Karen J. Cooper

Karen practises charity and not-for-profit law with an emphasis on corporate and tax issues. After two years clerking at the Federal Court of Canada, she was called to the Ontario Bar in 1995 and became counsel for the Department of Justice in tax litigation. She then went to Lang Michener to practise tax planning and litigation, commercial litigation and general business law, before moving on to become a senior rulings officer with the Income Tax Rulings Directorate of the Canada Revenue Agency. Karen has been recognized as a leading expert in charity and not-for-profit law by Lexpert and The Best Lawyers in Canada.

In addition to her considerable legal experience, Karen also has extensive speaking and teaching experience, including: presenting workshops for the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada (CPA Canada), as a sessional lecturer at Carleton University School of Business teaching business law and as a part-time professor at the University of Ottawa Faculty of Common Law teaching basic taxation and an advanced seminar (Introduction to the Law of Charities and Non-Profit Organizations).

Karen has also worked as a consultant providing advice to the Department of Justice, Environment Canada and the former Canadian Advisory Council on the Status of Women with respect to tax policy issues. She is currently serving on the Board of Directors of the Canadian Land Trust Alliance and the Kemptville District Hospital and as a member of the Canadian Tax Foundation, Canadian Association of Gift Planners, Association of Fundraising Professionals, the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners and on the executive of the Charity and Not-for-Profit Law Sections of the Ontario Bar Association and the Canadian Bar Association. She is a frequent author and speaker, as well as a contributing author to the Management of Charitable and Not-for-Profit Organizations in Canada (LexisNexis Butterworths).