François-Philippe Brais

François-Philippe Brais, CC CBE QC (October 18, 1894 – January 2, 1972) was a Canadian lawyer and politician.

François-Philippe Brais CC CBE QC
Minister without Portfolio, Quebec
In office 1940–1944
Member of the Legislative Council of Quebec for Grandville
In office 1940–1968
Preceded by	John Hall Kelly
Succeeded by	No-one. (Legislative Council abolished in 1968.)
16th President of the Canadian Bar Association
In office 1944–1945
Preceded by	Royal Lethington Maitland, KC
Succeeded by	Esten Kenneth Williams, K.C.
Bâtonnier of the Barreau of Quebec
In office 1949–1950
Preceded by	Paul Henry Bouffard, K.C.
Succeeded by	Édouard Asselin, K.C.
Personal details
Born	(1894-10-18)October 18, 1894 Montreal, Quebec
Died	January 2, 1972(1972-01-02) (aged 77) Cowansville, Quebec
Political party	Liberal
Spouse(s)	Louise Doré
Education	McGill University
Profession	Lawyer

Born in Montreal, the son of Émilien Brais and Blanche Brunet, he studied at McGill University. He was called to the Quebec Bar in 1917 and began a legal career in private practice, specialising in insurance law. From 1922 to 1930 he a Crown prosecutor in Montreal, being appointed King's Counsel in 1927.[1] He appeared several times in the Supreme Court of Canada. He eventually served on many corporate boards, including the board of the Canadian Pacific Railway and Sun Life Insurance. He also served on the boards of many non-profit and charitable organizations, such as the Montreal Children's Hospital.

In 1940, Brais was appointed to the Legislative Council of Quebec representing the Grandville division. He served until the Council was abolished in 1968. In 1940, he was made a Minister without Portfolio in the cabinet of Liberal Premier of Quebec Adélard Godbout.

Brais was President of the Canadian Bar Association from 1944 until 1945.[2] He then served as bâtonnier of the Montreal Bar in 1949, and bâtonnier of the provincial Barreau, 1949–1950.[1]

In 1943, Brais was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire. In 1945 the Université de Montréal awarded him a doctorate in law, honoris causa. In 1953, the Université Laval awarded him a second honorary doctorate in law.[1] In 1970, he was made a Companion of the Order of Canada.

Brais died on January 2, 1972 at Cowansville. He was buried on January 5, 1972, at Notre-Dame-des-Neiges Cemetery in Montreal.