John A. Sorensen Partner Co-Department Head, Toronto Business Law Department


Speaks:  English

Year of Call: 2006 - Ontario

Primary phone: +1 416-369-7226

Fax: +1 416-862-7661

Email: john.sorensen@gowlingwlg.com

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Primary office:  Toronto


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John A. Sorensen

John Sorensen is co-head of Gowling WLG's Business Law Department in the Toronto office, a member of the Toronto office management committee and a member of the firm's Tax Group. He has been ranked by Chambers CanadaBest Lawyers in CanadaInternational Tax Review, Lexpert Special Edition: Litigation, and the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory.

A partner based in Gowling WLG's Toronto office, John provides prudent advice and expeditious, cost-effective solutions to tax problems. He has extensive experience resolving income tax and GST/HST disputes at the audit and appeal stages, as well as before the courts. His practice also includes voluntary disclosure, taxpayer relief, rectification, rescission, and remission order applications.

John frequently speaks and writes on tax dispute resolution topics, including for the Canadian Tax Foundation, Tax Executives Institute and the International Fiscal Association. He is a co-editor and contributing author to Taxation of Private Corporations and Their Shareholders, 5th ed. (CTF, 2020) and Tax Disputes in Canada: the Path Forward (CTF, 2022). John is on the board of governors of the Canadian Tax Foundation, the chair of the Advocates' Society tax litigation section, and a member of the board of directors of the Advocates' Society. He is also a faculty member in the Osgoode Hall LL.M. (tax) program.

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Career & Recognition

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Memberships

  • Canadian Bar Association
  • Canadian Tax Foundation
  • International Fiscal Association
  • The Advocates' Society

Representative Work

John's recent client work has included:

  • Resolving numerous Tax Court of Canada appeals on favourable bases without requiring full hearings before the Court, including income tax matters concerning earn-outs, shareholder benefits, scientific research and experimental development tax credits, partnership allocations, real property valuations, non-compete payments, civil penalties and the thin capitalization rules, as well as GST/HST matters
  • Obtaining numerous rectification orders to correct mistaken transactions, from large-scale corporate restructurings to estate freezes, including in the context of representing counsel from other firms who allegedly provided mistaken advice
  • Completing voluntary disclosures for numerous multinationals, Canadian corporations, charities and individuals with previously undisclosed income and assets and unfiled tax and information returns, thus avoiding the imposition of significant civil penalties and avoiding potential prosecution for tax evasion
  • Assisting numerous disadvantaged individuals on a pro bono basis, saving them from bankruptcy arising from mistaken CRA assessments