Increasingly, taxation plays an enhanced role in organizations as in-house tax professionals and outside counsel become more involved in both shaping and realizing the corporation’s strategic business objectives. This business-facing posture is particularly valuable in the area of mergers and acquisitions, corporate reorganizations and restructurings.
Maximizing tax efficiency and minimizing potential tax risks are critical to the success of transactions that involve an acquisition, divestiture, financing, reorganization or restructuring. These are just some of the taxation-related issues that concern corporate leadership and in-house tax professionals throughout the negotiation and deal-structuring process. They must also fully understand the tax consequences of the transaction and consider the possibility of an assessment – especially in the current environment with heightened scrutiny from tax authorities.
Osler’s group of taxation experts act as a valued partner to businesses, offering their deep experience, unparalleled insight and industry-acknowledged expertise to ensure the organization’s concerns are addressed and objectives are met as effectively as possible. Working in collaboration with clients – and in conjunction with the rest of Osler’s multidisciplinary team– our tax lawyers are integral to the successful structuring and completion of transactions and focus on
- developing innovative and tax efficient transaction structures, including the form of the transaction, the type of consideration, the identification of the tax objectives driving the economics of the deal and the most appropriate financing options
- drafting and negotiating tax aspects of transaction agreements, and undertaking related due diligence
- managing tax risks throughout the transaction and ensuring the deal does not create undue risk for the company or increase its existing risk profile
- anticipating and handling scrutiny of the transaction by tax authorities and mitigating the potential consequences of that scrutiny (such as assessments/audits and possible additional payments, disputes and litigation)
- keeping abreast of all relevant tax legislation, regulations and treaties to ensure compliance and minimize scrutiny from tax authorities
Osler has provided taxation advice on many of the most significant transactions undertaken by Canadian corporations, partnerships, trusts and other entities within and outside Canada, and by foreign corporations, and other entities within Canada.
Taxation