People

Robert A. Neilson

Location

Edmonton, Alberta

Robert A. Neilson

Location

Edmonton, Alberta

Robert’s practice touches on most areas of tax, with an emphasis on representation and tax litigation. Over time he has expanded his practice to include wills and estates, focusing on mental competency, undue influence and trusts.

Beginning his law career with the Department of Justice, Robert possesses in-depth experience with CRA audits and disputes. Now, as a partner at Felesky Flynn, he has acted as lead counsel before the Tax Court of Canada, Federal Court of Canada and Federal Court of Appeal.

Born and raised in Edmonton, Robert obtained his Bachelor of Arts (Hon.) from the University of Alberta in 2004. He then obtained his law degree from the University of Saskatchewan and practiced tax litigation with the Department of Justice in Edmonton beginning in 2008. Robert joined Felesky Flynn in 2014.

2024 LEXPERT-ranked Lawyer

Credentials

  • Department of Justice (Canada), Tax Law Services Section, 2008-2014
  • Called to the Alberta Bar, 2008
  • Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) (with Distinction), University of Saskatchewan, 2007
  • Bachelor of Arts (BA), (with Honours), University of Alberta, 2004

Memberships & Affiliations

  • Member, Canadian Bar Association
  • Board Member, Pro Bono Law Alberta – Chair, Risk Management Committee
  • Board Member, Toy Guns Dance Theatre – Treasurer

 

Publications & Presentations
  • Co-Presenter, “Review of Current Tax Cases”, CPA Forum North, October 22, 2024
  • Co-Presenter, “Privilege with Emphasis on Mandatory Disclosure”, Canadian Tax Foundation: 75th Annual Tax Conference, November 26, 2023
  • Co-Author, “The New Mandatory Disclosure Regime—Some Constitutional Considerations”, Federated Press Tax Litigation Journal, Vol XXVI, No. 3, November 2023
  • Presenter, “CRA Audit Powers”, 10th Annual Public Practitioners’ & Technicians’ Conference, June 16, 2023
  • Presenter & Author, “Audit Developments and Settling Tax Disputes”, Canadian Tax Foundation: 2023 Prairie Provinces Tax Conference, May 29, 2023
  • Co-Presenter, “Current Tax Cases”, 2022 CPA Small Practitioners’ Forum , October 28, 2022
  • Co-Presenter, “Current Tax Cases”, CPA Forum North, October 23, 2022
  • Co-Author, “Reflecting on Reasons: Implications of Vavilov”, Federated Press Tax Litigation Journal, Vol XXIV, No. 1, July 2021
  • Co-Presenter, “Tax Tips and Traps in Family Law Practice”, Canadian Bar Association: Family Law Section, March 2021
  • Co-Author, “When is the Equitable Remedy of Rescission Available? Implications of the British Columbia Court of Appeal’s Decision in Collins Family Trust”, Federated Press Tax Litigation Journal, Vol. XXIII, No. 3, December 2020
  • Co-Author, “Crown Attempt to Repudiate Settlement Fails”, Canadian Tax Focus, Vol. 10, No. 2, p. 8, May 2020
  • Co-Author, “Vavilov and the New Framework for Judicial Review”, Federated Press Tax Litigation Journal, Vol. XXIII, No. 1, March 2020
  • Co-Author, “Are Tenant Improvements a Shareholder Benefit?”, Tax for the Owner-Manager, Vol. 20, No. 1, p. 9, January 2020
  • Co-Presenter, “Tax Tips and Traps: Avoiding Common Errors”, Edmonton CPA Club, September 2019
  • Co-Presenter, “Tax Dispute Resolution: A Primer”, Felesky Flynn LLP 2019 Tax Series (Grande Prairie), May 2019
  • Co-Presenter, “Tax Dispute Resolution: A Primer”, Canadian Bar Association: Business Law Subsection, February 2019
  • Presenter, “Tax Dispute Resolution”, Canadian Tax Foundation YP Group, December 2018
  • Presenter, “Tax Dispute Resolution: A Primer”, Felesky Flynn LLP 2018 Tax Series (Fort McMurray), November 2018
  • Co-Authored “Personal Services Businesses”, CBA Labour and Employment Section, October 2015
  • “Taxation of Aboriginals post-Bastien & Dubé: Where are we now?”, CBA Taxation Section, Edmonton Chapter, May 2014

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