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John Sorensen, B. Mus., M. Mus., J.D., LL.M.
Overview
Ranked as leading Canadian Tax Controversy professional by the International Tax Review, with background in legal research and writing, dispute resolution and litigation, including significant ...
John Sorensen, B. Mus., M. Mus., J.D., LL.M.
Overview
Ranked as leading Canadian Tax Controversy professional by the International Tax Review, with background in legal research and writing, dispute resolution and litigation, including significant experience with:
- Advising on domestic and international income tax and GST/HST, and occasionally other provincial taxes including land transfer tax and tobacco tax;
- Successfully resolving tax disputes at the audit and objection stages and through hearings before the Tax Court of Canada, including matters involving the general anti-avoidance rule, proceeds of crime, directors’ liability, GST/HST and provincial taxes, foreign accrual property income, the thin capitalization rules, shareholder benefits, inventory valuation, scientific research and experimental development tax credits, the taxation of partnerships and more; and
- Rectification applications, Federal Court applications, voluntary disclosures and fairness applications to the Canada Revenue Agency.
Experience
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2007 to present |
Gowling Lafleur Henderson LLP – Tax and tax dispute resolution |
|
2006 / 2007 |
Lerners LLP – Tax and tax dispute resolution |
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2005 / 2006 |
Tax Court of Canada – Articling student / Judicial clerkship |
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2000 / 2004 |
Banff Centre for the Arts – Fellowship and Summer Program Director |
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1997 / 2000 |
Ocean Way Recording and Cello Studios, Los Angeles, CA – Multi-platinum and Grammy Award winning recording engineer |
Education
|
2011 |
Osgoode Hall Law School – LL.M. in Tax Law |
|
2005 |
Osgoode Hall Law School – JD (Intensive Program in Tax Law) |
|
1996 |
McGill University – M. Mus. |
|
1993 |
St. Francis Xavier University – B. Mus. |
|
Other: |
CICA In-Depth Tax Course Parts I & II (2008/2009) & GST/HST Course (2012) Osgoode Intensive Trial Advocacy Workshop (2009) OBA Tax Law for Lawyers (2008) |
Professional Memberships
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Law Society of Upper Canada |
|
The Advocates’ Society |
|
Canadian Tax Foundation |
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Ontario Bar Association – Tax Section Executive Committee |
Select Publications and Presentations
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Non-Criminal Penalties under the Income Tax Act, Proceedings of the 2013 CTF Ontario Regional Conference, October 29, 2013 (with Michael Belz of Deloitte LLP) |
|
Jarvis Principles Under Siege in Piersanti v The Queen, OBA Tax Section Newsletter, October 3, 2013, Vol. 13, No. 7 |
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Reverse Auditing: Accessing the CRA’s Records Pertaining to Taxpayers, OBA Tax Section presentation, November 7, 2013 |
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Protecting Tax Accrual Workpapers – Revisited … Again …, BorderCrossings Newsletter Vol. 6, no. 2 - October 2013 (with Paula Deighton of KPMG LLP) |
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A Comprehensive Discussion of Penalties – 2013 Prairie Provinces Tax Conference, Canadian Tax Foundation, Edmonton, Alberta, May 26, 2013 (with Dustin Burbank of E&Y LLP) |
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The CRA’s New and Aggressive Tax Enforcement Powers and How Taxpayers Can Protect Themselves, Federated Press International Tax Planning Journal, Vol. 18, No. 4, 1270 to 1274 |
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Guindon, Third Party Penalties Revisited – Canadian Tax Journal, Volume 61, No. 2 |
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Policies, Penalties and Tax Dispute Resolution – Ontario Bar Association presentation, London, Ontario, May 2013 |
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Canadian Non-Resident Trust Rules – Case Studies, Carswell BorderCrossings Newsletter, Vol. 6, No. 1, April 2013 |
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Audit Inquiry Letters and FIN 48 Advice: The Tip of the Iceberg, Ontario Bar Association presentation and paper, December 2012 |
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Voluntary Disclosure and Taxpayer Relief - Canadian Tax Foundation presentation, September 2012 |
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Executor Liability: Dealing with Historic Tax Non-Compliance in Canada and the United States, Carswell BorderCrossings Newsletter, Vol. 5, No. 2, July 2012 (with Paula Deighton of KPMG) |
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To Fight or Not to Fight – To Pay or Not to Pay: Factors to Consider When Dealing With Tax Assessments, CA Magazine, May 2012 |
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Tax Court of Canada 2011 Canadian Tax Foundation Update, OBA Tax Section Newsletter, Vol. 22, No. 2, June 2012 |
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The Federal Court of Appeal Settles Some Settlement Questions?, Canadian Tax Foundation Journal, Volume 60, No. 1, 2012 |
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Director’s Liability: Execution Against Primary Debtor, Canadian Tax Highlights, Vol. 20, No.3, March 2012 |
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Lack of Disclosure Fatal to Government’s Case, Canadian Tax Focus (February 2012) |
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Extended Reassessment Period for Transactions with Non-Arm’s Length Non-Residents, Ontario Bar Association Taxation Newsletter, Vol. 21, No. 2, April 2011 |
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TCC Settlements, Canadian Tax Highlights, Vol. 19, No. 3, March 2011 |
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If There’s Smoke, Is There Fire?, CA Magazine, March 2011 |
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Move Quickly on Voluntary Tax Disclosure, Law Times, November 8 2010 |
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Is the Minister a Proper Party to a Rectification Application?, Canadian Tax Journal, (2009), Vol. 57, No. 4 |
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Lang v. M.N.R., The New Handbook for Determining a Worker’s Status as an Employee or Independent Contractor, Canadian Tax Journal, (2008), Vol. 56, No. 1 |
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The Use of Special Purpose Trusts, Proceedings of the 59th Annual Canadian Tax Foundation Conference, 2007 CR p.35:1 |
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Alternative Basis for Reassessments and Waivers, Ontario Bar Association Taxation Newsletter, Vol. 18, No. 1, 2007 |
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The Use of Technical Notes in Statutory Interpretation, Tax Litigation, Vol. XIV, No. 1, 2006 |
Sergio R. Karas, B.A., J.D.., is a Certified Specialist in Canadian Citizenship and Immigration Law by the Law Society of Ontario and an internationally recognized expert in Canadian immigration law.
Mr. Karas has helped hundreds of people successfully establish themselves ...
Sergio R. Karas, B.A., J.D.., is a Certified Specialist in Canadian Citizenship and Immigration Law by the Law Society of Ontario and an internationally recognized expert in Canadian immigration law.
Mr. Karas has helped hundreds of people successfully establish themselves in Canada. He has been involved with many widely reported, high-profile cases. He represents individuals and multinational corporations to achieve their immigration objectives and implement successful relocation strategies.
Mr. Karas contributes to the press by providing current information about Canadian immigration law and policy. His articles are published in several languages in national and international journals, and he provides immigration insight and commentary to Canada's national press. He is a regular guest on local, national and international radio and television programs, and hosted his own show "Immigration and You" on ITV and Vision of Asia broadcasted in New York and New Jersey. He is the Editor of the Global Business Immigration Handbook published by Reuters, and contributing writer on immigration issues for Canadian HR Reporter, and Canadian Employment Law Today, both publications for Human Resources managers. He was an instructor in immigration law at Sheridan College in Toronto.
Mr. Karas is an honors graduate in Political Science from York University and obtained his Law degree from Osgoode Hall Law School. He speaks fluent English, French, and Spanish and has a working knowledge of Italian, Portuguese and German. He is a member of the Law Society of Ontario and the Canadian Bar Association (CBA), Past Chair of the Citizenship and Immigration Section of the Ontario Bar Association (OBA), Past Chair of the Immigration and Nationality Committee of the International Bar Association (IBA) and Past Chair of the Canada Committee, and current co-Chair of the International Ethics Committee of the American Bar Association (ABA) Section of International Law. He is also a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) and has been invited on numerous occasions to address lawyers and human resources managers at major international professional gatherings. He is listed in Who is Who in Corporate Immigration Law, Thought Leaders, and Best Lawyers as a leading immigration lawyer. He has been named Martindale Hubbell Platinum Client Champion for several consecutive years.
Mr. Karas has been instrumental in effecting changes to Canadian immigration visa policies through his involvement in US-Canada relations and border security issues. Multinational corporations and community organizations alike engage him in an advisory capacity, conducting staff seminars and providing guidance. He was a member of the Board of Directors of JIAS (Jewish Immigrant Aid Services) in Toronto for ten years. He has been profiled in the book "Journey to Home: Canadian Immigrant and Refugee Stories of Hope and courage".
In addition to his primary role as an immigration lawyer, Mr. Karas' involvement in the international scene goes far beyond the provision of routine legal services. He was catapulted to the world spotlight for his work on behalf of Holocaust survivors and their heirs claiming dormant Swiss bank accounts and gold stolen by the Nazis during WWII. He was profiled in the book "Hitler's Silent Partners: Swiss Banks, Nazi Gold and the Pursuit of Justice" by award-winning journalist Isabel Vincent and published worldwide in English, French, German and Italian. Adam LeBor, a foreign correspondent for the Times of London, has also quoted him extensively in his book "Hitler's Secret Bankers". His work has earned him international praise and has been the subject of several television documentaries.
Karas Immigration Law Professional Corporation, headquartered in Toronto, Canada, is dedicated to the successful settlement of qualified immigrants including professionals, self-employed, entrepreneurs, and investors, and to assisting corporations to implement successful migration strategies for managerial, executive, and technical personnel. It also represents family-class immigrants and sponsored relatives. It assists clients with US Consular processing and NAFTA petitions. Karas Immigration Law Professional Corporation is a multilingual law firm and provides services to its international clientele in Canada and worldwide.
Karas Immigration Law Professional Corporation is a founding member of VISALAW International, the global immigration lawyers alliance.
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