James Williams

Jim, blending his expertise in law and accounting, started his journey in the professional realm by securing his Chartered Accountant designation with Touche Ross, which is part of the global accounting giant Deloitte, in Montréal. His legal voyage kicked off in Calgary with the firm Ballem McDill & MacInnes, now known as Gowling WLG, marking the beginning of his illustrious career in 1981. Before his association with Carbert Waite LLP in 2007 as Associated Counsel, Jim lent his skills to the tax and corporate law departments of Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, a notable national law firm, in their Calgary office.

With over four decades of experience, Jim has mastered the realms of corporate and commercial law. His repertoire includes guiding businesses through incorporations, reorganizing share capital, navigating the complexities of buying and selling businesses, facilitating amalgamations and corporate dissolutions, and crafting meticulous unanimous shareholder and partnership agreements.

Jim's proficiency extends deeply into tax law, where he advises on a multitude of personal income tax issues, estate freezes, succession planning, and wealth management, including tax-efficient strategies for asset and share rollovers. His acumen shines in corporate circles, especially with mergers and acquisitions, share exchanges, and the intricate processes of corporate reorganizations and restructurings.

Currently, Jim's focus narrows down to assisting owner-managed private corporations and delving into succession and estate planning. This includes drafting Wills, Enduring Powers of Attorney, Personal Directives, securing grants of probate, and overseeing estate administration.

Outside the legal and financial arenas, Jim has a passion for military history and aviation. His involvement with The Hangar Flight Museum of Calgary as a former Director and Chair highlights his dedication to aviation history. Jim, a once active pilot with a commercial license, has served as President and Director of the Calgary Flying Club and contributed his legal expertise to the Canadian Owners and Pilots Association. His early years were marked by his service in both the Royal Canadian Hussars (Montréal) and the No. 401 “City of Westmount” Air Reserve Squadron, showcasing his commitment to the military and aviation sectors from a young age.

Jim's academic foundation was laid at Concordia University in Montréal, where he graduated with honors in Commerce in 1975. He became a Chartered Accountant in 1977 and later pursued law at Osgoode Hall Law School, earning his LL.B. in 1981. As a member of the Law Society of Alberta since 1982, and with affiliations to the Calgary Bar Association and Chartered Professional Accountants in both Alberta and Ontario, Jim's professional credentials are both diverse and profound, reflecting his multifaceted career and interests.