David Tournier
Practice Expertise
- Mergers and Acquisitions
- Debt Financing and Banking
Areas of Practice
- Mergers and Acquisitions
- Debt Financing and Banking
Profile
David Tournier is a partner in the Business Law Group and heads Lavery's Infrastructure and Major Projects Group, which covers the energy sector. He advises public bodies, project companies, developers, lenders, borrowers and investors on the structuring, financing and delivery of infrastructure and major civil, industrial and energy projects. His practice spans project financing, banking and structured finance, as well as commercial contracting, corporate governance and risk management. He specializes in syndicated and cross-border financing, private placements, securitizations, acquisition financing, and the taking of security in Quebec.
Languages
French, English
Education
LL.B., Université de Montréal, 2005
DESS, International Trade Law, Université Montpellier 1, 2002
DJCE certificate - Intellectual Property, 2002
Master's in International and Transnational Law, Université Laval, 2001
Master's in Private Law, Université de Franche-Comté, 2000
Undergraduate Diploma in Law, Université de Strasbourg, 1998
Areas of Practice
- Mergers and Acquisitions
- Debt Financing and Banking
Professional Career
Significant Accomplishments
Best Lawyers 2026
Best Lawyer 2027
Professional Activities and Experience
Before returning to private practice, David served as Vice President and Corporate Secretary of IFFCO Canada, a joint venture established to develop a major industrial project in Quebec involving both Canadian and foreign investors. In this role, he helped manage the project's legal and strategic affairs, negotiated key agreements, oversaw corporate governance, and liaised with executives, directors and shareholders. Bringing that experience to the table, he now approaches projects with a deep understanding of the commercial, financial, operational, and institutional needs of project developers and their partners. This seamlessly complements his background as external legal counsel to various stakeholders in financing operations and large-scale projects.
David serves on the board of directors of the Infrastructure Council. He is also co-chair of the organizing committee for the Council's Grand Forum and a member of its finance and investment committee. He frequently partakes in strategic discussions regarding infrastructure financing and delivery, having hosted a panel discussion with Alto and CDPQ Infra on collaborative delivery models. He is the author of two volumes of the JurisClasseur collection and publishes articles on infrastructure financing, energy projects and private capital delivery models. He has been recognized by Best Lawyers in banking and finance law since 2025.
Representative mandates
Infrastructure and Major Projects
ARTM. (Since 2025) David represents the Autorité régionale de transport métropolitain in connection with the development of the Projet structurant de l'est, a 38-kilometer urban tramway network in Montreal comprising 31 stations.
MET. (Since 2025). David represents the Aéroport Métropolitain de Montréal on all of its matters, including agreements relating to the operation of the new passenger terminal, which began operating in June 2026, and the airport's financing needs.
Groupe Nouveau Pont Île-aux-Tourtes Inc. (Since 2023). David represents this joint venture of Canadian and international shareholders on all of its legal matters relating to the development of the new Île-aux-Tourtes Bridge in Montréal, which forms part of the strategic road network supporting commercial trade. He has notably negotiated all agreements required to finance this infrastructure through debt and a private placement of bonds, in an amount of approximately $780 million.
Alto. (Since 2024). David is part of the Lavery team representing Alto on the Quebec aspects of its approximately 1,000-kilometer electrified high-speed rail network project connecting Québec, Trois-Rivières, Laval, Montréal, Ottawa, Peterborough, and Toronto.
Duro Felguera. (2018-2019). David represented this international engineering group, founded in Spain, in negotiating and drafting equipment purchase contracts for the graphene mining project developed by Mason Graphite Inc. at Lac Guéret, Québec.
Parcs éoliens de Seigneurie de Beaupré. (2011). David represented the developer, a joint venture led by Boralex Inc., in connection with the $725 million financing of a 272-MW wind farm. This project received the "Project Finance International's 2011 Award for Americas Renewables Deal of the Year."
Autoroute A25. (2010). David represented S.E.C. Concession A25, a joint venture led by Macquarie Infrastructure Partners, in connection with the commencement of operations of an automated toll highway in the Greater Montréal area.
Centre Universitaire de Santé McGill. (2010). David represented a banking syndicate in connection with a bid to finance the construction of the Centre Universitaire de Santé McGill in Montréal, valued at $1.3 billion.
Bank Financing
Gold Mine Acquisition. (2025-2026). David represented BangkokBankPublic Company Limited on all Quebec aspects of a US$835 million cross-border financing and its subsequent increase in connection with the acquisition by an international private mining group of one of the largest operating gold mines in Quebec.
Securitization. (2026). David represented, in Quebec, an international manufacturing group in connection with the establishment of a receivables securitization facility with a maximum amount of US$250 million, including with respect to the sale, transfer, and assignment of Canadian and Quebec receivables.
Syndicated Financing. (2026). David represented the Canadian subsidiary of a global childcare services group regarding the Quebec aspects of establishing a €525 million international syndicated loan.
Securitization. (2024). David represented, in Quebec, a global provider of cloud-based human capital management software in connection with the establishment of a receivables securitization facility with a maximum amount of $150 million, including with respect to the sale, transfer, and assignment of Canadian and Quebec receivables.
Corporate Acquisition. (2024). David represented the borrowers in connection with the financing by The Bank of Nova Scotia of Apotex's acquisition of Searchlight Pharma, including the establishment of security interests in Quebec and the other Quebec-law aspects of the transaction.
Secured Bond Financing. (2024). David represented Technicolor with respect to the Quebec-law aspects of a €200 million financing through the issuance of notes in France completed in March 2024.
Syndicated Financing. (2023). David represented the borrowers with respect to the Quebec-law aspects of secured financing of up to $1.075 billion provided to a North American group operating digital platforms for the automotive sector.
Corporate Acquisition (New Zealand). (2011). David represented Canadian Helicopters Limited, a Canadian helicopter transportation services company, in connection with the NZD 154 million financing of its acquisition of the assets of a New Zealand company.
Lectures
Comment financer les projets énergétiques de toute taille pour répondre à des besoins croissants - Grand Forum Conseil des infrastructures, october 2024
"Financement + numérique dans 10, 20, 30 ans...," Chaire Wilson, Université de Montréal, February 2021: Link to video
Le financement de projets de production d'énergie - Forum on the future of energy by the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal, May 2024
Intégrer les secteurs industriels au milieu de vie urbain - Forum on major housing projects by the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal, June 2023
Publications
Tournier, D., & Menard, J. (2026, January). Beyond Code, Powering AI; Canada's Moment? ReNew
Tournier, D., & Vézina, S. (2025, February 12). Confrontation entre nations: des droits de douane aux subventions. Le Soleil.
Tournier, D., Gélinas, É., & Gagné, C.-H. (2024, October 3). Quebec sets ambitious energy transition and industrial decarbonization targets. Lexpert.
Tournier, D., & Vézina, S. (2024, August 8). Reviendront-ils à Montréal ? La Presse.
Macnab, A. (2024, March 26). Collaborative project delivery models, legislative reforms, among trends in Quebec construction. Canadian Lawyer Magazine.
Macnab, A. (2023, October 13). Despite language law's seemingly drastic consequences, Quebec still open for business: Lavery lawyer Canadian Lawyer
Tournier, D. (2020, September 17). Banques et FinTech: Survol d'une révolution en marche. Institut canadien d'information juridique. Disponible sur CanLII
Industrial Projects in Canada and the United States: Three Milestones on the Road to Bankability, Part One: Bankable Feedstock Procurement, Association of Corporate Counsel, June 2017
Industrial Projects: Three Milestones on the Road to Bankability, Part Two: A Bankable EPC, Association of Corporate Counsel, June 2017
Industrial Projects in the United States: Three Milestones on the Road to Bankability, Part Three: A Bankable Offtake, Association of Corporate Counsel, June 2017
La transposition de la loi type dans l'ordre juridique canadien, Service de la Formation Continue du Barreau du Québec, Volume 321, 2010
Reorganization: a commercial concept juridicially defined, Canadian Bar Review, November 2009
Vente, donation et hypothèque d'actions, JurisClasseur, Lexis Nexis, periodical updated annually since 2009
Les mutations de l'obligation, JurisClasseur, Lexis Nexis, periodical updated annually since 2008
Co-author, De l'évaluation des dommages suivant la résiliation des contrats de service et les contraventions à la Loi sur la concurrence, Service de la formation continue du Barreau du Québec, Volume 255, 2006, with the Honourable Justice Suzanne Côté of the Supreme Court of Canada
Best Lawyers 2026
Best Lawyer 2027
Professional Activities and Experience
Before returning to private practice, David served as Vice President and Corporate Secretary of IFFCO Canada, a joint venture established to develop a major industrial project in Quebec involving both Canadian and foreign investors. In this role, he helped manage the project's legal and strategic affairs, negotiated key agreements, oversaw corporate governance, and liaised with executives, directors and shareholders. Bringing that experience to the table, he now approaches projects with a deep understanding of the commercial, financial, operational, and institutional needs of project developers and their partners. This seamlessly complements his background as external legal counsel to various stakeholders in financing operations and large-scale projects.
David serves on the board of directors of the Infrastructure Council. He is also co-chair of the organizing committee for the Council's Grand Forum and a member of its finance and investment committee. He frequently partakes in strategic discussions regarding infrastructure financing and delivery, having hosted a panel discussion with Alto and CDPQ Infra on collaborative delivery models. He is the author of two volumes of the JurisClasseur collection and publishes articles on infrastructure financing, energy projects and private capital delivery models. He has been recognized by Best Lawyers in banking and finance law since 2025.
Representative mandates
Infrastructure and Major Projects
ARTM. (Since 2025) David represents the Autorité régionale de transport métropolitain in connection with the development of the Projet structurant de l'est, a 38-kilometer urban tramway network in Montreal comprising 31 stations.
MET. (Since 2025). David represents the Aéroport Métropolitain de Montréal on all of its matters, including agreements relating to the operation of the new passenger terminal, which began operating in June 2026, and the airport's financing needs.
Groupe Nouveau Pont Île-aux-Tourtes Inc. (Since 2023). David represents this joint venture of Canadian and international shareholders on all of its legal matters relating to the development of the new Île-aux-Tourtes Bridge in Montréal, which forms part of the strategic road network supporting commercial trade. He has notably negotiated all agreements required to finance this infrastructure through debt and a private placement of bonds, in an amount of approximately $780 million.
Alto. (Since 2024). David is part of the Lavery team representing Alto on the Quebec aspects of its approximately 1,000-kilometer electrified high-speed rail network project connecting Québec, Trois-Rivières, Laval, Montréal, Ottawa, Peterborough, and Toronto.
Duro Felguera. (2018-2019). David represented this international engineering group, founded in Spain, in negotiating and drafting equipment purchase contracts for the graphene mining project developed by Mason Graphite Inc. at Lac Guéret, Québec.
Parcs éoliens de Seigneurie de Beaupré. (2011). David represented the developer, a joint venture led by Boralex Inc., in connection with the $725 million financing of a 272-MW wind farm. This project received the "Project Finance International's 2011 Award for Americas Renewables Deal of the Year."
Autoroute A25. (2010). David represented S.E.C. Concession A25, a joint venture led by Macquarie Infrastructure Partners, in connection with the commencement of operations of an automated toll highway in the Greater Montréal area.
Centre Universitaire de Santé McGill. (2010). David represented a banking syndicate in connection with a bid to finance the construction of the Centre Universitaire de Santé McGill in Montréal, valued at $1.3 billion.
Bank Financing
Gold Mine Acquisition. (2025-2026). David represented BangkokBankPublic Company Limited on all Quebec aspects of a US$835 million cross-border financing and its subsequent increase in connection with the acquisition by an international private mining group of one of the largest operating gold mines in Quebec.
Securitization. (2026). David represented, in Quebec, an international manufacturing group in connection with the establishment of a receivables securitization facility with a maximum amount of US$250 million, including with respect to the sale, transfer, and assignment of Canadian and Quebec receivables.
Syndicated Financing. (2026). David represented the Canadian subsidiary of a global childcare services group regarding the Quebec aspects of establishing a €525 million international syndicated loan.
Securitization. (2024). David represented, in Quebec, a global provider of cloud-based human capital management software in connection with the establishment of a receivables securitization facility with a maximum amount of $150 million, including with respect to the sale, transfer, and assignment of Canadian and Quebec receivables.
Corporate Acquisition. (2024). David represented the borrowers in connection with the financing by The Bank of Nova Scotia of Apotex's acquisition of Searchlight Pharma, including the establishment of security interests in Quebec and the other Quebec-law aspects of the transaction.
Secured Bond Financing. (2024). David represented Technicolor with respect to the Quebec-law aspects of a €200 million financing through the issuance of notes in France completed in March 2024.
Syndicated Financing. (2023). David represented the borrowers with respect to the Quebec-law aspects of secured financing of up to $1.075 billion provided to a North American group operating digital platforms for the automotive sector.
Corporate Acquisition (New Zealand). (2011). David represented Canadian Helicopters Limited, a Canadian helicopter transportation services company, in connection with the NZD 154 million financing of its acquisition of the assets of a New Zealand company.
Lectures
Comment financer les projets énergétiques de toute taille pour répondre à des besoins croissants - Grand Forum Conseil des infrastructures, october 2024
"Financement + numérique dans 10, 20, 30 ans...," Chaire Wilson, Université de Montréal, February 2021: Link to video
Le financement de projets de production d'énergie - Forum on the future of energy by the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal, May 2024
Intégrer les secteurs industriels au milieu de vie urbain - Forum on major housing projects by the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal, June 2023
Publications
Tournier, D., & Menard, J. (2026, January). Beyond Code, Powering AI; Canada's Moment? ReNew
Tournier, D., & Vézina, S. (2025, February 12). Confrontation entre nations: des droits de douane aux subventions. Le Soleil.
Tournier, D., Gélinas, É., & Gagné, C.-H. (2024, October 3). Quebec sets ambitious energy transition and industrial decarbonization targets. Lexpert.
Tournier, D., & Vézina, S. (2024, August 8). Reviendront-ils à Montréal ? La Presse.
Macnab, A. (2024, March 26). Collaborative project delivery models, legislative reforms, among trends in Quebec construction. Canadian Lawyer Magazine.
Macnab, A. (2023, October 13). Despite language law's seemingly drastic consequences, Quebec still open for business: Lavery lawyer Canadian Lawyer
Tournier, D. (2020, September 17). Banques et FinTech: Survol d'une révolution en marche. Institut canadien d'information juridique. Disponible sur CanLII
Industrial Projects in Canada and the United States: Three Milestones on the Road to Bankability, Part One: Bankable Feedstock Procurement, Association of Corporate Counsel, June 2017
Industrial Projects: Three Milestones on the Road to Bankability, Part Two: A Bankable EPC, Association of Corporate Counsel, June 2017
Industrial Projects in the United States: Three Milestones on the Road to Bankability, Part Three: A Bankable Offtake, Association of Corporate Counsel, June 2017
La transposition de la loi type dans l'ordre juridique canadien, Service de la Formation Continue du Barreau du Québec, Volume 321, 2010
Reorganization: a commercial concept juridicially defined, Canadian Bar Review, November 2009
Vente, donation et hypothèque d'actions, JurisClasseur, Lexis Nexis, periodical updated annually since 2009
Les mutations de l'obligation, JurisClasseur, Lexis Nexis, periodical updated annually since 2008
Co-author, De l'évaluation des dommages suivant la résiliation des contrats de service et les contraventions à la Loi sur la concurrence, Service de la formation continue du Barreau du Québec, Volume 255, 2006, with the Honourable Justice Suzanne Côté of the Supreme Court of Canada
Articles
Uncovering the intricacies of sports infrastructure financing
Financing Quebec's Energy Transition: Unlocking the Potential of Flow-Through Shares
Why Rethink Infrastructure Financing?
Funding our infrastructure: proven models and innovative approaches
Our infrastructure contracts: from the ideal project to the bankable project
Sustainable Infrastructure Financing: From Promise to Proof
Financing Quebec's Energy Transition: Unlocking the Potential of Flow-Through Shares
Why Rethink Infrastructure Financing?
Funding our infrastructure: proven models and innovative approaches
Our infrastructure contracts: from the ideal project to the bankable project
Sustainable Infrastructure Financing: From Promise to Proof
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