Jeffrey Shafer, Toronto

About Jeffrey

Jeffrey practises in all areas of Canadian domestic and cross-border income tax law, with a particular focus on mergers and acquisitions, international transfer pricing, private equity investment, domestic and international corporate and trust reorganizations, and the taxation of various investment vehicles. His practice also includes acting for taxpayers at all levels in the tax appeals process.

Select Experience

Jeffrey's recent work includes advising:

IFM Investors in connection with its joint acquisition of Enwave Energy Corporation with Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan Board
Royal Bank of Canada on its C$13.5-billion acquisition of HSBC Bank of Canada
Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan Board on its acquisition of HomeQ Corporation, the parent company of Home Equity Bank
Apollo Global Management on various transactions, including its acquisitions of Univar Solutions, Michaels, and Employbridge, and its investment in PetSmart
L Catterton on its minority equity investment in FYidoctors
Nasdaq on its US$2.75-billion acquisition of Verafin, Canada's largest software transaction since 2007
Stonepeak Infrastructure Partners on its acquisition of Xplornet Communications Inc, Canada's largest rural-focused broadband service provider
Centerbridge Capital Partners in its acquisition of Walmart Canada Bank
L Catterton Management Company LLC in its significant strategic investment in Dental Corporation of Canada Holdings, Inc., the largest network of general and specialist dental clinics in Canada
OpenGate Capital on its purchase of Player One Amusement Group from Cineplex and its sale of Energi Fenestrations Solutions to Vision Group
Dentalcorp, Canada's leading network of dental practices, on its IPO and various strategic matters
The Toronto-Dominion Bank on its acquisitions of artificial intelligence firm Layer 6 Inc. and asset management firm Greystone Capital Management
DP World on its US$3.7-billion joint venture with Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec to create an investment platform focused on investing in terminals globally
Baring Private Equity Asia on its acquisition of a 35% stake in Telus International
Superior Plus on its purchase of an option from Gibson Energy ULC to acquire the retail propane business of Canwest Propane
Catalent Pharma Solutions Ltd. on its purchase of Accucaps Industries Ltd. from Apotex Holdings Inc.
Bell on its C$670-million acquisition of Glentel Inc. and subsequent sale of a 50% interest in Glentel Inc. to Rogers Communications Inc.
Transamerica/Aegon on the C$600-million sale of its business in Canada to Wilton Re/CPPIB
Canadian Tire Corporation, Limited on its sale to Scotiabank of a 20% interest in its financial services business for C$500-million
H&R REIT on its C$2.75-billion acquisition of Primaris REIT
Rockstar Bidco, a consortium of technology companies including Sony, Microsoft and Ericsson, in the US$4.5-billion purchase at auction of Nortel Networks' portfolio of over 6,000 patents
Several different multinational clients in connection with transfer pricing dispute matters, including competent authority requests and advance pricing arrangements

Awards & Recognition

Jeffrey has been recognized as a leading tax practitioner in the following publications:

Lexpert's Leading 500 Cross-Border Lawyers: A Guide to Doing Business in Canada 2025 (Corporate Tax)
ITR World Tax 2025 (World TP: Highly Regarded – Tax Controversy)
Chambers Canada Legal Guide – 2023–2025 (Tax)
The Legal 500 Canada – 2020–2021, 2025 (Tax)
The Best Lawyers in Canada – 2017–2021, 2023, 2025 (Tax Law)
The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory – 2020, 2023–2025 (Corporate Tax)
Lexpert Special Edition: Finance and M&A – 2024–2025
World Tax/International Tax Review’s Tax Controversy Leaders 2021
Chambers Global Legal Guide – 2020–2021 (Tax)
International Tax Review’s World Tax 2019 – Highly Regarded (Tax Controversy)
Legal Media Group's Rising Stars 2016
International Tax Review's Tax Controversy Leaders – 2015–2017