Background
Pamela Cross is a Partner 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. She is the regional leader of our Tax Group in Ottawa.
Areas of Practice
- Taxation
- Estate, Trust and Business Succession Planning
- Tax Dispute Resolution and Voluntary Disclosures of Unpaid Taxes
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 and not-for-profit organizations on tax issues relevant to their activities.
- Advises private businesses and their owners on business succession options, stock-based compensation and tax issues related to financing arrangements.
- 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 has published a number of articles on various tax topics and has contributed to Professor Krishna's text The Canada-US Tax Treaty – Text and Commentary (2004: LexisNexis, Butterworths). An update is in progress.
- 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 National Conference (2008).
- Pamela has spoken and given seminars on a variety of taxation topics including issues affecting charities, non-profit organizations, and hospitals, estate planning, and international trust planning.
- Chair of the Society of Trust and Estate Planners (STEP) – Ottawa Branch and Council Member of STEP Canada (2008 - ).
- Member, Tax Policy Committee, Canadian Venture Capital 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.
