Department profile
Stikeman Elliott LLP

Tax

Canada Guide 2027 : Nationwide - Canada

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Stikeman Elliott LLP

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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

Band 1

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.
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Work Highlights

Provided by Chambers

  • Stikeman Elliott LLP acted for HPS Investment Partners on its CAD13.5 billion recapitalisation of Garda World Security Corporation.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • Stikeman Elliott has a deep bench of extremely competent corporate and tax legal counsel. The large number of technically excellent lawyers combined with a positive, collegial culture makes them excellent to work with.

    Tax respondentCanada

  • Stikeman Elliott's tax professionals have the very rare gift of being able to explain the tax considerations in a way that makes sense to everyone involved.

    Tax respondentCanada

  • Technically, Stikeman Elliott is top tier. In addition, the firm provides excellent insight into current trends, and strength in technical and factual positions and potential weak areas in the litigation process.

    Tax respondentCanada

  • The Stikeman Elliott tax team stands out for its exceptional technical expertise on complex issues and relentless client availability.

    Tax respondentCanada

  • The team is creative but practical, listens carefully to the client's objectives and incorporates that feedback into their advice. They translate tax-speak into business-speak very well.

    Tax respondentCanada

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Jean-Guillaume Shooner
    Jean-Guillaume Shooner

    Jean-Guillaume Shooner

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

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  • John Lorito
    John Lorito

    John Lorito

    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.

    • I attest to the incredible depth of his knowledge.
      Tax respondentCanada

    • He is as polished a professional as I have met. He is extremely patient and a great tax mind.

      Tax respondentCanada

    • John is a very experienced and capable tax practitioner. He is very knowledgeable and a simplifier in the area of tax.

      Tax respondentCanada

    • John Lorito is a practical, thoughtful and helpful practitioner.

      Tax respondentCanada
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  • Margaret Nixon
    Margaret Nixon

    Margaret Nixon

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

    • I very much like her logical thinking and clear, structured arguments.

      Tax respondentCanada
    • Margaret is just fantastic.
      Tax respondentCanada
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  • Dean A Kraus
    Dean A Kraus

    Dean A Kraus

    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 Kraus brings depth and creative solutions to the table when he is called for.

      Tax respondentCanada

    • He is a smart tax lawyer.

      Tax respondentCanada

    • Dean is very proficient on the tax side and is someone that has substantial market experience.

      Tax respondentCanada
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  • Frank Mathieu
    Frank Mathieu

    Frank Mathieu

    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.

    • My organisation is very confident in Frank's ability to deliver the correct advice in a timely manner. He is a crucial part of our team's success.

      Tax respondentCanada

    • He brings very good technical and practical considerations to the table.

      Tax respondentCanada
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  • Julie D'Avignon
    Julie D'Avignon

    Julie D'Avignon

    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 responsive, knowledgeable and knows tax law very well.

      Tax respondentCanada

    • I have consistently found Julie to be technically excellent and very pragmatic. Her advice is consistently excellent.

      Tax respondentCanada

    • I really enjoy working with Julie as she's always able to make very complex tax matters understandable. She is an absolute pleasure to work with.

      Tax respondentCanada
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  • Pierre-Louis Le Saunier
    Pierre-Louis Le Saunier

    Pierre-Louis Le Saunier

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

    • I think very highly of him.

      Tax respondentCanada

    • Pierre-Louis is a very smart lawyer.

      Tax respondentCanada
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  • John Lennard
    John Lennard

    John Lennard

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

    • I enjoy working with John and getting his insights.

      Tax respondentCanada

    • John provides innovative client service.

      Tax respondentCanada

    • John is very rigorous and incredibly knowledgeable.

      Tax respondentCanada

    • He offers fantastic tax support.

      Tax respondentCanada
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Ranked Individuals at Stikeman Elliott LLP (8)

Nationwide - Canada

Members

Provided by Stikeman Elliott LLP

Stikeman Elliott LLP has rankings in the following guides

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