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Pam MacDonell

Tax Lawyer

Bar Admission

  • Alberta, 2023

Practice Areas

  • Tax Law
  • Corporate
  • Wills & Estates
  • Private Lending
  • Tax Litigation

Contact Info

Legal Assistant:

Biography

Pam is a tax lawyer at BARR LLP, where she advises individuals, families, and businesses on a full range of Canadian and international tax matters. Her practice includes tax planning, corporate reorganizations, CRA disputes and appeals, trust and estate planning, and Tax Court of Canada litigation.

Pam brings a distinctly real-world perspective to her tax practice, shaped by nearly two decades of prior experience in business ownership, operations management, and healthcare leadership before becoming a lawyer. Having worked as a Registered Nurse, Chief Operations Officer, entrepreneur, and property owner, Pam understands the practical pressures her clients face: cash flow, deadlines, employee relationships, and risk. This background gives her an instinct for solutions that work in practice, not just on paper. Her advice balances technical precision with business reality, helping clients implement tax strategies that make sense in the real world.

Pam holds a Juris Doctor (JD) and an MBA from the University of Alberta, along with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN). She is currently completing the CPA Canada In-Depth Tax Program, the country’s leading advanced tax training program for professionals.

Before joining BARR LLP, Pam practiced at boutique firms, where she:

  • Advised high-net-worth clients on tax residency and cross-border planning (including the U.S., Portugal, Cyprus, Barbados, and Hong Kong)
  • Planned and implemented corporate reorganizations and estate freezes
  • Drafted and amended wills and trust deeds and resolutions
  • Conducted tax due diligence for corporate mergers and acquisitions involving private equity and strategic buyers
  • Represented taxpayers before the Canada Revenue Agency and the Tax Court of Canada, including matters involving SR&ED claims, net worth assessments, and section 160 assessments
  • Assisted in complex estate litigation and insolvency-related tax matters, including a 10-day trial at the Ontario Superior Court of Justice

At BARR LLP, Pam complements the firm’s family law, criminal, estate, and litigation practices by providing integrated tax insight on business divisions, trust disputes, and estate and corporate planning.

Outside of the office, Pam enjoys exploring Alberta’s outdoors through rock climbing, paddleboarding, mountain biking, and camping. She’s also a recreational soccer player and board game enthusiast.

Education

  • University of Alberta, Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN)
  • University of Alberta, Master of Business Administration
  • University of Alberta, Juris Doctor (JD), 2022

Professional Memberships

  • Member, Law Society of Alberta

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