Frank’s practice has been primarily focused on corporate and commercial, tax, tax dispute resolution, corporate governance, wills, estates and trust law from its inception.
Frank is a partner at TDS who is recognized as a trusted adviser with a very active practice primarily focused on corporate and commercial, tax, tax dispute resolution, corporate governance, wills, estates and trust law from its inception. He is well known and sought out for his proactive, innovative and creative advice that is considered to be ahead of the curve.
Frank has received the King’s Counsel designation, an honourary title given to lawyers recognized for their outstanding practice, integrity and leadership as a lawyer, and who have fostered excellence in their legal profession. He also was an inaugural appointee as a member of the Jurists of Robson Hall. This was in honour and recognition of his extraordinary service and commitment to the University of Manitoba’s Faculty of Law.
Frank has a longstanding commitment to the legal and business community. He has taught taxation law for the Law Society of Manitoba, the University of Manitoba Law School, the Asper School of Business, Chartered Professional Accountants of Manitoba, Certified General Accountants, Canadian Tax Foundation, Manitoba Bar Association, Tax Video News and elsewhere. He is currently the Law School’s Course Head and Lecturer for its third-year Corporate Tax course and its second-year Introductory Income Tax and Policy course. He is also the Asper School of Business former Course Head and Lecturer for its sole tax course. He was also a Governor of the Canadian Tax Foundation and Certified General Accountants Association of Manitoba.
Frank is a strong believer in philanthropy and giving back to the community, serving on boards and committees of numerous cultural, religious and community organizations throughout his career. He is a Founding Director and Honorary Solicitor for the Fannystelle Spiritual Centre Corp. (formerly known as the Winnipeg Library Foundation), Director for the Mount Carmel Clinic Foundation, Director and Chair of Nomination & Governance Committee for the Winnipeg Chinese Cultural & Community Centre, and Director for the Jewish Learning Institute. He is also the Chair of the Audit Committee of the Winnipeg Board of Jewish Education, Member of the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters Association’s Manitoba Tax Committee, Tax Appeals Commission of Manitoba Commissioner, and serves on the Advisory Committee for the Islamic Social Services Association of Manitoba. He was also the tax advisor for the expansion of the Red River North Regional Library.
His service both in the legal profession and in the community has been widely acknowledged. His legal work has been repeatedly recognized by his profession and his peers where he has thrice been the Best Lawyers™ Tax Lawyer of the Year (Winnipeg), receiving the award in 2012, 2016 and 2018. He has also been consistently recognized by his peers as a Best Lawyers™ lawyer in the area of Tax, Trusts (Wills) and Estates. He is both Judicial and Peer Rated with the highest rating in legal ability and ethical standards by Lexis Nexis Martindale-Hubbell. Frank has also been recognized in his community, receiving the Islamic Social Services Association ISSA Award in 2015, the City of Winnipeg Community Service Award in 2019, and becoming a Sarah Sommer Chai Folk Ensemble Concert Honouree in 2017.
L.L.B., University of Manitoba
B. Comm. (Hons.), University of Manitoba
Manitoba, 1980
King’s Counsel (K.C.) Designation by the Manitoba Government, 2023
Jurist of Robson Hall, 2022
Frank Lavitt received the Best Lawyers™ 2012, 2016, and 2018 Tax Law “Lawyer of the Year” award in Winnipeg
Frank Lavitt has been consistently selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers™ in Canada in the fields of Tax Law and Trusts, Wills and Estates.
City of Winnipeg Community Service Award, 2019
Honouree Sarah Sommer Chai Folk Ensemble Concert, 2017
Islamic Social Services Association Award, 2015
Chief Justice Robson Award, 1979
University Gold Medal, 1976
Alumni Scholarship, 1976
Dean’s Honour List, Faculty of Administrative Studies, 1975 & 1976
Tax Appeals Commission of Manitoba, Commissioner
Appeals Committee of Chartered Professional Accountants Manitoba, Former Member
Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters Association, Manitoba Tax Committee, Member
Mount Carmel Clinic Foundation Inc., Director
Meals on Wheels of Winnipeg, Former Director
Audit Committee of the Winnipeg Board of Jewish Education, Chair
Fannystelle Spiritual Centre Corp. (formerly known as the Winnipeg Library Foundation, Inc.), Founding Director and Honorary Solicitor
Winnipeg Chinese Cultural & Community Centre Inc., Director, and Chair of Nomination & Governance Committee
Islamic Social Services Association of Manitoba, Advisory Committee
Isbister Legacy Society of the University of Manitoba, Member
Jewish Learning Institute, Director
Certified General Accountants Association of Manitoba, Former Governor
Prairie Provinces Tax Conference, Past Chair
Canadian Tax Foundation, Former Governor
Victoria General Hospital Foundation; Former Director
University of Manitoba, Planned Giving Committee, Former Member
Jewish National Fund, Former Director
Jewish Child & Family Services, Former Director
Canadian Bar Association, Manitoba Tax Section, Chair (1984-1990)
University of Manitoba Faculty of Law, Third Year Corporate Tax Course, Second Year Introductory Income Tax and Policy Course, Course Head and Sessional Lecturer
University of Manitoba Asper School of Business Canadian Taxation Course, Former Course Head and Sessional Lecturer
Law Society of Manitoba: Bar Admission Course, Lecturer in Taxation (1980-1985, 1991-1992)
Certified Professional Accountants of Manitoba Continuing Education Courses, Purchase and Sale of Business, Corporate Restructuring, Section 85, Employee Benefits and Employee vs. Contactor
Law Society of Manitoba Continuing Education: “Retirement Compensation Arrangements, Employee Profit sharing Plans and Health & Welfare Trusts”; “Tax Aspects of Litigation”; “Tax for the General Practitioner”
Certified General Accountants of Manitoba: “Domestic Trust Tax Planning Strategies”, “The Proposed Civil Penalty Provisions for Tax Practitioners”
Video Tax News, Assorted Current Topics
Meyers Norris Penny continuing education seminar: “RRSP’s investing in small businesses”
Canadian Association of Family Enterprises: “Tax Planning for Succession”
Canadian Tax Foundation Annual Tax Conference: “Getting Dollars Out of Closely Held Businesses”
Reed Stenhouse Limited lunch hour seminars: “Tax Aspects of Insurance”
Canadian Tax Foundation, Prairie Provinces Tax Conference: “The Alternative Minimum Tax”
Equitable Life Insurance Company Annual Convention: “Tax Planning for the Life Insurance Representative”
Recreational Vehicle Dealers Association of Canada Annual Convention: “Tax Planning for the Small Businessman”
Estate Planning Council of Winnipeg: “Inter Vivos Trusts”, Testamentary Trusts, Alter Ego Trusts
Suncorp Equities Inc. Seminar: “Canadians Investing in U.S. Real Estate”
University of Winnipeg Continuing Education Division: “Tax Planning for the Individual”
Manitoba Mid-Winter Bar Convention: “The Small Business Rules”; “The Recent Amendments”
The Toronto-Dominion Bank Manitoba and North West Ontario Region Managers’ Convention: “Tax Planning for Bank Managers”
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