Tailored Service from Industry Leaders
Our clients are a diverse group of charities, not-for-profits, associations, clubs, and religious organizations, but we take the same value-added approach to each one, catering to each organization’s individual needs.
Whether advising on tax compliance strategies and structures for charities and non-profits operating across multiple jurisdictions, helping to secure and structure mission-related investments, or restructuring charities and non-profits to generate revenue from innovative sources, we have the specialized knowledge and experience needed to help organizations achieve a sustainable long-term advantage.
Members of our team are recognized leaders in the sector, having written textbooks on charity law, including tax and other regulatory regimes. We also present at all major Canadian legal and sector conferences on charities and not-for-profit issues. Our lawyers are active in government relations on behalf of the charities and not-for-profit sector.
Firm-wide and nationwide Integration
With offices in Ontario, Québec, British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan, we are well-positioned to assist Canadian and International organizations on all aspects relevant to their activities, including tax, regulatory matters and cross-border resourcing. We offer these specialized services in both English and French.
We typically assume the role of General Counsel, providing clients with access to a broad range of services and support from other key practices at Miller Thomson; or the role of Special Counsel, working collaboratively with our clients’ usual legal counsel to deliver specialized charity law assistance. Our lawyers also represent charities successfully in contentious CRA audits.
Comprehensive Legal Support
In our general counsel or specialized counsel role we assist charities and not-for-profits with a wide range of services, including:
- Compliance with Income Tax Act (Canada), Taxation Act (Quebec) as well as Canada Revenue Agency and Revenue Quebec requirements
- Internal compliance audits and risk management advice
- Interpretation of provincial laws on investments, privacy and fundraising
- Incorporation or registration in jurisdictions across Canada
- Annual corporate requirements, including meetings, minutes, and filings
- Governance and by-law changes
- Corporate governance issues and disputes
- Corporate integrations and restructurings
- Protection against liabilities
- Obtaining charitable status
- Harmonizing foreign and domestic operations of registered charities
- Maximizing the impact of fundraising and gift agreements
- Structuring Social enterprises and social finance arrangements and establishing mission driven investment funds
- Creation of governance and operational policies dealing with issues such as investments, gift acceptance, and conflicts of interest
- Addressing other legal matters, including real estate, employment, health law, charitable gaming, education law and intellectual property needs
- Direct advocacy support on complex matters
