Ron regularly advises financial institutions, both Canadian-based and international, on the design of innovative tax-effective financial instruments and on the tax consequences to them of capital market transactions.  In recent years, he has advised several syndicates organized by BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc. for the purpose of offering receivables-backed notes in Canada, Canada Housing Trust No. 1 on the establishment of Canada's largest securitization program, Merrill Lynch Canada Inc. on the establishment of its medium-term note program in Canada, and RBC Dominion Securities on a variety of innovative mutual fund offerings.  Financial institutions regularly consult Ron for his recognized capital tax expertise.  He also regularly advises both the Investment Dealers’ Association of Canada and the Investment Funds Institute of Canada on tax policy and legislation and makes representations on their behalf to the Department of Finance and the Canada Revenue Agency (formerly CCRA (Revenue Canada)).

Ron has been recognized as a leading practitioner, including by the Canadian Legal LEXPERT Directory as a most frequently recommended practitioner for Investment Funds and Asset Management – Tax Aspects, and a repeatedly recommended practitioner in both Derivatives and Corporate Tax.  Ron is also recognized as an Expert Lawyer in Euromoney’s Expert Guide to Tax Advisors.

Ron writes and speaks frequently on tax matters both nationally and internationally, including for the Canadian Tax Foundation, the International Fiscal Association, the Canadian Institute, Insight, Infonex, the International Bar Association and Federated Press.  He was also a member of the Joint Committee on Taxation of the Canadian Bar Association and the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants for several years.

From 1979 - 1985, Ron was a senior official in the Tax Policy Branch of the Department of Finance in Ottawa.  During that time, he was responsible for drafting and implementing major legislative changes in the international, resources, trusts, partnerships and corporations areas of the Income Tax Act.  He was also the principal federal tax advisor on federal-provincial tax issues.  Ron’s experience at Finance gives him a unique perspective on key tax policy matters that he brings to bear on client matters.

Ron holds a B.A. in Mathematics from the University of Toronto, an M.B.A. from McGill University and an LL.B. from Queen’s University.  He became a partner in 1986.

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