Background

Pamela Cross is a partner and the regional leader of our Tax Group in the Ottawa office. Pamela was admitted to the Ontario Bar in 1996 and is a graduate of the University of Ottawa Law School (Magna Cum Laude). She also obtained a Bachelor of Science (Physiotherapy) from Queen's University in 1989. Pamela has completed both the CICA In-Depth Tax Course and the CBA In-Depth Tax Course.

Areas of Practice

• Taxation
• Estate, Trust and Business Succession Planning
• Tax Dispute Resolution and Voluntary Disclosures of Unpaid Taxes

Rankings and Recognitions

• Selected by peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in Canada 2012 (Trusts and Estates)

Professional Experience

• Advises both Canadian and international clients on taxation issues relating to establishing and operating business and investment structures in Canada.
• Advises on tax implications relating to the structuring of cross-border transactions, including mergers and acquisitions.
• Advises charities, not-for-profit organizations, municipal corporations and other exempt entities on tax issues relevant to their activities.
• Provides advice to employers and plan administrators in connection with tax issues applicable to pension plans.
• Advises private businesses and their owners on business succession options, stock-based compensation.
• Represents clients in negotiations with the Canada Revenue Agency.
• Advises individuals on domestic and international investment structures, Will planning and estate planning.
• Has been qualified as an expert before the Ontario Superior Court of Justice and has provided expert testimony with respect to tax matters.

Professional and Community Activities

• Pamela Cross presented on Income Tax Issues in Public Private Partnerships at the 2009 Annual National Tax Conference of the Canadian Tax Foundation held in Toronto November 22-24, 2009.
• Pamela Cross was a panelist for the Canada Revenue Agency Roundtable held at the Society of Trust and Estate Planners (STEP) Canada 11th National Conference held in Toronto June 18-19, 2009.
• Pamela has contributed to Professor Krishna's text The Canada-US Tax Treaty – Text and Commentary (2004: LexisNexis, Butterworths).
• Pamela co-authored The Canada-UK Tax Treaty - Text and Commentary (2005: LexisNexis, Butterworths) and The Canada-India Tax Treaty – Text and Commentary (2007: LexisNexis, Butterworths).
• Pamela has spoken at the Ontario Tax Conference (2007), the Canadian Tax Foundation Annual Tax Conference (2007) and STEP Canada 's 10th National Conference (2008).
• Chair of STEP's Ottawa Branch; Council Member of STEP Canada (2008-).
• Member, Tax Policy Committee, Canada 's Venture Capital & Private Equity Association.
• Executive, OBA Taxation Law Committee (2008 - ).
• Member of the Circle of Professional Advisors, Community Foundation of Ottawa.
• Part-time Professor, University of Ottawa - Common Law Program and Masters of Health Administration.
• Recipient of the Ottawa Business Journal's "Forty under 40" Award (2006).
• Member of the Law Society of Upper Canada, Canadian Bar Association, County of Carleton Law Association, Canadian Tax Foundation, Society of Trust and Estate Planners, International Fiscal Association.
• Past member of the Board of Directors of the Ottawa Branch of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario; former Chairperson of the Annual Women Heart and Stroke Breakfast Symposium; former member of the Board of the Carleton Unit of the Canadian Cancer Society.