Alessandro Cotugno

Partner

Montréal
[email protected]
514.395.3891

Alessandro's practice focuses on mergers and acquisitions, corporate reorganizations, tax structuring, as well as general corporate and tax matters.

Alessandro's advice is frequently sought by clients requiring pragmatic yet creative solutions to optimize their tax position. He is known for his responsive and collaborative approach, often acting as a critical extension of his clients' own operations and legal teams.

He provides tax-consulting services to clients, their accountants, and other professionals on a wide range of tax issues related to income tax, payroll and provincial goods and services tax, including:

  • Canadian corporate and individual income tax
  • Advising on tax planning strategies to minimize the tax implications of real estate transactions
  • Operating and holding companies
  • Owner/operator compensation
  • Implementation of retention programs for key employees
  • Debt restructuring and cross-border financing
  • Tax planning for shareholders of private companies
  • Investments inbound into Canada and outbound from Canada, as well as restructuring of foreign affiliates' operations
  • Sales tax (GST, HST and QST) and other commodity taxes
  • Resource taxation (e.g., flow-through shares)

Alessandro also advises high net worth individuals on estate planning, private trusts and family wealth planning. This expertise has led him to pursue the Trust and Estate Practitioner certification, which he has now successfully obtained.

Prior to joining BLG, Alessandro worked as a tax lawyer in a national accounting firm in Montréal where he assisted with the tax planning and compliance of businesses operating in various sectors, including the public sector.

He is fluent in English, French and Italian.

Experience

  • BLG acted as Canadian counsel for PE-backed Atlanta-based buyer, East West Manufacturing, LLC in its acquisition of all the assets of Groupe Varitron, Inc., a top 5 electronic manufacturing services (EMS) provider in Canada.

Beyond our Walls

Professional Involvement

  • Member, Québec Bar Association
  • Member, Canadian Tax Foundation
  • Member, Association de planification fiscale et financière du Québec (APFF)
  • Member, International Fiscal Association
  • Member, Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP)

Awards & Recognitions

  • Recognized in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in Canada - Ones to Watch™ (Tax Law)

Bar Admission & Education

  • Québec, 2018
  • T.E.P., STEP Canada, 2023
  • LL.M, Tax, Osgoode Hall Law School, 2018
  • LL.L, University of Ottawa, 2015