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Tax Law - Canada
About this Practice AreaRay Adlington is an experienced lawyer who is well versed in all areas of tax law. He has a robust practice with particular focus on corporate tax, commodity tax, and tax dispute resolution with the Canada Revenue Agency on behalf of taxpayers. Ray is a past four-year member of the joint Canadian Bar Association – CPA Canada Joint Committee on Taxation tasked with advising the Department of Finance (Canada) on tax policy and legislative drafting matters. He acts as counsel to private an...
Mastering the business issues of the business leaders he advises, Pierre T. Allard has established himself over the years as one of the best tax lawyers of his generation and a national reference in his field. The unanimous recognition from his peers and our clients speaks for itself. As a member of BCF’s Executive Committee, he is the one to turn to for major transactions, including the sale or acquisition of a business, the incentive and retention of key employees or the transfer of a...
François Barette is recognized as a leading litigator and tax lawyer. He represents diversified clients including individuals, corporations and trusts both in Canada and internationally. François’ practice extends well beyond tax litigation and he is asked to intervene in a range of civil and administrative matters. François advises clients on issues concerning federal and provincial income tax, sales tax, goods and services tax, excise tax, payroll taxes and proper...
Terry’s practice focuses on the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST), Goods and Services Tax (GST), Provincial Sales Tax, customs law, land transfer taxes, Speculation Tax and all other Canadian commodity and indirect taxes. Terry has practiced in the GST area since the inception of the tax in 1991 and writes extensively on GST/HST and other indirect tax matters in Canadian and international publications. Areas of particular experience include real estate development, financial services, cross-bo...
Pierre Barsalou (a member of both the Quebec and Ontario Bars) specializes in transfer pricing and tax controversy. He has repeatedly been nominated in Best Lawyers in Canada and Lexpert in the field of corporate tax litigation, as well as a top cross-border tax litigator in Canada by Lexpert. Pierre represents the firm’s clientele in the context of tax audits and objections as well as appeals before the Tax Court of Canada, the Federal Court and Federal Court of Appeal. He also has bee...
David Baxter received his law degree from the University of Toronto and earlier graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) degree from the University of British Columbia. He was admitted to the British Columbia Bar in 1994. David’s practice focuses on tax planning for individuals, trusts and corporations in both domestic and international matters, including divisive reorganizations, estate planning, business structuring and sales, life insurance matters, foreign affiliates and cros...
Marie-Andrée Beaudry is a partner and member of the Tax Group. She specializes in cross-border corporate taxation. She develops tax strategies for Canadian and international expansion, including merger and acquisition structures and strategic repatriation plans. Her main areas of practice include the following: mergers and acquisitions of businesses, corporate reorganization, debt restructuring, cross-border financing, national and international tax consolidation, and public offerings....
Dominic Belley is a tax litigator and co-chair of Norton Rose Fulbright's Canadian tax team. He has handled matters against federal and provincial tax authorities in civil, commercial, criminal and constitutional matters before the Court of Québec, the Québec Superior Court, the Québec Court of Appeal, the BC Supreme Court, the Alberta Court of Queen's Bench, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, the Tax Court of Canada, the Federal Court and the Federal Court of Appeal....
Kevin is a partner at Borden Ladner Gervais’ Montréal office where he advises Canadian corporations, owner-operated businesses, individuals, accounting firms and foreign enterprises on tax planning and related corporate and commercial matters. Kevin also specializes in the tax related aspects relating to cross-border M&A transactions, and assists with tax due diligence files, structuring matters and the integration of business’ into existing tax structures. In addition,...
Don’s practice covers a wide range of business and personal tax matters. With over 30 years of diverse tax law experience, he advises public corporations, large private enterprises and high net-worth families. Well-versed in mergers and acquisitions, reorganizations and restructuring, Don was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 2014. He lends his perspective as a frequent lecturer and speaker for the Canadian Tax Foundation and provincial law societies. Don is recognized as a leading tax...
Serving a wide range of business clients, Matthew Bilmes is an authority on tax and estate planning matters. Matthew Bilmes proudly assists business owners plan for tax efficiency throughout their company’s life cycle. He works with commercial clients and owner-operators across generations to effectively minimize tax while helping to propel growth for a future sale or family succession. He is also involved in numerous cross-border tax planning files, assisting clients with interests in ...
Paul Burns has over 35 years of experience advising clients on all aspects of international trade and commodity tax, including significant experience advising on Canadian customs and export control matters. Paul obtained his LL.B. from the University of Western Ontario. For many years, he served as the practice group coordinator of the International Commercial Practice Group in Baker McKenzie's Toronto office. Paul has assisted multinational corporations on a multitude of trade matters, inclu...
John Campbell practises taxation law, advising clients on domestic and international income tax issues. John has extensive experience with respect to the tax implications and structuring of corporate reorganizations, mergers and acquisitions, international tax planning, and other business transactions. He provides his clients with effective, practical tax advice based on his expertise and experience. John also specializes in tax litigation. He has many years of experience representing clients...
Brian R. Carr, LLB is of Counsel in Thorsteinssons’ Toronto office. He holds a B.Sc. (1970) and an LL.B. (1973) from the University of Toronto. Mr. Carr is a former Chair of the Canadian Tax Foundation, a Past-Chair of the National Taxation Law Section of the Canadian Bar Association and former Co-Chair and Member of the CBA/CICA Joint Committee on Taxation. He is a Past-Chair of the legislative subcommittee of the Taxation Section of the Ontario Bar Association. He is currently Co-Chai...
Paul Casuccio is the Leader of the firm’s Global Commodity Tax & VAT practice group. He works exclusively in this area, providing practical solutions to client’s indirect tax questions, issues, problems and structures. Paul is a sought after expert in Canada's goods and services tax and harmonized sales tax (GST/HST), provincial sales taxes, employer health tax, land transfer taxes, as well as fuel, carbon, alcohol, tobacco and other indirect taxes. Assisting clients with indi...
Jules Charette practises tax law. He regularly advises businesses, developers, public bodies and financial institutions on the tax aspects of financings, mergers and acquisitions, reorganizations, executive compensation and international transactions. Mr. Charette also represents taxpayers in disputes with the tax authorities. In addition, he advises individuals on estate planning, which has led him to develop expertise in trusts and estates. Mr. Charette is co-chair of our Canadian tax team ...
With over 30 years of tax law experience, Don is skilled at creative problem solving and tax planning for owner-managed businesses. He also has extensive expertise in dispute resolution and litigation for income tax, GST and customs. Don has been a Chartered Accountant (now CPA) since 1981 and a lawyer since 1988. Don has been recognized by The Best Lawyers in Canada as Lawyer of Year for his work in Tax Law in both 2019 and 2021. He was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 2008 and also focuse...
Derek Chiasson is a partner in our tax team. His principal focus is on domestic and international tax aspects of mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance and corporate reorganizations, for public and private corporations. He also regularly advises on tax disputes, commodity taxes and executive compensation. Derek leverages his broad experience to bridge tax, finance and legal aspects of the transactions and reorganizations he works on, while maintaining strong technical skills, attention t...
David W. Chodikoff, B.A., M.A., LL.B., specializes in civil and criminal tax litigation and is the national leader in tax litigation at Miller Thomson. David was a former counsel and a Crown Prosecutor at the Department of Justice. He has over 100 reported decisions. David has appeared in over 550 cases before the courts. David has been recognized by Canadian, American and European authorities as one of the leading tax controversy leaders in the world. He has edited and contributed to 9 tax b...
David Christian is a graduate of Simon Fraser University and the University of British Columbia Law School and a partner of Thorsteinssons, Tax Lawyers. David’s practice covers all taxation matters, with a particular focus on corporate reorganizations and taxation of owner-managed businesses. David was for eight years an adjunct professor of corporate tax law at Allard Hall, the law school at the University of British Columbia. He was for many years a contributor to the tax materials fo...
Peter L. Clark focuses his practice on domestic and international tax law, particularly on corporate and individual income taxation, cross-border transactions, transfer pricing, financing, business structuring, succession planning and domestic and international estate planning. Peter has been recognized as a leading tax law practitioner in the 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2020 editions of The Best Lawyers in Canada (Woodward/White). Peter has considerable experience in mergers and acquisitions,...
Mike Coburn is a tax Partner in Vancouver. His practice includes advising Canadian and international clients on a broad range of tax matters. Clients look to Mike for his extensive experience with a myriad of tax issues including tax implications and structuring of mergers and acquisitions, corporate reorganizations, financings and other business transactions.
Brian Cohen is a partner and lawyer in Gowling WLG’s global Private Client Services Group. Based in Toronto, he assists clients in the areas of estate planning, trusts and personal taxation, with a focus on advising high net worth individuals on succession planning alternatives. Brian also advises donors, charitable organizations, public and private foundations, and not-for-profit organizations regarding the tax implications of formation, registration, governance and planned giving stra...
Michael Colborne received his LL.B. from the University of Manitoba and a LL.M (U.S. tax) from New York University. After clerking at the Federal Court of Canada, Michael joined Thorsteinssons LLP and became a partner in 2005. He has been called to the Bar in Ontario and British Columbia. Michael is the managing partner of Thorsteinssons LLP. Michael’s practice focuses on corporate and international tax planning, regularly advising Canadian and foreign-based multi-national groups on a v...
Pamela Cross is a tax partner in the Ottawa office of BLG and Leader of the Firm’s Private Client Group. Her practice encompasses taxation, and estate and trust planning, as well as tax dispute resolution and voluntary disclosures of unpaid taxes. She regularly advises high net worth families on successful wealth transition and philanthropic strategies. She advices tax-exempt organizations (including charities, not-for-profit organizations and municipal corporations) on tax implications...
Stephanie is a tax and estate planning lawyer in the Tax and Private Wealth Group at Farris. Since her call to the bar in 2004, Stephanie has practised in the areas of taxation, wealth management, and trust and estate planning. Stephanie creates tax-effective estate plans and corporate structures for families and high-net-worth individuals, including wills, estate freezes, all types of trusts and corporate reorganizations. She also assists not-for-profit and charitable organizations in respec...
Julie D’Avignon is a partner in the Tax Group. Her practice focuses on providing tax advice in connection with mergers and acquisitions, corporate reorganizations, equity investments, flow-through share transactions and financings. Julie has extensive experience working with Canadian and international clients, public and private entities, and private equity firms. Julie has particular expertise in resource and energy taxation, including with respect to Canadian and international oil and...
Nancy's practice focuses primarily on the tax aspects of mergers, acquisitions and reorganizations, including cross-border transactions or financings and intragroup restructuring. She has worked on a wide variety of transactions for multinationals, private companies, senior, intermediate and junior resource issuers, income and royalty trusts, and private equity groups. SELECT EXPERIENCE Select recent experience includes: Apollo Global Management LLC-backed Jupiter Resources on its C$2-billion...
With an emphasis on corporate and international tax planning, Mike advises public corporations, owner-managers, First Nations and public sector bodies on income tax and GST matters. Mike holds a Bachelor of Laws degree and Master of Laws degree in United States taxation, possessing a deep level of knowledge on cross-border business structures. He brings over 10 years of experience to his role as a partner in Edmonton and is ranked by Canadian Lexpert® and Best Lawyers in Canada as a leadi...
Alexandre Dufresne is Spiegel Sohmer’s Managing Shareholder and a member of its tax department. His primary areas of practice are tax planning (including insurance), corporate reorganizations and tax litigation (including voluntary disclosures). Alexandre joined the firm in 1998. In 2010, won the “Rising Stars – Leading Lawyers Under 40” annual contest organized by the magazine Lexpert . Since 2009, listed in Lexpert Guide to the Leading US/Canada Cross-border Litigati...
Andrew Etcovitch practises in the areas of corporate tax, particularly in domestic and cross-border corporate financing, corporate reorganizations, and mergers and acquisitions. He is the National Lead of the Corporate Tax Group at Miller Thomson. Andrew also has broad experience in designing tax-efficient ownership structures for owner-managed businesses. Within the scope of his practice, Andrew has represented clients in regard to Revenu Québec and Canada Revenue Agency tax audits.
Cy practises primarily in the areas of taxation and trust law, and is a Senior Tax Partner. He has extensive experience in corporate tax planning, corporate reorganizations, estate planning, trust law, and tax litigation. He has appeared before all levels of Federal tax courts and acts for public companies, international clients and trusts, as well as small business clients. Cy was an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Law, University of Manitoba for over 15 years, teaching all levels of t...
Olivier Fournier is the National Leader of Deloitte Legal Canada LLP. Olivier practices tax law with a focus on tax litigation and tax controversy, from the audit and objection stages to tax appeals before the courts. He regularly assists clients in resolving tax disputes, both in and out of Court, and engages in managing complex tax audits, ensuring that the tax authorities operate within the lawful parameters regarding demands for information and documents and correcting non-compliance issu...
Bill Fowlis, QC, FCPA, FCA, TEP, FEA is a lawyer, a Chartered Professional Accountant/Chartered Accountant, a Trust and Estate Practitioner (TEP) and a Family Enterprise Advisor (FEA). With this complementary professional background, Bill focuses on taxation, corporate, trust, succession, and estate planning law for privately owned businesses, corporations, and high net worth individuals. His practice covers merger and acquisition transactions with a focus on private corporations and dealing ...
With over 25 years of tax experience, John specializes in tax planning, estate planning and dispute resolution for private corporations and family farm organizations. He holds his Bachelor of Laws, along with his Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA), Family Enterprise Advisor (FEA) and Trust and Estate Practitioner (TEP) designations. John lends his wealth of knowledge as a regular presenter at various tax related forums and is recognized as a leading tax lawyer by Best Lawyers in Cana...
Ian Gamble is tax counsel in Canada. He represents public and private clients in the mining, forestry, telecommunications, oil & gas, energy, real estate, and marine sectors. His extensive corporate, business, and international tax experience of over 30 years includes cross-border structures and financing arrangements, foreign affiliates, mergers and acquisitions, flow-through shares, partnership and trust structures, tax opinions, executive compensation, cross-border withholding taxes, n...
Paul Gibney is a partner and practices in the firm’s Toronto office. Paul’s practice focuses on personal, corporate and trust planning for high net worth individuals, family offices, executives, owner-managers and their businesses, both domestic and international, including: corporate reorganizations; estate planning; purchases and sales of businesses; immigration and emigration; non-profit organizations and charities. Paul also represents taxpayers in their dealings with the CRA ...
Sébastien Gingras has extensive experience as a legal and tax advisor. Throughout his career, his tax practice has led him to be involved in various transactions and operations where his involvement has extended well beyond the field of taxation. He advises investment funds, corporations, partnerships, public bodies, pension plans, commercial trusts, mutual funds and other businesses in their transactions and dealings, including investments, mergers and acquisitions, reorganizations an...
Len’s practice focuses on taxation including both income and commodity taxation. He advises both private and public clients primarily on transactional and corporate reorganization matters. A large part of Len’s practice involves working for clients that carry on business outside of Canada. For these clients, Len designs tax efficient structures including utilizing appropriate vehicles and transfer pricing methodologies. He also provides advice to Canadian pension plans in connecti...
A partner in charge of the Taxation group at BCF, Marc-André Godard specializes in the tax aspects of corporate mergers and acquisitions, national and international restructurings, and tax planning for both public and private corporations. His understanding of the business world, his ability to explain tax implications in plain language, and his wide availability help him advise executives on making the best commercial decisions. Marc-André is recognized for his approach and his...
Siobhan practices in all areas of Canadian tax law with an emphasis on cross-border transactions. Appointed Queen’s Counsel in 2020, she is especially skilled at international tax planning, understanding the intricacies between the laws of each country. Before becoming a lawyer, Siobhan earned her Certified Management Accountant designation and practiced accounting across a variety of industries. Siobhan was called to the Alberta bar in 1998, after clerking with the Alberta Court of App...
Laurie Goldbach is a Partner in BLG’s Calgary office. Laurie assists clients with tax litigation and dispute resolution, from the audit and objection stages to appeals before the courts. Laurie regularly appears before all levels of courts in Alberta and has appeared before the Tax Court of Canada, the Federal Court of Canada and the Supreme Court of Canada. Laurie has completed the Chartered Professional Accountants Canada in-depth tax course. Within BLG firm, Laurie is currently Regio...
John Gregory practices principally out of our Vancouver office. John’s practice focuses on personal and corporate taxation, estate planning, corporate reorganizations, and international tax planning. John advises a number of private business groups and high net worth families on tax matters. Their businesses are involved in various sectors including real estate development and investment, hospitality, agriculture and entertainment. John has served as a senior rulings officer with the Ca...
Paul is a partner with Fillmore Riley LLP who practises primarily in the areas of taxation litigation, general commercial litigation, and privacy law. Paul has appeared before the Manitoba Court of Queen’s Bench and Court of Appeal, as well as the Tax Court of Canada and the Federal Courts of Appeal. He has presented numerous times and published many papers on the topics of tax and civil litigation. He has conducted numerous presentations to clients in respect of the implications of pri...
Philippe Hamelin specializes in international and Canadian taxation and represents clients before tax authorities and courts. He is currently involved, as legal counsel, in major files regarding transfer pricing, SR&ED tax credits, payroll deductions and contributions as well as residency and Permanent establishment issues and the taxation of insurance contracts. Philippe also handles various cases involving international and tax treaty issues. As a skilled negotiator, he has resolved fav...
Robert Hayhoe is a leading adviser in the charities and non-profit sector in Canada. Robert also serves as Chair of Miller Thomson’s National Tax Practice Group and sits on the Firm’s Executive Committee. He provides both general counsel and specialized tax advice to charities and not-for-profit organizations across Canada. Robert advises clients on the tax law governing charitable registration and non-profit status. He has experienced dealing with the complex law governing foreig...
As managing partner for Edmonton and Saskatoon, Jeremy’s practice covers a broad spectrum of tax law, including tax planning, GST/HST matters, reorganizations and mergers. Jeremy graduated from the University of Alberta in 2004 with a combined LL.B/MBA degree, where he received a variety of academic awards. Prior to joining Felesky Flynn in 2007, he clerked at the Federal Court of Appeal and practiced law at a leading national firm in Calgary. From respected tax publications to vital re...
M. Elena Hoffstein, FEA, has a practice focused in all areas of estate planning, family business succession planning, corporate reorganization both pre and post mortem planning. She also advises on cross border and international matters, will, trusts and marriage contracts. Elena is also a recognized leader in charity law advising both charities and donors on effective legislative, tax and regulatory matters and on tax effective charitable gifting. Elena frequently advises clients on family b...
Darren Hueppelsheuser’s practice concentrates on income tax law, with an emphasis on the tax aspects of financing and transaction planning for corporations and partnerships in both private and public transactions. Mr. Hueppelsheuser also advises on international tax structuring of Canadian inbound and outbound investments and the tax aspects of debt reorganizations and financial restructurings in creditor proceedings. Mr. Hueppelsheuser regularly presents on tax matters and has written ...
James Hutchinson is a partner at Wildeboer Dellelce LLP practising in the firm’s Tax practice group. James has extensive experience with international tax planning and transfer pricing matters. He works primarily in the areas of structuring both international and domestic transactions, structuring real estate investments and advising on cross-border and international structures including establishing Canadian operations. Prior to joining Wildeboer Dellelce, James was co-chair of the tax...
Tax Law Definition
Canada has a relatively high (tax) rate system. This sees aggregate federal and provincial rates of up to 32% for corporations – but with many provinces moving toward a combined rate of 25% next year or the year after. For individuals, rates go up to 50%.
The system provides constant opportunities for law firms to advise clients in either a proactive fashion – that is structuring transactions from the tax standpoint – or a protectionist, reactive fashion – that is responding to and opposing government tax claims which are considered to be unfounded or otherwise objectionable.
Undoubtedly the most exciting, difficult and complex tax advice and service requirements pertain to merger and acquisitions, in particular where the deal has a cross-border, international element, either "outbound" or "inbound." The tax planning for any of the parties (whether acquirer or target) in respect of target-related disposition gains or go forward taxation of the target provide tax practitioners with a wide scope to bring creative solutions to client needs.
International M&A often brings into play, as part of a law firm's integrated and proactive tax law services, the most controversial, contentious, and fact-intensive aspect of international tax practice, namely the field of pricing cross-border intercompany sale of goods, provision of services, licensing (or other transfers) of intangibles, and group financing-through loans or guarantees. Such "transfer pricing" issues also arise in the on-going operations of MNEs or in relation to non-M&A investment and expansion.
The foregoing should not be seen as negating the challenging Canadian tax practice assignments and mandates that arise in the purely domestic business transaction (including M&A) context.
Our Methodology
Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Our methodology is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.
The Process
Best Lawyers employs a sophisticated, conscientious, rational, and transparent survey process designed to elicit meaningful and substantive evaluations of the quality of legal services. Our belief has always been that the quality of a peer review survey is directly related to the quality of the voters.
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