Instructors

Come and Join us and learn from not 1, not 2, not 3 but 4 excellent instructors. We will be presenting topics that you won't be able to access again this year so don't miss out. 

Manu Kakkar CPA, CA, TEP, MTax

Kim Tabac CHRP

Adam Bennett 

& 

Ken Sedgewick

Manu has over 20 years of experience in taxation in both domestic and international, personal and corporate taxation as well as expert witness reports and testimony. 

He is an award winning and prolific tax writer. His Master of Taxation thesis on butterfly reorganizations won 2 awards and was published in the Canadian Tax Journal. Manu has published and presented over 250 tax articles and presentations since 2001 across Canada. Manu is an authority in taxation as his name has been cited 29 times in the Income Tax Act.

Manu has taught tax at The Canadian Institute of Chartered Professional Accountants, The Canadian Tax Foundation and The Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners, of and various provincial accounting bodies across Canada.

Manu sits on the Steering Committees for the Canadian Institute of Chartered Professional Accountants’ National Conference on Income Taxes; the Canadian Tax Foundation Laval Program Committee; CPA Canada's Small and Medium Practitioner’s Tax Committee; and the Canadian Tax Foundation's Ontario Tax Conference. Manu is currently serving a three-year term on the Canadian Tax Foundation’s Board of Governors.

Alex is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario (CA), the Certified General Accountants of Ontario (CGA), and is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), licensed to practice public accounting by the State of Texas. He has completed all three levels of the CICA In-Depth Tax Course.

 He has over 17 years of experience working in the accounting departments of large companies and as a public practitioner. Over the years Alex helped many private clients with their tax structuring and estate planning needs.

 Furthermore, Alex also assists in Canadian and US tax compliance and various other tax related matters.  

 Alex is heavily involved in the tax community and is a member of the Canadian Tax Foundation (CTF) where he has published articles for the CTF and presented at various events for the CTF.

 In addition to this Alex has also presented at events for CPA Ontario and other industry specific events finally, he also facilitates for the CPA Canada In depth tax course.

David Baker lives in Waterloo, Ontario.  For 21 years, David operated his own public accounting practice in nearby Elmira, serving a wide variety of small and medium-sized entities.  For 31 consecutive years, David also served as a seminar leader and case study author for the Ontario CA Institute’s School of Accountancy.  During that period, he also taught accounting part-time at the University of Waterloo.

After retiring from public practice, David began concentrating on writing and presenting professional development courses in accounting, assurance and ethics.  Over the past 20 years, he has presented his courses to accounting firms and professional groups across Canada – including here at AJAG where we have featured David’s courses since 2005.

Rino was a partner and the leader of the Indirect Tax Practice for the Large Market Region of BDO Canada, LLP. He has more than twenty years of tax experience, specializing in planning for HST, GST, PST, and employment related taxes for owner-managed businesses.

Rino has authored and taught courses internally for BDO Canada, has been published in CMA magazine, and presented at the CICA National Tax Conference.

Rino is an active member of the community and is the Past President of the Victoria Order of Nurses – Hamilton Wentworth Branch and continues to volunteer his time to the VON. He has also been an active member of Hamilton Habitat for Humanity and the Knights of Columbus.

Rino has been an AJAG instructor since 2004.

Adam Bennett is a Certified Mindset Coach, Certified Axiology Practitioner and former NHL Player. For the past 30 years, he’s shared the Champion’s Mindset tools that successful people use in sport, business and life!

At an early stage in his professional hockey career, Adam became attuned to the benefits of mental conditioning. This daily focus made him a full-time NHL player! It was, also, mental mindset that became the foundation of his resilience through post-career business pursuits and life’s challenges.

Jack Bernstein is the senior tax partner of Aird & Berlis LLP and chair of the firm's International Tax Practice. Jack is a member of the firm's Tax Group and Tax Litigation Group, as well as the Mergers and Acquisitions Team.

Jack is recognized as one of the leading Canadian tax lawyers in international tax planning, mergers and acquisitions, corporate restructuring, reorganizations, and financing. He is experienced in dealing with public and private corporations, and has also advised hedge funds, venture capital funds and real estate funds.

Among his many special designations, Jack has served as the Senior Vice Chair of Taxes and Member of the Executive of the Taxation Committee, International Bar Association, is the Former Governor, Canadian Tax Foundation, and a Member of the Council, International Fiscal Association (Canadian Branch).

Manu has over 20 years of experience in taxation in both domestic and international, personal and corporate taxation as well as expert witness reports and testimony. 

He is an award winning and prolific tax writer. His Master of Taxation thesis on butterfly reorganizations won 2 awards and was published in the Canadian Tax Journal. Manu has published and presented over 250 tax articles and presentations since 2001 across Canada. Manu is an authority in taxation as his name has been cited 29 times in the Income Tax Act.

Manu has taught tax at The Canadian Institute of Chartered Professional Accountants, The Canadian Tax Foundation and The Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners, of and various provincial accounting bodies across Canada.

Manu sits on the Steering Committees for the Canadian Institute of Chartered Professional Accountants’ National Conference on Income Taxes; the Canadian Tax Foundation Laval Program Committee; CPA Canada's Small and Medium Practitioner’s Tax Committee; and the Canadian Tax Foundation's Ontario Tax Conference. Manu is currently serving a three-year term on the Canadian Tax Foundation’s Board of Governors.

Boris has over 17 years of experience in public practice. Before becoming a partner at CPA Solutions LLP

Boris worked at one of the big four national firms as a senior tax manager in the private enterprise group.

Boris has vast experience in working with owner managers and their small, medium and large private corporations across industries. In addition Boris is also involved in the tax community through the facilitation of the In-Depth tax courses, facilitation of tax week under the former School of Accountancy and through presenting on various tax topics at YDCPAA, PD Consortium and AJAG.

Monica’s approach to tax research is both thorough and practical. She takes pride in finding creative resolutions to taxpayer disputes, often without the need for formal litigation.

Monica is a member of the firm’s Tax Group. Her practice is focused on tax litigation and dispute resolution with the Canada Revenue Agency and the Department of Justice. She advises clients on disputes relating to income tax, GST/HST and other provincial taxes.

Monica summered and articled at the firm. After completing her articles, Monica clerked for Justice Henry S. Brown of the Federal Court of Canada.

Gilad is a forward-thinking executive with 20 years of experience in enterprise-wide information technology. He brings a background of consulting, delivery, and sales, which he used to build skilled services organizations and deliver complex, multi-million-dollar projects at companies like KPMG and Amdocs—including managing large-scale Canadian cybersecurity initiatives.  

Gilad is always happiest with a paddle, bow, or power tool in hand. And he likes to do the heavy lifting— at CrossFit and for his clients.

Sunira is a civil litigator and her practice encompasses litigation and the negotiation of civil disputes in the areas of employment and labour law.

In her practice of employment law, Sunira applies practical and innovative solutions to the challenging workplace issues faced by her clients. She acts on behalf of executive employees, employers and union representatives.

Sunira represents executive employees with respect to their employment-related inquiries including matters of constructive dismissal, human rights violations, wrongful dismissal, and the interpretation of compensation plans, restrictive covenants, and stock arrangements. Through her experience, Sunira has developed exceptional skills in negotiating with employers to obtain the best possible result for each of her clients.

When representing employers, Sunira focuses on managing the termination process, limiting exposure, and promoting a confidential negotiation where litigation is avoided to protect the interests of the employer.

Access to justice has been a very important issue to Sunira especially with regard to those who are living below the poverty line and those dealing with mental health issues. During her studies at Osgoode Hall Law School, Sunira worked pro bono as a disability legal worker at a community legal clinic for three years.

While at the community legal clinic, Sunira represented clients at Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) appeal hearings before the Social Benefits Tribunal. Most of her clients suffered from significant health issues which often presented challenges but helped her to build strong interpersonal skills.

Because access to justice is important to Sunira, she recently joined Pro Bono Lawyers of Canada in order to assist as duty counsel at the Superior Court of Justice.

Stephen is a partner in the firm Parker Garber & Chesney, Chartered Accountants and currently specializes in the field of condominium corporations. Presently the firm is appointed as auditors for over 350 condominiums corporations in Ontario and is well known in the condominium industry.

Stephen has been teaching courses to other Chartered Accountants on the subject of accounting and auditing of condominium corporations and as well has taught accounting courses for the MBA program at York University.

He had recently been asked to be the chairman of a task force for the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario that had been re-writing the book of guidelines regarding the accounting and auditing of financial statements for condominium corporations. The guidelines were released in late 2008. He is currently a member of the committee that is updating those guidelines.

Stephen currently sits on the Condominium Management Standards Council for the Association of Condominium Managers of Ontario (ACMO) and also sits on the Discipline Committee of ACMO. Stephen is a professional member of the Canadian Condominium Institute.

Stephen has written many articles on the subject of condominium corporations and in April 2013 he started a column in the Toronto Sun newspaper entitled “Condo Corner”.

Stephanie is a member of the firm’s Tax Group. She is developing a broad practice that encompasses advocacy and advisory support for clients involved in tax disputes, including proceedings under the Income Tax Act, the Excise Tax Act, the Employer Health Tax Act, the Land Transfer Tax Act, and other provincial taxation regimes.

Stephanie understands how tax considerations drive decisions in business and personal finance. Prior experience as a manager in the non-profit sector has made her an effective negotiator with a commitment to exceptional client service.

Stephanie joined Aird & Berlis as an associate after summering and articling with the firm.

We bring more than 25 years of hands-on communications experience in some of the world’s most complex organizations. We’ve worked with brand new communications teams and tenured C-suite veterans to connect them to employees, members, shareholders and customers when it matters most.

• Mergers & acquisitions
• Corporate restructurings
• Business transformations
• Leadership changes
• Strategy rollouts
• Remote worker outreach

Profile - Andrew Brown

For over 25 years, Andrew Brown has been an ‘organization junkie‘ – helping companies harness communications to adapt to rapidly changing circumstances. He has inspired teams of communication professionals while leading internal (and external) communications for complex multinational organizations. He has also served with agencies optimizing communications for top tier clients. As such, Andrew has honed the skills from his Master’s in Managing Organizational Change across industries, including: Accounting, Architecture, Associations, Banking, Construction, Engineering, Facilities Management, Hospitality, Insurance, Legal Services, IaaS, Loyalty Marketing, Municipal Government, Outdoor Advertising, Real Estate, Recruitment, Reinsurance, Software Development and SaaS.

Profile -  Elizabeth Williams

Elizabeth started out as a journalist but soon learned the hours were better in corporate communications. She has since worked in the insurance, technology, advertising, telecommunications, logistics, cannabis and financial services sectors in a variety of senior communications, brand and marketing roles. Prior to co-founding the Academy of Business Communications, she was head of brand and communications at ADP Canada. She has a Master’s degree in Professional Communications. Elizabeth writes a syndicated blog, speaks at conferences and is a part-time professor at Centennial College. She is pursuing her Doctor of Business Administration degree, with a research focus on executive communication instruction.

Mark is a U.S. Attorney at Law, Barrister and Solicitor, a U.S. Certified Public Accountant and a Canadian Chartered Professional Accountant. His practice specializes in cross border legal and tax issues facing individuals primarily in the sports, music, and entertainment industry and businesses in all industries expanding into the U.S., incorporating companies and other entities in the U.S., and consulting and compliance for individuals moving to the United States and U. S. citizens who live in Canada.

He represents clients in immigration petitions, naturalizations and renunciations and other legal matters including U.S. corporate, employment, and tax litigation. He also has specific expertise in the U.S. estate, gift, generation skipping and trust taxation and assists clients and their accountants, lawyers, and financial planners with cross border planning and compliance.

He has taught both full and part time university undergraduate and graduate programs, and conducts continuing education programs for CPA Ontario and other organizations.

Andrew Feldstein graduated from Osgoode Hall Law School in 1992. Prior to focusing exclusively on Family Law, Andrew’s legal practice covered many different areas, including Corporate Commercial. One of Andrew’s fundamental objectives is to achieve those goals mutually and collaboratively set out by him and his Client.Andrew was recently honoured (2010) with an inaugural appointment to the Dispute Resolution Officer (DRO) Panel for Newmarket. This appointment was made by the Senior Family Justice for Ontario (The Honourable Madam Justice Mary J. Hatton) and the Regional Senior Judge for the Central East Judicial Region of Ontario (The Honourable Mr. Justice Michael Brown). Lawyers appointed to this Panel function to support the family law court process by aiding couples in attempts to resolve their issues before their case proceeds before a Judge. Andrew was selected for this appointment because of his vast experience with and successful ability to resolve complex family law issues using alternatives to the traditional court methods, including the collaborative family law process.

Andrew actively supports current law students, education and the legal profession by volunteering as a mentor for the Osgoode Hall Law School Mentor Program. His ongoing dedication to the students of Osgoode Hall L aw School has resulted in extremely positive student feedback.

Andrew is the Chair of the Articling Committee at Feldstein Family Law Group.

Andrew enjoys an active lifestyle which includes time with his family, skiing and playing tennis. He loves attending a variety of live sporting events, especially professional tennis and the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Angelo is a tax partner at Aird Berlis. His practice focuses on tax litigation and commodity tax, including goods and services tax/harmonized sales tax (GST/HST) and provincial sales taxes. Angelo has extensive experience in resolving tax disputes involving GST/HST, income tax, CPP/EI, excise taxes, Ontario land transfer tax, Ontario employer health tax and Ontario tobacco tax.

Angelo is a natural problem solver. His deep knowledge and personable approach allow him to resolve his clients’ tax issues and disputes on an expedited basis, particularly when negotiating with the Department of Justice and the Canada Revenue Agency. His open and honest communication quickly instills in his clients a confidence that he is looking out for their best interests.

He has been successful in resolving a wide range of tax disputes at early stages of the process. Particularly in the field of GST/HST, Angelo’s in-depth knowledge of the legislation, coupled with his practical knowledge of the tax litigation process and the CRA administrative decision-making process, allows him to arrive at creative solutions to tax disputes that would have otherwise proceeded to trial. However, if a dispute cannot be resolved before trial, Angelo has experience representing clients before the Tax Court of Canada, the Federal Court, the Federal Court of Appeal and the Superior Court of Justice. Angelo also represents clients in making voluntary disclosures with the CRA and the Ontario Ministry of Finance.

Angelo advises Canadian and non-resident clients across a variety of industries, including real estate, financial services, retail, natural resources, health care, energy, communications, technology and manufacturing. In addition, Angelo advises clients in the charitable and not-for-profit sector.

John has approximately 25 years of national and international tax experience including 9 years as a tax partner at Grant Thornton LLP. He has considerable experience in areas of SR&ED, estate planning and corporate reorganizations.

John has presented various tax topics to organizations including presenting a paper at the 2003 Ontario Tax Conference. He has also taught tax courses and tutored for the CICA In-depth Tax Course and written articles on a number of tax related topics. John is a board member of the Niagara Estate Planning Counsel and the Niagara Tax Consultation Group. John and his family reside in Grimsby, Ontario.

Some of John’s interests include coaching his son’s hockey team as well as volunteering with other not-for-profit organizations including his church and the Terry Fox Run in St. Catharines.

John is a tax partner at Taylor Leibow LLP.

Marcus Guenther works with corporations and accounting firms to improve their workflow, internal control and risk management practices, as well as assisting with technical accounting and auditing issues. He is the co-author of the CICA Professional Engagement Manual (CPEM) as well as other technical publications and articles and teaches accounting, IFRS, and auditing and assurance courses for numerous professional organizations.

Marcus was previously a Senior Manager at BDO Dunwoody LLP, where he was responsible for audit, tax and accounting engagements.

Marcus has been an AJAG instructor since 2011

Mark Halpern, Certified Financial Planner (CFP), Trust and Estate Practitioner (TEP), Master Financial Advisor - Philanthropy (MFA-P) has helped business owners, entrepreneurs, professionals, and affluent families for 30 years. As CEO of WEALTHinsurance.com®, Mark and his team provide tax-advantaged insurance solutions to protect families and their businesses, working closely with accountants, lawyers, bankers, and other financial professionals to provide comprehensive estate planning solutions for their clients. Widely known for his philanthropic activities, Mark is a Trustee and former Chair of the Professional Advisory Committee at the Jewish Foundation of Greater Toronto, a member of the Professional Advisors Council at SickKids Foundation, Promise Legacy Council at St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation, Professional Advisor Task Force at St. Michael’s Hospital Foundation, Planned Giving Advisory Committee at TVOntario, Toronto Estate Planning Council, Society of Trust & Estate Practitioners (STEP), Canadian Association of Gift Planners (CAGP) and Conference for Advanced Life Underwriting (CALU). Mark’s corporate goal is the creation $100 Million of new philanthropy annually working with clients, non-profits, and foundations, and collaborating with allied professionals in law, tax, insurance, investment, and estate planning. He’s been married to Rhonda for 26 years and they are kept busy with their 5 children. 

Stuart Hartley is a chartered accountant in both Canada and the UK and has also worked extensively in the United States. He is the President of FocusROI Inc., a specialized consulting firm that offers creative and cost effective solutions in financial management, auditing and accounting.

Prior to joining FocusROI, Stuart was a senior audit Partner with BDO Dunwoody LLP where he performed numerous audit engagements for large and small entities including public companies and government agencies and  was the National Director of Accounting and Auditing and member of the BDO international audit committee where he helped develop BDO’s international audit methodology.

He was a member of the CICA’s Auditing Standards Committee and has trained extensively on auditing practice and CaseWare implementation around the world.

Before BDO, Stuart spent two years with the Auditor General of Canada where he developed methodology for performing value-for-money assignments.

Stuart is the author of the CICA’s Professional Engagement Manual, the CICA’s Quality Assurance Manual and “Risk Management Toolkit for not for profit executives”. He is also a popular speaker and trainer.

Manu has over 20 years of experience in taxation in both domestic and international, personal and corporate taxation as well as litigation support. He runs his own independent tax practice with offices in Montreal and Toronto, serving a diverse client base which includes manufacturing, retail and distribution, construction, farming, real estate, athletes and artists, across Canada and the US. His firm acts as a counsel to over 100 professional firms in Canada and USA specializing in domestic and international reorganizations and transactions. Manu is known as one of the leading experts in Section 55 of the Act and butterfly reorganizations.

He is an award winning and prolific tax writer. His Master of Taxation thesis on butterfly reorganizations won 2 awards and was published in the Canadian Tax Journal. Manu has published and presented over 250 tax articles and presentations since 2001 across Canada. Manu is an authority in taxation as his name has been cited 29 times in the Income Tax Act.

Manu has taught tax at The Canadian Institute of Chartered Professional Accountants, The Canadian Tax Foundation and The Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners, of and various provincial accounting bodies across Canada. He sits on the Steering Committees for the Canadian Institute of Chartered Professional Accountants’ National Conference on Income Taxes; the Canadian Tax Foundation Laval Program Committee; CPA Canada’s Small and Medium Practitioner’s Tax Committee; and the Canadian Tax Foundation’s Ontario Tax Conference. Manu is currently serving a three-year term on the Canadian Tax Foundation’s Board of Governors.

Mike Lende is a coach and visionary who has launched multiple start ups, grown small companies to maturity with successful exits and has consulted for and mentored various leadership teams. Mike is known best for launching a small business called Zipcar Canada which was part of a successful IPO and $500,000,000 purchase, by Budget Avis.

He has experienced the struggles of small business ownership and has used simple but strategic formulas to overcome great challenges. Mike has been a long standing motivational speaker, successfully teaching small business owners how to win with his plug'n play digital customer acquisition strategy.

"After making many mistakes and wasting tons of money on online advertising, I learned what actually drives customers to businesses and how to package it so that other small businesses can afford it and profit from it as well."    

Mary Massarella, CPA, CA is a seasoned professional with over 20 years experience in accounting, assurance, risk management and business advisory services.

In addition to filling senior financial roles in various industries, including financial services, the not-for- profit sector, and business services, Mary has been a facilitator and instructor for over 12 years and has developed and presented a number of professional development courses for both qualified accountants and candidates.

I am tax professional who has had the privilege of working with entrepreneurs across Canada over the last twenty-five years.  Since starting my career with one of the big four firms, I specialized in advising businesses, large and small, on the application of various indirect taxes. 

 I have worked with multi-national organizations on cross-border sales tax compliance, with national businesses operating in Canada including the public sector, and so on.  More recently I have worked with real estate investors managing the many complex issues related to real estate transactions.

Based upon my years in the field, I am uniquely qualified to support businesses on a wide range of issues within various industries to manage the sales tax risk.

Edward is a member of Aird Berlis's tax group. He provides advice on domestic and international corporate tax planning as well as personal tax planning for owner-managers and high-net-worth individuals. 

Edward is recognized as a leading lawyer in Tax Law by The Best Lawyers in Canada. 

Richard was employed by the CRA from 1996 to 2000 to audit SR&ED claims in software, hardware, IT, and multimedia. He has worked at IBM, Blackberry and NorthernTelecom, and founded 6 startups. Richard has taught at Simon Fraser University and the University of British Columbia, University of Victoria, and research at the University of Waterloo. 

Livelihood Household Payroll™ was founded by Gila Ossip in 2008 as Tax4Nanny after numerous requests by friends and family to draw upon Gila’s experience as a Chartered Accountant. Gila was often asked nanny tax questions. She was also asked to help with remittances and with the preparation of tax forms for their caregivers.

After graduating from The Rotman School of Business at The University of Toronto, Gila began her career at Deloitte & Touche LLP. She then held a series of different positions at The Bank of Nova Scotia before founding Tax4Nanny Ltd. (now Livelihood™).

Marni is a member of the Tax Group and Estates & Trusts Group at Aird Berlis. Her practice focuses on wills, trusts, estate administration, succession planning, estate and tax litigation and related areas of tax law.

Marni’s sensible and sensitive approach to estate planning enables her to devise clear and effective plans that meet the needs of her clients and their families. She is attentive to her clients’ corporate and personal concerns and presents them with options to resolve issues and maximize wealth distribution.

Gilad is a partner at Armour Cybersecurity, a company that protects organizations and their data from cyber threats. 

Gilad is a forward-thinking executive with 20 years of experience in enterprise-wide information technology. He brings a background of consulting, delivery, and sales, which he used to build skilled services organizations and deliver complex, multi-million-dollar projects at companies like KPMG and Amdocs—including managing large-scale Canadian cybersecurity initiatives.

Gilad is always happiest with a paddle, bow, or power tool in hand. And he likes to do the heavy lifting— at CrossFit and for his clients.

Kenneth C. Pope is one of the most experienced practitioners in Ontario providing services to families with a family member with a disability, and has focused his practice to help them put in place Henson trusts, which ensure that the child with a disability will not lose provincial disability benefits as a result of their inheritance. He also acts on behalf of clients to deal with Canada Revenue Agency to back file disability related tax credits and recapture substantial amounts of taxes which should not have been paid. Recovered amounts are typically $16,000 to $22,000.

His goal is to ensure that his clients will be able to plan effectively for the future of their family members. This includes the use of trusts for family members to minimize taxes payable on income earned from inheritances.

With 36 years' experience, Ken's clients benefit from his knowledge and foresight. Ken's practice extends across Ontario and into other provinces. He frequently makes trips to present seminars for those who need his services but live outside the National Capital Region.

He has been helping families to think through their future needs, and to provide for their families with appropriate arrangements, since 1980. In his practice, Ken tailor-makes solutions so that all his clients can take care of these important responsibilities and enjoy peace of mind. His knowledge and experience with Estate Planning offers his clients the full range of options suitable for their situation, all provided by a single source law firm.

Joel is a federally-licensed insolvency trustee and CPA, CA. After articling and spending several post-designation years in assurance and tax advisory roles at a mid-sized accounting firm in Toronto, Joel pivoted to focus exclusively in matters of corporate and personal insolvency. Following stints at a national insolvency firm and at a boutique, in 2016, Joel founded Ross Advisory Group Inc. to continue his insolvency and restructuring practice. Joel assists businesses, lenders, individuals, and other stakeholders in resolving financial difficulty. He has acted in formal and informal insolvency and restructuring proceedings in a number of industries, including real estate development, agriculture, waste, manufacturing, franchised businesses, retail, not-for-profit, hospitality and recreation.

Joel also has significant experience acting in shareholder and partnership disputes. A specific focus of Joel’s practice is assisting corporations and high-income individuals in resolving CRA debt, and in providing federally-legislated relief to those targeted by CRA enforcement. Joel has been featured in radio and newspaper, and is a (semi) frequent presenter to accountants, lawyers and other professionals.

I am not one of those lawyers that is ideologically married to one side. While many individuals have their rights trampled on, I have also seen employees take advantage of those same rights to the detriment of their employer. I realize that there is good and bad in every group, and I believe that being able to advise Employers and Employees makes me a better lawyer than only seeing matters from one perspective.

Since I have also been trained in Alternative Dispute Resolution techniques and act as a Mediator in Employment matters, I am able to see things from a third side: that of a neutral third party, working with those involved to achieve a reasonable resolution to their issues. I pride myself on providing objective, strategic advice to my clients, whichever “side” they are on.

What We Do 

The “IT” in Simon Sez IT stands for “Information Technology.” In a nutshell: 

We make business and technical software simple to learn. 

We teach people to use the most popular business software, including Microsoft Office, Microsoft Project, Photoshop, Web Design and QuickBooks. 

Expertise 

Our approach to teaching comes from our passion to fully explain how something works. We don’t skirt around the edges. We think that if you’re going to teach something, teach it right. We take the time to explain the ins and outs, back it up with practice exercises and tests, and always teach in a visually easy-to-follow way via video. 

 We hire only the best authors to teach, and our style is to take the time to explain things in the detail they deserve. That means our courses are perfect if you’re new to a certain technology or just technology shy in general.

Admitted to the Ontario Bar: 1990

Louise Summerhill has been with the firm since 1990 and a partner since 1994. She is a member of the Tax Group, the Co-Chair of the Tax Litigation Team, and Co-Chair of the Charity and Not-for-Profit Law Group.

Practice

Louise practises almost exclusively in the area of tax litigation. She provides support and advocacy at the audit stage, through the objection procedure and in court if necessary. She has appeared in the Tax Court of Canada, the Federal Court of Appeal, the Ontario Superior Court and the Ontario Court of Appeal. Louise also has extensive experience advising clients on transfer pricing, goods and services tax, provincial tax and federal income tax and charity law issues. Louise was formerly the Chair of the Student Committee for the firm and is currently Co-Chair of the firm’s Women’s Initiative.

Special Designations

Selected as one of the 550 women to appear in the Women in the Lead directory, featuring women whose professional expertise and experience recommend them as candidates for corporate board appointment

Recognized for legal ability and ethical standards by Martindale-Hubbell

Teaching Engagements

Co-creator and former adjunct professor of “The Course of a Transaction,” Osgoode Hall Law School

Memberships

• The Advocates’ Society
• Canadian/Ontario Bar Association
• Canadian Tax Foundation
• Thomas More Lawyers’ Guild of Toronto
• Women Presidents’ Organization (2004 – 2009)

Community Involvement

• BenefAction Foundation, Board of Directors
• Birthright International, Board of Directors
• Philip Aziz Centre for Hospice Care, Board of Directors

Education

• LL.B., University of Windsor, 1988
• B.A. (Hons., with Distinction), English, Glendon Campus, York University, 1984
• B.A., English, St. Michael’s College, University of Toronto, 1983

Marc is an investigative and forensic accountant, a seasoned award-winning lecturer at the MBA program at the Telfer School of Management and at the Common Law Section at the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Law, and delivers presentations at the Harvard Institute for Learning in Retirement.

He is a frequent media commentator and conference speaker, has been published extensively in Canada and abroad, quoted in various prestigious publications such as the Wall Street Journal. Member of the Governance Professionals of Canada and considered one of Canada’s leading experts in ethics and governance, Marc has been involved with prominent think tanks on transparency and integrity.

For 25 years David Town has been leading and executing Human Resource practices that support the overall strategy of organizations. David has managed multiple areas of Human Resources including leadership development, performance management, change management, merger integration, succession planning and talent management, executive coaching and a host of other Human Resource services.

As an instructional designer and a full-time business lecturer at the Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario, David also developed significant expertise in and a passion for training and leadership development. David’s experience enables him to develop people strategies that maximize delivery of results in a competitive business environment while maintaining a focus on customer service and employee morale.

With a reputation for integrity and excellent relationship management skills, David has a track record of effectively executing programs that drive results. David has worked with fast- paced high performance organizations including national leaders in both the retail grocery industry and the retail pharmacy industry.

David is a graduate of the Richard Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario and has earned the Certified Human Resource Professional (CHRP) designation. He is a member of a number of professional Associations including the HRPAO and is an active community volunteer having held the following volunteer leadership positions including Chair of the Board, London Chamber of Commerce.

Joe has worked in public practice throughout his entire career and sold his practice in 2022.  Prior to becoming a sole practitioner in 1996 he was in a  partnership in the firm of Levy, Feldman, Truscott & Co. Chartered Accountants. Joe's vision was to build a firm that reflected his personal vision and goal to provide the highest level of personal service to clients who require a broad range of services – big firm advise at a price you can afford.

Joe is a board member of both the Hamilton and Niagara Canada Revenue Agency Tax Consultation Steering Committees, a member of the Canadian Tax Foundation, the Society for Trust and Estate Practitioners and on various other tax advisory boards and organizations.

Joe earned both a Marketing & Accounting diploma from Mohawk College, his Bachelor of Business Management Degree (B.B.A.) from Ryerson University and his Certified Management Accountant designation (C.M.A.) from the Society of Management Accountants. Joe obtained his Chartered Accountants designation with The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario and most recently, his Trust & Estate Planners Designation from the Society of Trust & Estate Practitioners.

During his early years of practice, Joe was involved in various aspects of setting and marking national examinations in the areas of income tax, accounting and auditing for The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario, The Society of Management Accountants, The Ontario School of Accountancy, York University and other educational institutes.

Joe has previously worked closely with The Institute of Chartered Accountants in the capacity of Practice Inspector auditing CA firms’ adherence to the Institute’s professional standards, and as Practice Investigator, probing charges of professional misconduct against Chartered Accountants. Joe continues his close ties to The Institutes of Chartered Accountants as a member of the Applications Committee.

Joe has lectured in a variety of areas of Income Tax, Financial and Cost Accounting for Mohawk College, The Institute of Chartered Accountants, The Society of Management Accountants and The Certified General Accountants of Ontario.

Avinash has over 15 years of international transfer pricing experience gathered in Canada, the United Kingdom (UK), Malaysia, Australia and India. He has led numerous transfer pricing planning, compliance, operationalization and controversy management engagements. Avinash has had clients in the pharmaceuticals and life sciences, technology, content and media, consumer and industrial products, oil and gas (O&G) as well as diversified services sectors.

Avinash’s transfer pricing experience covers all aspects of the transfer pricing lifecycle, including:

• Transfer Pricing Planning: set up inter-company pricing models and policies that enable a holistic alignment of the value chain to the operational and tax aspects of a business;
• Transfer Pricing Compliance: preparation of transfer pricing documentation in accordance with country specific regulations, the OECD’s BEPS Action 13 Global File and Local Files as well as Country-by-Country Reporting (CbCR) for a number of Canadian, US, UK, Malaysian and Indian head-quartered corporations and their global subsidiaries;
• Operational Transfer Pricing: review transfer pricing outcomes in context of policies including year-end position(s), statutory and book to tax adjustments, inter-company agreements and integration of financial systems;
• Controversy management: strategize responses to local country transfer pricing audits including Competent Authority support and Mutual Agreement Procedures (MAP) and where appropriate proactively engage with tax authorities on the use of Advance Pricing Arrangements (APA’s).

He has worked with clients on a wide range of inter-company transactions involving purchase and sale of goods and services, employee secondments, intangible property licensing and transfers, and financing, among others.

Amit is Principal Counsel of Ummat Tax Law. Amit is an accomplished litigator with extensive experience in income tax and GST/HST litigation. He specializes in litigating tax cases and advising on tax disputes with the Canada Revenue Agency.

Amit ardently advocates for his clients to advance their position and seeks creative solutions to his clients’ tax disputes. Amit is invested in his clients’ tax problems and takes up their cause with unremitting focus. Amit is familiar with tax issues arising in many industries, including banking, manufacturing, commercial leasing, transportation, and resources. He advises clients on all tax disputes, including the following:

• Helping individuals and corporations manage tax audits, including handling interactions with CRA auditors;
• Negotiating and, when necessary, challenging demands for production of documents to tax authorities;
• Protecting privilege for documents and other pertinent information;
• Representing taxpayers in Court;
• Negotiating favourable settlements with the CRA and their lawyers;
• Making taxpayer relief submissions;
• Exploring rescission or remission orders; and
• Dealing with competent authority officials in respect of international tax disputes.

Amit regularly presents at tax and non-tax conferences on tax matters and regularly writes about tax topics.

Howard has consulted on Canadian and International tax matters for over 20 years. He advises on all income tax matters including estate planning, owner managed businesses, international tax planning for corporations and individuals, post mortem planning, corporate reorganizations, mergers, acquisitions, and business purchase and sale. He has a successful track record in presenting appeals, managing tax negotiations, and presenting voluntary disclosures to Canada Revenue Agency. Howard consults extensively with other accountants and lawyers as their tax consultant.

Howard worked at PWC and Cadesky and Associates before joining Segal LLP. He has presented at the Canadian Tax Foundation, various local CPA associations, seminars and other conferences throughout Canada. He is a member of the Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario, Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada, Canadian Tax Foundation, Financial Planners Standard Council (CFP) and the Society of Tax and Estate Practitioners.

Howard is also very involved in the non profit sector as the president of a non profit school and current and former board member of various charities.

Daniel is a Principal in the tax department at Segal GCSE LLP. Specializing in income tax for owner-managed businesses and professionals, his experience includes corporate and partnership reorganizations, tax aspects of sale and purchase of businesses, cross-border taxation, estate planning and personal and corporate tax planning. He is also a frequent speaker on the subject of tax matters and has served as a group study leader and in-residence tutorial leader for CPA Canada’s In-Depth Tax Course. Daniel also serves as a Board Director and member of the Finance Committee for JVS Toronto.

Andrew Winton is a partner at Lax O’Sullivan Lisus Gottlieb LLP, one of Canada’s leading commercial litigation firms. Andrew’s practice includes employment law, insolvency and restructuring, corporate governance, shareholder and oppression remedy disputes, and contract litigation. Andrew is experienced counsel in arbitrations of business disputes and appears regularly before the Ontario courts, including the Toronto Commercial List and the Court of Appeal.

Andrew has acted as counsel in many significant proceedings, including one of the few cases where a Plan of Arrangement was not accepted for filing in a CCAA proceeding (Re Target Canada), the successful pursuit of an interlocutory injunction in a trade-mark action (Sleep Country Canada v Sears Canada) and a defamation action (Fortress Real Developments Inc. v Franklin), and a leading appellate decision concerning when a new cause of action has been pleaded in an amended statement of claim (Farmers Oil and Gas v Ministry of Natural Resources).

While studying at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law, Andrew won several awards, including for top overall ranking in first year and excellence in legal writing. He then clerked for Chief Justice McMurtry and Justices Weiler, Blair and LaForme of the Court of Appeal for Ontario before joining Lax O’Sullivan in 2007.

Andrew regularly presents at continuing legal education seminars at The Advocates’ Society and the Law Society of Ontario. He provides pro bono services to Furniture Bank, a Toronto charity that helps homeless people transition to permanent housing, and is a past member of the Ontario Bar Association’s Civil Litigation and Insolvency Law Executives.