Robert
Santia
Partner
Robert brings a dynamic and solution-oriented approach to tax law, leading clients through intricate legal matters with confidence. He thrives on dissecting highly technical tax challenges and crafting innovative strategies that align with each client’s goals. Robert is known for thinking outside the box and combining deep subject-matter expertise with a genuine passion for problem-solving, making him a trusted advisor for clients seeking impactful, forward-looking tax solutions.
Robert is a member of the firm’s Tax and Tax Controversy/Tax Litigation Groups. His practice includes advising individuals, private businesses and their advisors on a wide range of tax planning matters. He has extensive experience designing and executing corporate reorganizations and advising on the use of domestic and offshore trusts for tax and estate planning. Robert has developed particular expertise in assisting high-net-worth families with structuring their holdings to manage tax implications related to succession and estate transfers.
In addition to his client work, Robert is committed to sharing knowledge and advancing dialogue in the tax community. He contributes regularly to Canadian and international tax publications and speaks on these topics for professional and educational organizations.
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Other Languages
French
Italian
Portuguese
Spanish
Mandarin Chinese (Conversational)
Professional Involvement
Memberships
- Law Society of Ontario
- Ontario Bar Association
- Canadian Bar Association
- Canadian Tax Foundation
- Estate Planning Council of Toronto
Community Involvement
- Past Co-Chair, Osgoode Hall Law School Intensive Program in Wills & Estates (Taxation in Wills and Estates)
Co-Chair, "Fundamental Steps and Considerations in an Estate Freeze to Minimize Tax on Death," Osgoode Hall Professional Development – Taxation in Wills and Estates Webcast, February 21, 2023.
Speaker, "Practical Advice for Tackling Challenging Planning Issues: Death of a Shareholder – Introduction to the Problem of Double Taxation," Ontario Bar Association – Trusts and Estates Law/Young Lawyers Division Program, Toronto, November 4, 2019.
Speaker, "Speed Mentoring: Practical Advice on Succeeding as a Young Tax Lawyer," Ontario Bar Association – Taxation Law Program, Toronto, October 1, 2019.
Speaker, "Taxation of Private Corporations: An Overview of Tax Considerations During Life and at Death," Canadian Tax Foundation – Toronto Young Practitioners Tax Conference, Toronto, June 17, 2019.
Author, "Interpreting ‘Tends to Indicate Misuse or Abuse’ or: How I Stopped Worrying About Economic Substance and Learned to Embrace Principles of Statutory Interpretation," Tax for the Owner-Manager, Vol. 24, No. 2, Canadian Tax Foundation, April 2024.
Author, "Select Issues for Deemed Resident Trusts," Tax
Profile, Wolters Kluwer, July 2022.
Author, "TCC Bursts Post Mortem Pipeline," Canadian Tax Focus, Vol. 12, No. 2, Canadian Tax Foundation, May 2022.
Co-Author, "Canada's New Tax on Split Income Regime is Here to
Stay," The International Comparative Legal Guide to Private Client
2019, Global Legal Group, January 2019.
Author, "Revisiting Planning for Private Company Shareholders after July 2017," Canadian Tax Journal, Vol. 22, No. 2, Canadian Tax Foundation, June 2018.
Co-Author, "Trust Issues: An Update," Report of Proceedings
of the Sixty-Ninth Tax Conference, Canadian Tax Foundation, 2018.
Co-Author, "New Voluntary Disclosure Program Discloses No Intention to Attract Volunteers," Tax Notes International, September 11, 2017.
Co-Author, "Multi-Jurisdictional Pre-Immigration Planning," Trusts
& Trustees, Oxford University Press, September 2017.
Co-Author, "Court Backs Move of Trust’s Residency," OBA Business Beat, Ontario Bar Association, July 2017.
Co-Author, "Tax-Efficient Gifting to Canadians by Non-Residents: Some
Issues and Considerations," 13th Annual International Estate
Planning Institute, NYSBA & STEP, March 2017.
Co-Author, "The Income Tax Act and Estate Planning: The Law of Unintended Consequences," Ontario Bar Association Annual Institute – Trusts and Estates Law Section, February 2017.
Co-Author, "Principal Residence Exemption: Trusts and
Non-Residents," Canadian Tax Highlights, Vol. 25, No. 1,
Canadian Tax Foundation, January 2017.
Co-Author, "Discretionary Trusts and Ontario Net Family Property," Canadian Tax Focus, Vol. 6, No. 4, Canadian Tax Foundation, November 2016.