Pamela L. Cross

Partner and National Business Leader, Tax

Ottawa
[email protected]
613.787.3559

Pamela is a tax partner who focuses her practice on taxation, estate and trust planning, tax dispute resolution and voluntary disclosures of unpaid taxes.

She regularly advises individuals and family enterprises on estate planning, including complex situations involving multi-jurisdictional assets or beneficiaries, philanthropy and gift planning. Pamela also advises both Canadian and international clients on taxation issues relating to establishing and operating business and investment structures in Canada.

She provides advice to businesses on employee compensation matters and has a subspecialty in the taxation of pensions and tax exempt registered plans (RRSPs,/RRIFs TFSAs, RESPs and RDSPs).

Pamela advises tax-exempt organizations, including charities, not-for-profit organizations and municipal corporations, on the tax implications of their transactions and activities. She also represents clients in negotiations with the Canadian tax authorities.

Pamela has appeared before the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, providing expert testimony on tax matters.

Pamela provides legal services through a Law Corporation.

Experience

  • SterlingCapitalBrokers Ltd. acquired all of the issued and outstanding shares of Riverview Insurance Solutions Inc.
  • Advised large Canadian pension master trust with respect to equity investments in the United States and the European Union.
  • Structured several unique stock based and employee compensation plans for Canadian and international clients.
  • Negotiated a tax settlement with the Canada Revenue Agency with respect to offshore assets, including assets located in former Eastern European country repatriated in 1990.

Beyond Our Walls

Professional Involvement

  • Board Member, STEP (Global), 2024
  • Council Member STEP (Global), 2022 – present
  • Member, STEP (Global) Public Policy Committee, 2022 - present
  • Chair, STEP Canada, 2019 - 2021
  • Co-chair, STEP Canada Public Policy Committee, 2016 - 2019
  • Academician, The International Academy of Estate and Trust Law
  • Associate Member, Market Conduct Standards Committee, Conference for Advanced Life Underwriting (CALU)
  • Member, Society of Trust and Estate Planners (STEP)
  • Member, Registered Products Working Group, Investment Funds Institute of Canada (IFIC)
  • Member of the Law Society of Upper Canada, Canadian Bar Association, and Canadian Tax Foundation

Awards & Recognitions

  • Selected by peers for inclusion in the 2025 (and since 2010) edition of The Best Lawyers in Canada® (Trusts and Estates), and since 2014 (Tax Law)
  • Recognized in the 2024 edition (and since 2022) of Who's Who Legal as a Global Leader / National Leader - Private Client
  • Recognized in the 2023 edition of Lexpert Special Edition: Finance and M&A
  • Recognized in the 2023 edition (and since 2020) of Chambers High Net Worth(Private Wealth Law)
  • Recognized in the 2021, 2018, 2016 and 2104 editions of The Best Lawyers in Canada®- Lawyer of the Year (Trusts and Estates)
  • Recognized in the 2024 (and since 2019) edition of The Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory (Charities/Not-For-Profit Law), the 2024 edition (and since 2013) (Estate & Personal Tax Planning), and the 2024 (and since 2015) (Corporate Tax)
  • Recipient of the STEP Founder Award, 2019
  • Martindale-Hubbell® AV® Preeminent™ 4.8 out of 5 Peer Review Rated
  • Recipient of the Michael Cadesky Volunteer of the Year Award, 2014
  • Recipient of the Ottawa Business Journal's "Forty under 40" Award, 2006

Education & Bar Admission

  • Ontario, 1996
  • In-Depth Tax Course, Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants, 2001
  • In-Depth Tax Course, Canadian Bar Association, 2000
  • LLB (magna cum laude), University of Ottawa, 1994
  • B.Sc. in Physiotherapy, Queen's University, 1989