Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP (Blakes), one of Canada’s leading full-service business law firms, today announced that tax litigator David Spiro will be joining the Firm’s Tax Group in Toronto. Mr. Spiro was an associate at Blakes from 1989 to 1991 before moving to the Ontario Regional Office of the Department of Justice Canada, where he is currently Senior Counsel in the Tax Litigation Section.
“David is a well-known tax litigator,” said Jim Christie, the Firm’s Chairman. “His knowledge and expertise will add considerably to our tax litigation and controversy resolution practice, an area which has become both visible and increasingly important in the Canadian market. It is my pleasure to welcome David back to Blakes.”
At the Department of Justice, David Spiro has been involved in numerous complex tax litigation matters, including many reported tax decisions. He is well known to, and well respected by, the federal tax bar and judiciary across Canada. Mr. Spiro is a regular speaker at meetings of the Tax Executives Institute and the Taxation Law Section of the Ontario Bar Association. He recently co-chaired a workshop on tax dispute resolution for the Canadian Tax Foundation at its 2003 Annual Conference. He has also been a frequent speaker at national meetings of various sections of the Canada Revenue Agency, including the International Tax Directorate and the Tax Avoidance and Special Audits Division. Mr. Spiro currently serves on the executive of the Toronto Centre CRA and Professionals Consultation Group.
In addition to speaking, Mr. Spiro has written case comments for the Canadian Tax Journal and Tax Litigation and is one of the authors of Tax Avoidance in Canada: The General Anti-Avoidance Rule (Irwin Law, 2002). He has also been a seminar leader in taxation at the Bar Admission Course and has delivered several guest lectures in taxation at Osgoode Hall Law School.
Founded in 1856, Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP has over 500 lawyers and offices in Canada, the United States, Europe and China. Blakes has been ranked Canada’s Leading Law Firm by The International Who’s Who of Business Lawyers 2003/2004, published by Who’s Who Legal, with more lawyers ranked as leading business lawyers than any other law firm in Canada. The Firm’s signature, “Blakes means business” is not just a catch phrase but a discipline that defines how Blakes helps clients achieve their business objectives. More information on Blakes is available by visiting the Firm’s Web site at www.blakes.com.
