Bobby Solhi is a distinguished partner in the Tax & Trusts Group at Cassels where he leads the Canadian sales, commodity, and indirect taxes practice. Bobby is a strategic tax advisor to many leading organizations including those in transportation, logistics, real estate and development, technology, energy, lending and financial services.
Bobby is also an experienced tax litigator with a comprehensive tax litigation and tax dispute resolution practice, and significant success in defending against tax audits, pursuing tax appeals and, when necessary, litigating tax disputes before the Courts.
Bobby is a frequent writer and presenter on tax law matters before accounting, financial, and industry organizations. He is a featured Canadian tax law expert for LexisNexis’ Legal Practice Advisor where he has published tax modules for lawyers involved in corporate and commercial transactions.
Recent representative work includes advising:
- A post-secondary institution on a tax appeal with respect to the application of GST/QST on payments receive from its US parent company
- A leading re-fueling supplier on a tax appeal with respect to the Ontario Fuel Tax Act
- A multinational consumer electronics retailer on the application of GST/HST/PST to its online marketplace and platform operations as well as negotiating with tax authorities across Canada on the application of the tax rules and transitional relief
- A global travel retailer on the Canadian tax implications to its e-commerce platform operations including implementing changes to consumer terms of use, commercial agreements, and cross-border supplies
- Loblaws Inc. on its $875 million acquisition of the Lifemark Health Group to expand Shoppers Drug Mart’s healthcare services
- Canadian Premier Life Insurance Company in its acquisition of Gerber Life Insurance Company’s Canadian insurance business from US-based Western & Southern Financial Group
- A purchaser on the tax aspects of a successful acquisition of a Canadian bank
- Mohegan Gaming and Entertainment on its acquisition of Fallsview Casino and Niagara Falls Entertainment Centre
- A purchaser on the tax aspects of a significant acquisition of agricultural businesses in western Canada
- A multi-national chemical supplier on the tax implications of interprovincial sales
- Various multi-national technology firms on the tax implications of cross-border technology service/SAS arrangements
- Various foreign technology companies with tax aspects of inbound transactions
- Automotive suppliers on tax implications of exports and outbound transactions
- Wholesalers of tobacco products in significant tax dispute
- Various individual and corporate clients in tax disputes at the Tax Court and Federal Court level
In addition, Bobby has advised clients on:
- Transaction taxes related to purchases by private equity investors
- The application of the carbon tax to major clients in the energy sector
- The tax aspects of renewal energy projects
- The tax aspects of multi-billion-dollar class action settlements
- The tax structuring of several multi-unit real property developments
- Tax residency issues for foreign clients with Canadian business activities
Select tax cases include:
- 1351231 Ontario Inc. v. The King (2020-2170(GST)G)
- Champlain College of Vermont – Montreal Campus v. His Majesty the King (Consent to Judgment Order) (2021-948(GST)G)
- Champlain College of Vermont – Montreal Campus v. His Majesty the King (Motion for Particulars Order) (2021-948(GST)G)
- 4Refuel GP Corporation, General Partner of 4Refuel Canada LP v. The Minister of Finance (Ontario Superior Court of Justice – CV-21-00655460-0000)
- Champlain College of Vermont – Montreal Campus v. His Majesty the King (2021-948(GST)G)
- Alec Bradley Cigar Manufacturers of Canada Inc. v. The Minister of Finance (Ontario Superior Court of Justice – CV-21-00656871)
- Ontario Electrical Construction Company Limited v. Her Majesty the Queen (2019-3772(GST)G)
- Rybakova, et al. v. Her Majesty The Queen (2019-3772(GST)G)
- Garipov, et al. v. Her Majesty the Queen (2015-2106 (GST)I, 2015-2110(GST)I)
- Rybakov, et al v. Her Majesty the Queen (2019 TCC 284)
- Rybakov, et al. v. Her Majesty the Queen (2019 TCC 209)
- Lohas Farm Inc. v. Her Majesty the Queen (2019 TCC 197)
- 2253787 Ontario Inc. v Her Majesty The Queen (2014 TCC 121)
- 2266504 Ontario Inc. v Her Majesty The Queen
- Faisal Javaid v. Her Majesty The Queen (2015 TCC 94)
- Ranjbar v. Canada (2016 FCA 116)
- Kniazev v. Her Majesty The Queen (2017-456 (GST)I)
- Kniazev v. Her Majesty The Queen (2017-457 (GST)I)
Prior to joining Cassels, Bobby served as a partner in the Tax Group of a full-service Canadian law firm.
