Background
Bernie Roach is a partner in our Ottawa office. Bernie was admitted to the Ontario Bar in 1983 and is a graduate of the University of Ottawa law school. He is a member of the Ottawa Tax Group and works closely with other members of the firm involved in tax planning and corporate transactions. He is a member of the firm's tax and wealth management practice groups and the firm's venture capital and biotech industry groups.
Areas of Practice
· Taxation, with emphasis on tax issues connected to investment funds, mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance and technology businesses.
· Wealth Management, including Trust Planning and Business Succession Planning.
· Tax Planning for owner managed businesses.
Professional Experience
· Has advised foreign corporations on Canadian tax issues related to the establishment and operation of their Canadian branch or subsidiary, cross- border transactions and alternate Canadian investment structures.
· Has advised technology corporations on tax issues associated with corporate finance, employee stock option plans and optimizing eligibility for Research and Development tax incentives including Refundable Tax Credits.
· Has advised Private Investment Funds, Labor Sponsored Investment Funds, Mutual Fund Trusts and Mutual Fund Corporations on Eligible Investments and Canadian tax issues.
· Has advised large owner managed private corporations on all corporate and tax issues relevant to governance and tax planning including acquisitions, shareholder agreements, succession planning and owner estate planning.
· Has advised individuals on wealth management issues including tax planned wills, estate planning and trust planning.
Professional and Community Activities
· Member of the Law Society of Upper Canada, the Canadian Bar Association, the County of Carleton Law Association, the Canadian Tax Foundation, the Canadian International Fiscal Association and the Society of Estate and Trust Practitioners.
· Has been a part time professor at the University of Ottawa 's Common Law School and has taught courses on Estate Planning, Taxation and Advanced Business Law.
· Has taught at the Estate Planning and Business Law courses in the Bar Admission Course of the Law Society of Upper Canada.
· Has spoken at many seminars on a variety of tax topics and has authored many articles on tax related issues, including the 'Taxation at Death' and 'Taxation of Trusts' components of the Ontario Estate Planning Bar Admission course.
· Member of the United Way of Ottawa-Carleton Legacy Planning Committee.
· Volunteers in amateur youth hockey and soccer associations.