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Maurice Chiasson, K.C.

Partner

maurice chiasson

Language(s) spoken: English, French

Bar Admission(s): Nova Scotia, 1989

Legal Assistant(s): Wendy L. MacIsaac

Providing legal services through a professional corporation.

With over 30 years of experience, Maurice provides strategic legal counsel across insolvency and restructuring, commodity tax, and corporate finance. He advises national and international clients, including financial institutions, government agencies, and major corporations, on high-stakes transactions, complex tax matters, and financial restructurings. Known for his practical approach and deep technical knowledge, Maurice helps clients navigate intricate legal and regulatory landscapes with confidence.

Maurice’s experience includes:

Insolvency & Restructuring

Extensive experience advising clients on insolvency and restructuring matters, guiding businesses, lenders, and creditors through complex financial challenges. He provides strategic counsel on restructurings, receiverships, and insolvency proceedings, helping clients navigate high-stakes situations with efficiency and clarity.

Commodity Tax

Recognized nationally for his expertise in commodity tax and tax litigation, Maurice assists clients, including lending institutions, government agencies, and major corporations, with navigating the complexities of goods and services tax (GST), customs, and provincial taxation. With over 30 years of experience, he provides practical, results-driven guidance on tax compliance, disputes, and regulatory matters.

Corporate Finance

Maurice regularly advises borrowers and lenders involved in sophisticated, time-sensitive financing transactions. His deep understanding of financial structures and regulatory frameworks enables him to help clients achieve their objectives while mitigating risks and ensuring compliance with applicable laws.

Education & Career

Education

Dalhousie University (BA, 1984)
Dalhousie University (LLB, MBA, 1988)

Activities

Member, Canadian Bar Association
Member, Canadian Tax Foundation
Associate Member, Canadian Progress Club
Member, Sales and Commodity Tax Subsection, Canadian Bar Association
Member, Insolvency Institute of Canada
Chair, Finance Committee, Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society
Participant, GST-HST Leaders’ Forum, 2007 – present
Director, Halifax Comedy Festival Society, 2009 – present
Member, Canadian Insolvency Foundation, 2010 – present
Member, Steering Committee, Amendments to the Nova Scotia Companies Act, 2002 – 2008

Accolades

King’s Counsel, 2008
Best Lawyers 2026 Insolvency and Financial Restructuring Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Halifax
Best Lawyers 2023 Insolvency and Financial Restructuring Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Halifax
Best Lawyers 2021 Insolvency and Financial Restructuring Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Halifax
Who’s Who Legal: Canada 2021, 2023 (Banking)
Recipient, Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers, 2016
Best Lawyers, Banking and Finance Law, 2008 – 2010, 2013 – 2026
Best Lawyers, Insolvency and Financial Restructuring, 2012 – 2026
Best Lawyers, Tax Law, 2011 – 2026
Lexpert/American Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada, 2008 & 2009
Lexpert rating, Asset Equipment Finance/ Leasing, 2012, 2014 – 2025
Lexpert rating, Banking & Financial Institutions, 2011, 2013 – 2025
Lexpert rating, Commodity Tax/Customs,  2013 – 2025
Lexpert rating, Corporate Commercial Law, 2012 – 2025
Lexpert rating, Insolvency & Financial Restructuring,  2015 – 2025
Lexpert rating, Corporate Mid-Market, 2008 – 2010, 2013 – 2025
Martindale-Hubbell rating: BV Distinguished®

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Presentations

Co-presenter, Reverse Vesting Orders, CBA Nova Scotia Insolvency Section

Presenter & Co-Author, Grants and Transfer Payments – Free Money? Maybe Not., CPA Commodity Tax Symposium, Ottawa

Presenter & Co-Author, Statute-barred assessments – It’s not over until I say it’s over, CPA Canada Commodity Tax Symposium, Ottawa

Presenter, CRA Rules on Assignment of Real Estate Agreements, GST Leaders’ Forum

Presenter, Application of GST/HST to Cross-Border Transactions – Do the Rules Work?, GST Leaders’ Forum

Presenter, Inside or Outside – Review of Place of Supply Rules and Selected Export Issues, CPA Canada Virtual Seminar

Presenter, Deemed Trusts and The GST – Lessons for Secured Creditors, Annual Review of Insolvency Law

Presenter, Building Blocks, GST/HST (Stewart McKelvey Tax School)

Presenter, GST-HST Hot Topics, 2018 Atlantic Provinces Tax Conference

Presenter, Deemed Trusts and the HST – Lessons for Registrants and Secured Creditors, CPA Commodity Tax Symposium

Presenter, Dealing with CRA – Remedies and Enforcement: “So You Owe CRA Money…”, GST Leaders’ Forum 2015

Presenter, Fair Market Value under the Excise Tax Act “What’s Fairness Got to Do with Anything?”, 2011 CICA Commodity Tax Symposium

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