The result of Lexpert’s comprehensive annual peer survey puts Québec’s top corporate tax lawyers at the forefront. Check out who made the list below. For the complete roster of the province’s most recommended corporate tax lawyers and law firms, visit our practice area rankings list.
Corporate tax law is the branch of legal profession governing systems of taxation used for taxing incorporated entities, including businesses, financial institutions and not-for-profit organizations.
Most frequently recommended corporate tax lawyers
Brian Bloom
Law firm: Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP
Year called to the Bar: 1992 (QC); 1998 (ON)
Brian Bloom is a partner at full-service business law firm Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP. He is recognized as one of Canada’s best corporate tax lawyers. Bloom advises on a range of tax matters for both public and private sector clients, with an emphasis on cross-border mergers and acquisitions, international tax planning and transfer pricing. He is regularly consulted for his expertise in structuring complex major transactions, including the first tax-deferred conversion of a mutual fund corporation into a REIT and the first Enhanced Equipment Trust Certificate aircraft financing in Canada. Bloom also advises high-net-worth families on trust and estate matters and has advised the Canadian government on e-commerce taxation. Bloom is a tax lecturer at McGill University’s Faculty of Law.
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Mark D. Brender
Law firm: Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP
Year called to the Bar: 1990
Mark D. Brender is a partner and the head of the tax group at Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP’s Montréal office. He is also currently the chair of the board of governors of the Canadian Tax Foundation. Brender advises on some of the most important business transactions and tax disputes. His practice focuses on domestic and international tax-planning and dispute resolution. Brender advises clients on cross-border and domestic mergers and acquisitions, corporate reorganizations, spin-offs and financings. He has extensive experience in advising Canadian and foreign multi-national corporations, private equity and venture capital funds and privately owned businesses. Brender also advises individuals and private family enterprises on succession and estate planning. He is considered as among the country’s top corporate tax lawyers. His firm specializes in business law.
Frédéric Harvey
Law firm: KPMG Law LLP
Year called to the Bar: 1987
Frédéric Harvey is a lead partner and the tax leader in the transactional team at business law firm KPMG Law LLP. He has extensive knowledge in mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, international tax and corporate reorganizations. Harvey acts as a strategic tax advisor in complex national and cross-border business transactions. His advice is also sought in areas related to structuring, foreign investment in Canada and renewable energy projects. Harvey is considered among the leading corporate tax lawyers in the country.
Michael N. Kandev
Law firm: Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP
Year called to the Bar: 2002 (ON); 2003 (QC)
Michael N. Kandev is partner at Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP’s tax and private equity practices. He specializes in cross-border taxation. Kandev works with major Canadian, US and other publicly traded companies, private equity and hedge funds and tax-exempt institutions on investments, divestments, financings, mergers and acquisitions, reorganizations and real estate and resource projects. He provides counsel on disputes with tax authorities and is an expert in international tax issues and transfer pricing matters. Kandev also advises individuals on estate planning, personal trusts, and immigration and emigration matters. He is recognized as among the best corporate tax lawyers in Canada. Kandev is a frequent speaker at tax conferences in Canada and abroad. He has published extensively in a variety of tax periodicals and has lectured on taxation at McGill University and Université de Montréal.
Frank Mathieu
Law firm: Stikeman Elliott LLP
Year called to the Bar: 2003 (QC); 2003 (New York)
Frank Mathieu is a partner at full-service business law firm Stikeman Elliott LLP. He also heads the firm’s tax group in Montréal. Mathieu specializes in Canadian income tax law, including the income tax aspects of mergers and acquisitions, and corporate reorganizations and restructurings in a cross-border context. He boasts extensive expertise advising foreign private equity funds in relation to their Canadian investments. Mathieu is a frequent lecturer and speaker at various conferences. He is considered one of the top corporate tax lawyers in the country.
Christian Meighen
Law firm: McCarthy Tétrault LLP
Year called to the Bar: 1998
Christian Meighen is a partner at McCarthy Tétrault LLP’s national tax group. He devotes his practice to corporate tax and tax planning. Meighen advises on the tax aspects of mergers and acquisitions, and domestic and international corporate reorganizations. He acts for large Canadian and foreign corporations in matters relating to general corporate tax issues, and in mergers and acquisitions both at domestic and cross-border levels. Meighen is considered among the country’s leading corporate tax lawyers. He is a frequent speaker on tax matters at conferences and seminars and has authored or co-authored articles and presentations for various legal organizations.
Robert Raizenne
Law firm: Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP
Year called to the Bar: 1981 (QC); 1997 (ON)
Robert Raizenne is a partner at Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP. He boasts extensive experience in tax planning matters, including cross-border and domestic mergers and acquisitions, corporate reorganizations and restructurings, corporate finance, international tax and trusts. Raizenne is also an experienced tax litigator. He is considered one of the best corporate tax lawyers in Canada. Raizenne is an adjunct professor of tax law at McGill University's Faculty of Law and the Faculty of Law at the University of Toronto. He is also a sought-after speaker and writer on tax topics.
Manon Thivierge
Law firm: Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP
Year called to the Bar: 1986
Manon Thivierge is a partner at Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP’s tax group. She focuses on domestic and cross-border tax law, with an emphasis on the taxation of mergers and acquisitions, financings and corporate reorganizations. Thivierge advises shareholders and directors in relation to personal tax matters and estate planning. She has also authored numerous publications on tax matters and frequently speaks on this subject. Thivierge has been active in legal professional associations. She is recognized as one of Canada’s top corporate tax lawyers.
Marie-Emmanuelle Vaillancourt
Law firm: Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP
Year called to the Bar: 1999
Marie-Emmanuelle Vaillancourt is a partner and coordinator at the tax practice at Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP’s Montréal office. She works closely with clients, primarily in Canada and the US, on all aspects of their domestic and international tax planning. Vaillancourt advises clients on tax matters across a broad range of critical business activities, including corporate reorganizations, mergers and acquisitions, real estate, financings and restructurings. She also regularly acts for public and private companies and their shareholders, and pension and investment funds. Vaillancourt has significant expertise in advising high-net-worth clients on their estate tax planning and trust matters. She is considered as among the leading corporate tax lawyers in the country.
Consistently recommended corporate tax lawyers
Nathan Boidman
Law firm: Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP
Year called to the Bar: 1981
Nathan Boidman is a senior counsel at Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP. He specializes in taxation law. Boidman advises clients on international tax matters, with a focus on cross-border mergers and acquisitions, financings, joint ventures, partnerships and business trusts. He also counsels clients on transfer pricing and other cross-border tax disputes with the Canada Revenue Agency. Boidman is a prolific author and speaker on tax law. He is recognized as among the top corporate tax lawyers in Canada.
Derek Chiasson
Law firm: Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP
Year called to the Bar: 1998
Derek Chiasson is a partner in the Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP’s tax team. He devotes his practice to domestic and international tax aspects of mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance and corporate reorganizations for public and private corporations. Chiasson also regularly advises on tax disputes, commodity taxes and executive compensation. He boasts extensive experience to bridge tax, finance and legal aspects of the transactions and reorganizations. He is considered as among the leading corporate tax lawyers in Canada. His firm is one of the largest business law firms in the country.
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Claude E. Jodoin
Law firm: Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP
Year called to the Bar: 1987 (QC); 1988 (ON)
Claude E. Jodoin is a partner at full-service business law firm Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP. He specializes in tax law and is an expert in business financing, financial instruments, the purchase and sale of businesses, corporate reorganizations, including cross-border acquisition transactions involving the issuance of exchangeable shares. His vast experience is regularly sought in major files involving large public issues of securities on behalf of financial institutions, the establishment of complex financial structures and the reorganization of important national and international public and private corporations. Jodoin works closely with corporations involved in the high technology and biotechnology sectors, developing structures to benefit from scientific research and experimental development tax incentives. Within the course of his practice, he has also been called upon to represent clients before the Québec Revenue Agency, the Canada Revenue Agency and the Canada Border Services Agency. Jodoin is considered one of the country’s top corporate tax lawyers.
Ryan Rabinovitch
Law firm: Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP
Year called to the Bar: 2006
Ryan Rabinovitch is a partner at Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP’s tax group in Montréal. He devotes his practice to corporate taxation, international tax planning and corporate reorganizations. Rabinovitch has authored articles in several legal publications and is a member of numerous legal professional organizations. He is recognized as among the country’s leading corporate tax lawyers.