Yvan Guy
Larocque

Yvan is an Indigenous business lawyer from Sainte-Anne, MB and a member of the Manitoba Métis Federation. Yvan has a diverse practice, providing practical services and advice to businesses in various industries, as well as Indigenous governments and other organizations.

“I’m here because I believe in the firm and the people. At MT+Co., I’m surrounded by experts in the legal fields that inspired me to become a lawyer in the first place.  MT+Co. supports me in my practice and gives me the opportunity to do what I love most: to help people achieve their goals, in an innovative and down-to-earth manner. It’s simple: we do good work, for good people.”

Yvan is a member of MT+Co.’s Business Law + Transactions and Indigenous Law practice groups. His practice is primarily focused on advising high-growth companies, Indigenous businesses and governments, and not-for-profit organizations, on the following matters:

• Start up and rapid growth: Incorporation, shareholders’ agreements, reverse vesting agreements, debt and equity financing (including private placements of securities from SAFE rounds to Series rounds, and advising on associated tax credits), employee share option/ownership plans, strategic acquisitions, shareholder exits and share/asset sales, for private and high growth companies in various industries including technology, manufacturing, media, and professional and other services
• Indigenous businesses and governments: Corporate organization, restructuring, land leasing and development, policy development, law drafting, and general corporate and commercial matters for Indigenous governments, Indigenous-owned businesses, and economic development groups
• Not-for Profits: Incorporation, structuring, and bylaw and policy development for not-for-profit societies and corporations, including Indigenous-led organizations involved in housing, health, and other service areas
• Corporate: Advising boards of directors on, and drafting agreements in relation to, corporate matters including mergers and acquisitions, corporate structuring (for corporations, limited partnerships, and limited liability partnerships), reorganizations, and amalgamations
• Commercial: Negotiating, reviewing, and drafting commercial agreements for businesses in various industries, advising on commercial leasing matters, and general business advisory services
• Emerging Industries: Providing general business advisory, corporate, and commercial legal services to clients in the cannabis and technology sectors
• Technology, Privacy and Compliance: Advising on technology matters for companies (including privacy policies, terms of use, internet sales, etc.), and compliance with privacy and data laws

• LLM (Master of Laws) from Osgoode Hall Law School at York University
  • Specialization in Business Law
• JD (Juris Doctor) from Allard School of Law at the University of British Columbia
  • Business Law Concentration
  • Specialization in Aboriginal Law
  • Member of the Indigenous Legal Students’ Association
  • Member of the Aboriginal Rights Moot Team (Kawaskimhon Moot)
• Graduate of the Program of Legal Studies for Native People (PLSNP) at University of Saskatchewan
  • Recipient of the Arthur Rhodes Scholarship
• BA Economics and Political Science from University of Manitoba
• Recipient of the Canadian Forces Decoration (served 18 years in the Royal Canadian Navy and Royal Canadian Air Force)
• Vice-President of the CBA’s National Aboriginal Law Section
• Member-at-Large of the CBA’s National Business Law Section
• Fluent in French

Yvan is a Director on the Board of Indspire (formerly the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation), an Indigenous-led national charity that invests in the education of Indigenous students. He is a decorated 18+ year veteran of the Canadian Armed Forces and remains active as a recruit instructor in the Royal Canadian Naval Reserve at HMCS Discovery. Prior to commencing law school, Yvan studied music in New York City and worked as a professional drummer and percussionist. When he’s not working or contributing to his communities (which is seldom), Yvan enjoys playing music, riding his bike, sailing, and training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.