Justin Kutyan appointed national leader of KPMG Law LLP

Justin Kutyan, a seasoned tax law expert, has been appointed senior partner and national leader of KPMG Law, the law firm affiliated with accounting and consulting firm KPMG Canada.

Kutyan, who joined KPMG Law five years ago as a tax litigation and dispute resolutions partner, replaces founding partner Mark Meredith at the head of the firm. Meredith retires on September 30, having built out the law firm into a national, multifunctional law practice.

KPMG Law currently has six offices in Canada and a team of more than 80 lawyers providing strategic advice and legal services in business, tax, immigration, and estates and trusts.  

Kutyan brings 13 years of law experience to the role at the head of the firm, specializing in litigating tax cases. Over his career, Kutyan has successfully resolved disputes in a wide range of income tax, GST/HST, and customs issues. He has extensive experience in trial advocacy, appearing before the Tax Court of Canada, Canadian International Trade Tribunal, Ontario Superior Court of Justice, Federal Court, and Federal Court of Appeal, and has also assisted on cases before the Supreme Court of Canada.

Prior to joining KPMG Law, Kutyan was a tax litigation associate at Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt. Before that, he spent five years as crown counsel at the federal Department of Justice. He has also been an adjunct professor at his alma mater, Osgoode Hall Law School, since 2011. He holds an LLB in tax law from Osgoode Hall, as well as a BA in economics from York University. Kutyan is a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada and the Canadian Bar Association.

“Justin has distinguished himself as a tax litigator with an exceptional ability to deliver excellent outcomes for his clients,” said Lucy Iacovelli, who was recently named KPMG’s Canadian managing partner for tax and chief administrative officer of KPMG Law. “KPMG Law’s talented team of legal professionals are working closely with our Tax, Audit and Advisory businesses to anticipate client needs and deliver more holistic business solutions. Justin’s natural leadership abilities and ‘one team’ approach will be a tremendous asset as we take KPMG Law to the next level.”

KPMG Law also announced that Anna Balinsky, a business law partner, has been appointed to the law firm’s management committee. As a business law partner, Balinsky advises companies on day-to-day operations, M&A, and structuring.