Background
Laura White is a partner at our Toronto office. Laura was admitted to the Ontario Bar in 1988. She received her LLB from Queens University in 1986 and LLM (Taxation) from York University in 1994.
She graduated from the University of Western Ontario in 1982 with an Honours BA in Art History and Criticism.
Areas of Practice
· Laura is a tax lawyer specializing in a wide range of issues relevant to the investment funds and asset management industry.
Rankings and Recognitions
· Selected by peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in Canada 2012 (Tax Law)
· Recognized in the 2011 Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory (Investment Funds & Asset Management - Tax Aspects)
Professional Experience
· Laura is recognized as a leader with extensive knowledge and experience in all aspects of Canadian income tax law relevant to the investment funds industry both in relation to funds and their managers, including domestic and offshore fund structures for retail, high net worth, institutional and tax-exempt investors; traditional trust and corporation structures as well as alternative investment products; ongoing operational issues; investment by offshore funds in Canada; investment by Canadians in offshore funds; multiple-class issues; management fee issues; return of capital strategies, equitable distribution models; financings, restructurings; acquisitions; wind-ups; and registered plans. Recent transactions include:
· Structured and implemented a tax neutral strategy to switch U.S. investors from a Canadian pooled fund to a U.S. investment fund.
· Structured and implemented various in-bound investment strategies for offshore funds.
· Obtained unprecedented tax relief from the Canada Revenue Agency in connection with the issuance of tax slips for market-timing compensation payments made by Canadian mutual fund managers.
· Renewed, restructured and/or terminated several cross-border financing transactions.
· Various offshore hedge-fund structures managed by Canadian entities.
· Implementing return of capital feature for mutual fund corporations.
Professional and Community Activities
· Member of the Canadian Bar Association (Ontario)
· Member of the Law Society of Upper Canada
· Member of the Canadian Tax Foundation
· Member of the IFIC Tax Standing Committee
· Authored and co-authored many tax-related publications for the tax community and mutual fund industry.