Charities/Non-profits | Canada

Borden Ladner Gervais is a well-known full-service law firm with an esteemed and multidisciplinary charities and not-for-profit law group. With substantial experience advising national and international charities and non-profits, the team handles a variety of matters, including integration transactions and governance issues. The law firm is also highly regarded for its strength in charity tax and employment matters, and often acts for prominent clients in the healthcare, arts and culture, and education sectors. Its key lawyers in this area are based in Toronto and Ottawa.

Carters Professional Corporation is a top-tier boutique law firm dedicated to the charities and not-for-profit sector. It is well versed in handling a wide range of matters including regulation, compliance, corporate governance, tax, privacy and risk management, as well as contentious mandates. Trusted advisers to non-profit clients throughout Central Ontario via its offices in Toronto, Ottawa and Orangeville, the law firm also provides national and international services through its relationship with Fasken.

Miller Thomson maintains a pre-eminent, nationwide charities/non-profits practice. With recognised lawyers in Toronto, Vancouver and Montréal, the law firm provides advice to clients on establishing charitable status, governance issues, capital campaigns and integrations, and is also experienced in complex tax structuring and audits carried out by the Canada Revenue Agency. The team also offers considerable depth of experience in handling government consultations on policy issues concerning the charitable and non-profit sector, as well as advising on social impact bonds. Its diverse array of clients includes healthcare institutions and religious organisations, as well as social and economic empowerment and support groups.

Gowling WLG maintains a solid charities and non-profits practice, with particular strength in its Ottawa and Toronto offices. The law firm provides assistance with issues of governance, tax and structuring, among other matters. It represents a significant number of clients in the healthcare sector, covering research organisations and professional bodies, as well as education and religious foundations.

Norton Rose Fulbright has experience advising a wide range of charities and non-profits from various industry sectors, including real estate, healthcare, education and professional associations. Its charities and tax-exempt organisations department is well known for assisting clients with registration, planning, donations, compliance, Canada Revenue Agency audits and general corporate and commercial issues.

Davies is a premier Canadian law firm fielding a compact but highly respected charities practice comprising lawyers in both Toronto and Montréal. It is especially active advising charitable foundations on taxation issues, leveraging the in-depth knowledge of its top-tier tax department. The firm also regularly advises non-profit organisations on a range of corporate governance mandates, and has considerable experience assisting overseas clients with obtaining and maintaining charitable status for their subsidiaries and affiliates in Canada.

Fasken is a leading full-service law firm which is regularly cited as one of the key players for healthcare matters in Canada. This area of expertise extends to advising hospitals and medical organisations on a variety of issues pertaining to charitable donations, including structuring and tax advice, the terms and conditions of endowment funds, as well as disputes arising from perceived conflicts of interest on charitable boards. Fasken also has broader charities know-how, acting for non-profit bodies such as sporting, educational and religious community bodies.