Montreal, June 15, 2020 – Global law firm Norton Rose Fulbright and Zú, a non-profit organization initiated by Guy Laliberté whose mission is to gather, help and promote creatives, announced today that they have entered into a three-year partnership to support entrepreneurs in the entertainment and technology sectors by offering them legal assistance services.

One of the partnership’s goals is to inform participants and prepare them for the intellectual property issues that might crop up while developing their business projects. Another is to help innovative local projects unfold smoothly so that the entrepreneurial community can develop sustainably in a post-pandemic world.

Over 25 intellectual property, business and labour and employment lawyers from Norton Rose Fulbright’s Montreal office will actively provide Zú’s entire community of creatives with 1,200 hours of pro bono support over a period of three years.

This mentoring includes legal advice, workshops and training sessions under the three distinct incubator programs offered by Zú, which focus on creation, valuation and the marketing of intellectual property.

Among cohort participants are technology providers active in the media and entertainment industry as well as businesses that specialize in audio and video post-production, visual effects, logistics, delivery services, multimedia, virtual reality, 2D and 3D animation and immersive content.

Mathieu Deschamps, partner in the Montreal office of Norton Rose Fulbright and local head of the private mergers and acquisitions team, commented: “Start-ups enhance our province’s economic momentum. Investing time in our community through our partnership with Zú for local businesses that combine entertainment and technology represents an investment in our collective wealth, in our growth and in the vitality of our local economy. It’s an investment in our future.”

Guillaume Thérien, General Manager of Zú, said: “Creativity is a precious resource in Quebec that must be developed carefully and supported rigorously. Its growth must be tended to and this resource should be promoted here and beyond our borders. Norton Rose Fulbright is a partner of choice because we share this common vision. Creative entrepreneurs have found a collaborator whose skill and credibility can help them move forward and bring their ideas to life.”

Resolutely cosmopolitan, Montreal has carved out an enviable place for itself in the development of new technologies. With this partnership, Norton Rose Fulbright and Zú wish to help promising local businesses reach new heights.