About - Taxation Lawyers - Based in Kitchener-Waterloo and Halifax

ABOUT US

Taxation Lawyers is both a law firm and a referral source to help you. If we can’t help you with what you need, we can certainly refer you to someone who can. Our clients include corporations of all sizes, municipalities, owner-managed businesses, as well as individuals.

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Taxation Lawyers was started by James Rhodes. His vision was to have a firm that was restricted to tax. By doing so he planned to deliver a single resource for his clients requiring tax assistance – either through dispute resolution or planning. With his practice focused on tax dispute resolution and tax assistance, there is very little James cannot handle. When clients’ needs turn to tax planning or matters outside his expertise, James is able to provide a no fee referral to the network of taxation professionals he knows through Canada. One such resource is his LinkedIn group ‘Canadian Taxation Professionals’, a group of 3,100 professionals focused on tax across Canada.

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Taxation Lawyers handles all matters dealing with income tax, HST/GST, and employment insurance/Canada Pension Plan determinations. We deal with independent contractors versus employee structuring and disputes, director’s liability assessments, tax opinions/assurance on accounting positions, voluntary disclosure program applications, taxpayer relief requests, as well as rectification applications.

Our Services

James Rhodes

Kitchener Waterloo
Taxation Lawyers

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Melanie Petrunia

Halifax
Petrunia Law

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Felica Hughes

Kitchener Waterloo

Taxation Lawyers

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James Rhodes

Taxation Lawyers

Kitchener Waterloo

James Rhodes, BSc, LLB As the principal lawyer for Taxation Lawyers, James provides for its tax dispute resolution services as well as dealing with tax assistance. James began his career in tax law at law school where he received the award for top mark in taxation law in his second year, and shared the top mark in taxation law in his third year. Subsequently, James received a prestigious clerkship with the Tax Court of Canada, where he completed his articles. During his time with the Tax Court, he prepared bench memoranda and legal opinions to assist the Justices of the Court in their role of deciding tax appeals. Following his clerkship, James was hired by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) to work in their Canadian Corporate Tax department. During his time at PwC, James was responsible for providing legal opinions and tax planning assistance to a range of clients.

PAST CASES: Rattai v. The Queen, Hare v. The Queen, Merchant v. The Queen

Melanie Petrunia

Petrunia Law

Halifax

Melanie Petrunia, Q.Arb, maintains a litigation and ADR practice in Halifax, NS.
She began her legal career with a large Atlantic Canada law firm before joining
the federal Department of Justice in 2009, where she practiced tax litigation for
8 years. Since returning to private practice, Melanie has continued to represent
clients in tax disputes at all levels throughout Canada. She regularly appears in the Tax Court of Canada, the Federal Court and the Federal Court of Appeal.

Melanie also spent many years as part-time faculty at the Schulich School of
Law, coaching the Dalhousie team in the Donald G. H. Bowman National Tax
Moot competition. She is currently the President of the Nova Scotia Barristers’
Society and has served on Council since 2018. Melanie is also a part-time
member of the Appeal Division of the Social Security Tribunal of Canada, and a
member of the Criminal Code Review Board.

Felicia Hughes

Taxation Lawyers

Kitchener Waterloo

Felicia is a Junior Accountant at Taxation Lawyers. She studied at Conestoga College in the Business Administration Accounting Program and graduated with distinction in 2016. She joined Taxation Lawyers in 2018 and assists all team members in resolving tax disputes.