Overview
Joseph Yurkovich, K.C., ICD.D is a native Edmontonian with a practice focused on corporate taxation matters, mergers and acquisitions, corporate law and governance. Joe has more than 40 years of mergers and acquisitions experience as lead counsel for purchase or sale of businesses in a wide range of industries including the following: professional hockey, national travel agency, oilfield/oilsands manufacturing and services, multinational datacentre manufacturing partner, auto and equipment dealerships, national automotive retail and service provider, biotech, IT consulting, technology and internet businesses. He has acted as lead counsel on successful take-over bids, shareholder proposals and multijurisdictional M&A and exchangeable securities transactions. Joe has substantial experience in structuring business organizations, including corporate structures, joint ventures and limited and general partnerships for use in a broad range of sectors, including several with private equity and public sector fund participants.
Apart from his secondment to the tax group of an international accounting firm, Joe has spent his entire career with Miller Thomson. He joined the Alberta predecessor firm in 1981 and was managing partner of that firm for three years immediately prior to merger with Miller Thomson.
Joe participated in consultations with Alberta Government Services and the Corporate Commercial Advisory Committee of the Law Society of Alberta regarding the 2005 amendments to the Alberta Business Corporation Act and the legislative provisions for Alberta unlimited liability corporations.
Joe has been a panelist and presented papers for seminars and courses on income tax and business law conducted by the Legal Education Society of Alberta, the Canadian Tax Foundation, and the Canadian Bar Association, Alberta Branch.
Professional achievements & leadership
- Best Lawyers in Canada, Mergers & Acquisitions, 2008 - 2025; Trusts & Estates, 2008 - 2025; Corporate Governance Practice, 2013 - 2025; Corporate Tax, 2014, 2020 - 2021, 2023 - 2025; Corporate Law 2014 - 2025
- Lawyer of the Year, The Best Lawyers in Canada – Mergers & Acquisitions, 2013, 2018; Corporate Law 2019; Tax Law, 2015, 2020
- The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory, Corporate Commercial, 2014 - 2023; Corporate Tax, 2013 - 2022, 2024; Estate & Personal Tax Planning, 2010 - 2012, 2020, 2022
- Graduate of Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD) Directors Education Program, 2007
- King’s Counsel (appointed Queen’s Counsel in 2002)
Notable matters
- Experienced with structuring limited partnership, cross-border exchangeable share, and initial public offering transactions for investment in clients by public corporations, private equity and pension fund administrators, including CPPIB and AIMCo.
- Has been retained to assist other major Edmonton law firms as counsel to the Board of Directors or minority employee shareholder groups on major divestiture transactions.
Thought leadership
- Co-author, “Federal Budget Review,” Insights, March 21, 2013
- Co-author, “Federal Budget Review,” Insights, March 29, 2012
- Author, “2010-2011 Alberta Budget Highlights,” Tax Notes, July 1 2010
- Author, “Limited Liability Companies and Hybrids,” Tax Notes, Fall 2007
- Author, “Alberta Unlimited Liability Corporations,” Tax Notes, Winter 2005
- Author, “Borrowing from Authorized Foreign Banks,” Tax Notes, Winter 2003
- Author, “Recent corporate and income tax developments of interest,” 2003
- Author, “Non-Competition Payments Taxable as Capital Gains – The Manrell Case,” Tax Notes, Winter 2002
- Author, “Taxpayer Migration – Reporting Requirements,” Tax Notes, Spring 2000
Community involvement
- Director, Edmonton Mountain Bike Alliance, 2015 – Present
- Vice-President, Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta, 2005 -2014
- Founding Member and Vice-President, Terwillegar Riverbend Advisory Council, 2003 -2012
Professional memberships
- Member, Law Society of Alberta
- Member, Canadian Bar Association
- Member, Edmonton Bar Association
- Member, Canadian Tax Foundation
- Member, International Fiscal Association
- Member, Alberta Chapter Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD.D)
- Member, Association for Corporate Growth
- Member and Past Edmonton Executive Committee Member, Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP)
Bar admissions & education
- Alberta, 1982
- LL.B., University of Alberta, 1981
