Department profile

Tax

Global Guide 2026 : Canada

Rankings

Ranked Individuals

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.

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Tax - Canada

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.

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Work Highlights

Provided by Chambers

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

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

Stikeman Elliott is very proactive and explains complex issues in a clear manner.
Tax respondentGlobal
The team always offers great support, provides practical advice and finds innovative solutions.
Tax respondentGlobal
The Stikeman team always makes me feel like I am their most important client.
Tax respondentGlobal
The team can understand a business' preoccupations and has the ability to speak the same language as the business people around the room, not simply focusing on legal jargon.
Tax respondentGlobal
Stikeman is a go-to firm. You want them in your corner, not opposite.
Tax respondentGlobal

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

Band 2
Band 2
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.
John is able to simplify complex matters and find paths forward through complexity.
Tax respondentGlobal
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Band 3
Band 3
Margaret Nixon
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.
Tax respondentGlobal
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Band 4
Band 4
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 is a very capable guy and has good judgment.
Tax respondentGlobal
Dean is never afraid of challenging positions. He has seen a lot and is very creative too.
Tax respondentGlobal
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Band 4
Band 4
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.
He is commercial and practical. His level of expertise and experience allows him to provide technical, but also practical advice.
Tax respondentGlobal
It is always a pleasure and a great experience working with Frank. He is very knowledgeable, efficient and has great expertise.
Tax respondentGlobal
Frank is outstanding. He is smart and knows his stuff.
Tax respondentGlobal
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Band 4
Band 4
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 great. She has been responsive, solves problems and is practical.
Tax respondentGlobal
Julie is always available and very practical in her approach. She is very responsive and easy to brainstorm things with.
Tax respondentGlobal
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Band 4
Band 4
Pierre-Louis Le Saunier
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.
Tax respondentGlobal
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Band 5
Band 5
John Lennard
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 creative, strategic and overall very impressive.
Tax respondentGlobal
John is always attentive and very bright.
Tax respondentGlobal
I really enjoy working with John. Not only is he an outstanding lawyer, but a fine individual.
Tax respondentGlobal
John is easy to work with, efficient and explains things in plain language. He is also practical and business-minded.
Tax respondentGlobal
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.
Tax respondentGlobal
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