Overview

Clients turn to Brian for his sophisticated planning skills and creative solutions for their critical taxation matters – in Canada and abroad.

Brian advises across a broad range of tax law, including cross-border mergers and acquisitions, international tax planning, transfer pricing and international trusts and estates. He is regularly consulted for his expertise in structuring complex major transactions, including on the first tax-deferred conversion of a mutual fund corporation into a REIT in Canada.

Brian applies his judgment and technical sophistication to serve public and private sector clients across a wide range of sectors, including biotechnology.

He brings a unique perspective and understanding of tax issues to our clients’ matters. Before joining Davies, Brian was a senior tax policy officer in the Tax Legislation Division of the Department of Finance Canada and a senior rulings officer in the corporate reorganizations and international group of the Rulings Directorate of the Canada Revenue Agency.

Acted for the shareholders of Searchlight Pharma Inc., a top-growth Canadian specialty and innovative branded pharmaceutical company, in connection with the sale of their 100% interest to Apotex Inc.

Acted for Vance Street Capital, a Los Angeles private equity fund, in the sale of Terra Insights, a Vancouver-based geotechnical, structural and geospatial monitoring company, to Orica for cash consideration of C$505 million.

Acted as Canadian counsel for RelationShop Inc. in its acquisition of all of the issued and outstanding shares of Mercatus Technologies, a leading provider of eCommerce solutions for regional grocers and independents.

Acted for IOU Financial Inc., a fintech company listed on the TSX-V, in its sale to 9494-3677 Québec Inc., a corporation created by a group composed of funds managed by Neuberger Berman, Palos Capital and Fintech Ventures, for an all-cash consideration.

Practice Areas

• Taxation Law

Bar Information

Called to the bar: 1992 (QC); 1998 (ON)