About

Provided by Stikeman Elliott LLP

Stikeman Elliott is a firm that was founded on tax expertise and the desire to provide pragmatic advice to our clients that is insightful, creative and tailored to protect each client’s business interests. This legacy continues to influence how our lawyers approach legal advice, helping clients accomplish their goals in the most tax-efficient manner
possible.

Clients benefit from a full suite of services for domestic and international tax advice, tax planning and tax controversy matters on both standalone tax mandates as well as integrated with corporate, investment, real estate, commercial matters. Drawing upon the expertise of each of our team members, Stikeman Elliott provides clients with efficient, expert tax advice that reflects a full consideration of their tax matters. These clients include publicly listed and private entities, Canadian pension funds, foreign sovereign wealth funds, multinational companies, REITs, infrastructure funds, and US and global private equity funds.

Many clients have integrated operations that cross multiple borders, requiring creative solutions in order to achieve their business objectives while optimizing their tax position.  Working closely with counsel in other jurisdictions, we create structures that minimize Canadian and foreign taxes and avoid triggering income or withholding taxes elsewhere, through the repatriation of excess cash. www.stikeman.com



Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Tax - Nationwide - Canada

2
Band 2

What the Team is Known For

Stikeman Elliott is well known for its national and cross-border capabilities, with core strength in Montréal, Toronto and Calgary. The firm operates a diverse tax practice with a broad roster of both domestic and international clients, covering pension funds, REITs, private equity funds and blue-chip corporates on all manner of tax issues, with a focus on transactions and investments. The team continues to grow its tax litigation component and offers experience of tax disputes before all court levels. The firm has additional expertise in the energy, real estate and retail sectors.

Work Highlights

  • Stikeman Elliott acted as Canadian counsel to Arcadium Lithium in its acquisition by Rio Tinto.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

John Lorito
2
John Lorito
2
Band 2

Based in Toronto, John Lorito continues to be regarded as a leading tax expert in Canada, providing support both on significant cross-border transactions and in high-stakes litigation.

John is able to simplify complex matters and find paths forward through complexity.

Margaret Nixon
3
Margaret Nixon
3
Band 3
Margaret Nixon works in tax disputes, including appeals. Her clients include corporations and individuals.

Margaret is very experienced and has confidence dealing with tax authorities.

4
Dean A Kraus
4
Band 4
Dean Kraus maintains a commendable reputation for his tax counsel on transactional mandates, including cross-border M&A and privatisations. He operates out of the firm's Toronto office.

Dean is never afraid of challenging positions. He has seen a lot and is very creative too.

Dean is a very capable guy and has good judgment.

Frank Mathieu
4
Frank Mathieu
4
Band 4
Montréal-based Frank Mathieu is regularly instructed for advice on corporate tax issues, including commercial transactions. He has also played a crucial role in both shareholder litigation and high-stakes corporate restructuring matters.

Frank is outstanding. He is smart and knows his stuff.

He is commercial and practical. His level of expertise and experience allows him to provide technical, but also practical advice.

It is always a pleasure and a great experience working with Frank. He is very knowledgeable, efficient and has great expertise.

Julie D'Avignon
4
Julie D'Avignon
4
Band 4

Julie D'Avignon is well known in the Canadian market for handling a host of tax matters. She is regularly called upon to advise on transactions. She is head of Stikeman Elliott's tax group in Calgary.

Julie is always available and very practical in her approach. She is very responsive and easy to brainstorm things with.

Julie is great. She has been responsive, solves problems and is practical.

Pierre-Louis Le Saunier
4
Pierre-Louis Le Saunier
4
Band 4
Pierre-Louis Le Saunier is an experienced tax litigator. He often works on GAAR cases.

Pierre-Louis is very talented and has very good relationships with clients.

John Lennard
5
John Lennard
5
Band 5

John Lennard works on transactional matters for public and private companies. He is based in Stikeman Elliott's Toronto office and co-heads the tax group.

John is always attentive and very bright.

John is creative, strategic and overall very impressive.

John is a full package practitioner. He is exceptionally bright, but is always sensitive to what the client's needs are and how to get there in a common sense way.

John is easy to work with, efficient and explains things in plain language. He is also practical and business-minded.

I really enjoy working with John. Not only is he an outstanding lawyer, but a fine individual.

Jean-Guillaume Shooner
Jean-Guillaume Shooner
Spotlight

Jean-Guillaume Shooner is expert in indirect tax matters. He regularly handles matters relating to GST and QST.

Jean-Guillaume is excellent and knowledgeable, but he also knows our business very well which is always helpful.

Jean-Guillaume is well-recognised as an excellent practitioner.

Ranked Lawyers at
Stikeman Elliott LLP

Provided by Chambers
Filter by
Band

Nationwide - Canada

Tax

John Lorito
2
John Lorito
2
Band 2
4
Dean A Kraus
4
Band 4
Frank Mathieu
4
Frank Mathieu
4
Band 4
Julie D'Avignon
4
Julie D'Avignon
4
Band 4
John Lennard
5
John Lennard
5
Band 5
Tax: Indirect Tax

Jean-Guillaume Shooner
Jean-Guillaume Shooner
Spotlight
Tax: Litigation

Margaret Nixon
3
Margaret Nixon
3
Band 3
Pierre-Louis Le Saunier
4
Pierre-Louis Le Saunier
4
Band 4