Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP has a full-service tax practice, with extensive experience of complex domestic and cross-border transactions, large-scale corporate reorganizations, funds structuring, energy taxation, and complex financing transactions. The team is recognized for its strength in complex multi-jurisdictional transactions and transfer pricing matters, but also stands out for its tax controversy work. In addition, it is also noted for its strength in indirect taxation, with a bench of specialists devoted to commodity tax and customs, including HST, GST and QST. Contacts include corporate tax specialist Paul Stepak; Jeffrey Shafer and Scott Wilkie, two names to note for transfer pricing advice; and Mark Tonkovich, who specializes in contentious tax work. Jeffrey Trossman is also recommended. Robert Kopstein, Nancy Diep and Jean-Marc Gagnon all left the practice for separate destinations between December 2019 and June 2020; however, the team welcomed partners from Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP and Dentons, and also promoted Casey Richardson-Scott to the partnership in January 2020.

McCarthy Tétrault's fields a nationally recognized team of tax experts, spread across offices in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto and Montréal. Headed by Raj Juneja in Toronto, the team is especially standout in the areas of financial services and financial products taxation, as well as in REITs and private funds taxation. Moreover, the group has considerable experience of cross-border transactions and tax litigation. Of recent note, the team was strengthened by the arrival of Robert Kopstein, who joined from Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP in June 2020 and brings with him a wealth of experience both of domestic and cross-border taxation. Other key figures include corporate transactions specialist Gabrielle Richards and Douglas Cannon, who advises on domestic and cross-border divestitures, corporate reorganizations and financing transactions. Chia-Yi Chua specializes in contentious tax matters. Michel Ranger joined from McMillan LLP in February 2021.

'Combining top tax technical knowledge with top-notch legal work', Torys' tax team works closely with the firm's premier corporate group to assist financial institutions, pension funds and companies with a wide range of transactional matters. The team also stands out for its ability to handle complex international deals, with a strong track record of transactions involving parties in Europe, Asia, Australia and South America. Practice head Jerald Wortsman specializes in domestic and international corporate tax planning and is recognized by clients for his 'vast tax experience'. Also recommended is Corrado Cardarelli, who maintains a broad corporate tax practice covering M&A, private funds, tax-exempt investments and structured financial products.

Leveraging strong bases in commercial centres across Canada in addition to an expansive office network worldwide, Norton Rose Fulbright is sought after by international clients to advise on the full range of Canadian tax matters. Among the team's clients are large corporations in the energy and infrastructure sectors, domestic and multinational lenders and asset managers. Key areas for the practice include transactional tax advice, tax planning and structuring, investigations and litigation services, as well as corporate restructurings and alternative financing arrangements. The team is jointly led by transaction specialist Dion Legge and litigator Dominic Belley from Calgary and Montréal, respectively. Wilfrid Lefebvre QC is also highly regarded for his work on contentious income tax matters, representing clients before the tax authorities and courts.

Dentons is recognized for its experience of transactions in the fields of technology, entertainment and energy. Joint practice head Mark Jadd and up-and-coming partner Larry Nevsky lead the M&A segment of the practice group, working closely with the firm's corporate and securities group, and financial services team. The team also has strengths in tax litigation. Edmonton-based Mark Woltersdorf leads the national tax group. The practice group has a presence across Canada, but is especially strong in Toronto and Edmonton.

Fasken is best known for advising clients in the energy and natural resources sectors, particularly in respect of the tax structuring and planning for large public and private M&A. The team works closely with the firm's premier mining group which generates a significant amount of work demanding specialized tax advice. Christopher Steeves leads the tax practice group from Toronto, and focuses on corporate restructurings and acquisitions involving Canadian businesses.

Boutique tax firm Felesky Flynn LLP has a strong presence in Western Canada, where it advises clients on the tax aspects of cross-border corporate transactions, standalone tax planning and energy taxation. The team is also well versed in tax litigation and audits. Calgary-based Brent Perry QC is a key contact.

Gowling WLG is distinguished by its strength in multi-jurisdictional private equity fund formation and inbound and outbound downstream investment structuring. The firm also features robust tax disputes and executive compensation practices. Paul Carenza leads the national tax practice from Toronto, alongside Steven Novoselac, who heads the tax disputes group. Ottawa-based Dale Hill is another name to note; he leads the firm's transfer pricing and competent authority group. In 2019, Ted Thiessen joined the Calgary office from Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP and Christine Perry joined in Toronto from Keel Cottrelle LLP.

McMillan LLP 'can be counted on to give high-quality and practical tax advice', both on corporate transactions and tax disputes. Headed by Michael Friedman, the team has expertise in the areas of natural resources, pharmaceuticals and automotives, where it advises a variety of domestic and multinational clients on cross-border transactions and transfer pricing matters. The firm is also developing a reputation in PPP project and cannabis-sector transactions.

The team at Aird & Berlis LLP handles the full range of contentious and non-contentious tax matters, from cross-border M&A and corporate reorganizations through to tax disputes. Francesco Gucciardo leads the department from the Toronto office.