Vern Krishna

Vern Krishna is a full professor at the Faculty of Law (Common Law Faculty) at the University of Ottawa, where he has taught since 1981. His expertise lies in taxation, business law, corporate finance, and financial skills for lawyers. He holds advanced degrees from the University of Alberta (MBA, LL.B.), Harvard University (LL.M.), and Cambridge University (DCL), and is a member of the Ontario Bar as Of Counsel at KPK Law LLP.

Research Focus:

• Tax avoidance and the General Anti-Avoidance Rule (GAAR)
• International taxation and tax treaties
• Corporate finance and legal accounting
• Business law and shareholder agreements
• Income splitting and estate planning

Scientific Awards & Professional Honors:

• Appointed to the Order of Canada (2004)
• Queen’s Counsel (1989)
• Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada (1992)
• Fellow of the Certified General Accountants of Canada (1989)
• Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal (2013)
• 125th Canada Medal (1993)

Professional Leadership:

• Treasurer of the Law Society of Ontario (2001-2003)
• President of the Certified General Accountants Association of Ontario (1995-1996)
• Commissioner, Ontario Securities Commission (1995-1998, 2010-2013)

Publications: Author of 17 books, including The Fundamentals of Canadian Income Tax (9th ed., 2006) and Halsbury’s Laws of Canada (2021-2023). His works are frequently cited by the Supreme Court of Canada in landmark tax cases.