-Sébastien Desroches Christian Dumoulin Alexandre Hébert Édith Jacques    André Vautour Data Privacy Raymond Doray Employment Law Simon Gagné Richard Gaudreault Marie-Josée Hétu Guy Lavoie Josiane L’Heureux Family Law Elisabeth Pinard Infrastructure Law Nicolas Gagnon Insolvency & Financial Restructuring Jean Legault      Ouassim Tadlaoui Yanick Vlasak Jonathan Warin Intellectual Property Chantal Desjardins Alain Y. Dussault Labour (Management) Benoit Brouillette Simon Gagné Richard Gaudreault Marie-Josée Hétu Guy Lavoie Litigation - Commercial Insurance Dominic Boisvert Martin Pichette Litigation - Corporate Commercial Laurence Bich-Carrière Marc-André Landry Litigation - Product Liability Laurence Bich-Carrière Myriam Brixi Mergers & Acquisitions Josianne Beaudry    Étienne Brassard       Jean-Sébastien Desroches Christian Dumoulin Edith Jacques Mining Josianne Beaudry           René Branchaud Sébastien Vézina Occupational Health & Safety Josiane L'Heureux Workers' Compensation Marie-Josée Hétu Guy Lavoie Carl Lessard   The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory, published since 1997, is based on an extensive peer survey process. It includes profiles of leading practitioners across Canada in more than 60 practice areas and leading law firms in more than 40 practice areas. It also features articles highlighting current legal issues and recent developments of importance. Congratulations to our lawyers for these appointments, which reflect the talent and expertise of our team. About Lavery Lavery is the leading independent law firm in Québec. Its more than 200 professionals, based in Montréal, Québec City, Sherbrooke and Trois-Rivières, work every day to offer a full range of legal services to organizations doing business in Québec. Recognized by the most prestigious legal directories, Lavery professionals are at the heart of what is happening in the business world and are actively involved in their communities. The firm's expertise is frequently sought after by numerous national and international partners to provide support in cases under Québec jurisdiction.

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  3. Lavery announces appointment of Paul Martel, a leading expert in corporate law

    Mr. Martel is recognized for his ability to provide pragmatic, innovative solutions to the most complex legal issues in corporate law. He was a law professor for over 25 years and has contributed to most major corporate law journals, including La Revue du Barreau du Québec. “I’m so pleased and excited to be starting the fifth chapter of my professional career at Lavery, a firm I hold in high esteem. I look forward to putting my expertise to good use with the firm’s clients, as well as helping to consolidate the multidisciplinary service offering for which Lavery is renowned in the legal and business markets,” said Paul Martel, partner at Lavery. As a leading expert in corporate law, and a respected teacher, lecturer and author, he regularly advises government authorities on major legislative changes, including those to the Civil Code of Québec, Quebec’s Companies Act, the Canada Business Corporations Act and the Act respecting the legal publicity of enterprises. He has also acted as a consultant to the Minister of Finance of Quebec in developing and drafting the new Business Corporations Act, and to the Agence du Revenu du Québec in updating the Quebec Enterprise Register. “Paul Martel has authored several landmark legal works on corporate law, and his outstanding track record and extensive expertise in the legal and business industries of Quebec, Canada and the United States will further strengthen the quality of Lavery’s services in this area of practice. He will certainly be a great inspiration to us all, and his presence at the firm will have a major impact on our teams, as he assists our Business Law group,” concluded René Branchaud, Head of practice of Lavery’s Business Law group.

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