Today's Featured Biography

 
Stephen Holmes

Education

1977 - Graduated Bachelor of Commerce and Business Administration, University of British Columbia (Dean’s List)
        
1978 - Graduated Bachelor of Law, University of British Columbia (Top 5%)

Practice

1978 - Articled - Russell & DuMoulin (now Fasken Martineau DuMoulin)

1979 - Called to the Bar - B.C.
- Associate at Russell & DuMoulin until August, 1981

1981 to 2004 - Holmes Greenslade

2005 to    - Holmes & Company
present        

2007 to - Member of the Alliance of Business Lawyers with 41 offices in 28 countries and
presentapproximately 1,000 lawyers.

Diplomatic Appointment

- Honorary Consul of Malta of the Provinces of British Columbia and Alberta, and the Yukon and Northwest Territories.

Teaching, Seminars, Papers and Speaking Engagements

- Trusts 101 for Accoutants
- Innovative Tax Planning – Non-Resident Investment in Canadian Real Estate
- Innovative Tax Planning for Real Estate Transactions
– International Real Estate Acquisitions in regard to Panama, U.S.A., France and Mexico (Vancouver, Calgary)
- Global Family Wealth Conference (London, UK)
– Advising on the Offshore Asia Pacific Client
- Offshore Investment conference (London)
– Expert Panel on Immigration, Residency and Tax
- Gordon Group - Tax Planning for Small Businessmen
- Association of Diesel Specialists - Product Liability and Distribution Agreements
- Professional Legal Training Centre - Sale of Business
- Continuing Legal Education of B.C. (“CLE”)
- Advising Small Business - Buy and Selling a Business
- Shareholders’ Agreements in the 1990’s
- Due Diligence in Acquisition of a Business (Expert Panel)
- Risky Business - Avoiding Claims and Complaints in CorporateCommercial Practices
- Corporate Governance - Advising the Board
- Corporate Governance – Advising the Board Part II
- Pacific Business & Law Institute
- Protecting Shareholders in Private Corporations
- Insight - Risk and Responsibility for Corporate Directors
- Preparing for Shareholders’ Agreements and Disagreements
- B.C. Trade Development Corporation - Beyond Free Trade -Success in the U.S. Market - Forms of Carrying on Business
- Canadian Bar Association (“CBA”) Securities Law Subsection - Escrow Agreements
- Westcoast Centre for Development, Management and Self-EmploymentAssistance Program - Legal Issues for Entrepreneurs
- Roofing Contractors Association of British Columbia
- Cradle to Grave in the Family Business
- Expert Witness in Supreme Court of British Columbia action regarding solicitors negligence (sale of shares)
- Wilshire Publishing Company
- Secrets of Offshore Wealth Building
- Principles to Consider Using Low Tax Jurisdictions
- Asset Protection:Preserving Wealth Offshore
- Establishing Foreign Residency for American/Canadians
- Designing and Implementing the Offshore Plan
- Scion Financial Planners
- International Tax Planning for Canadians
- Westcoast Entrepreneur Society - Contracts and Business Law for Entrepreneurs
- Youth Entrepreneur Program (Government of Canada)
- Contract Law for Entrepreneurs
- U.S. Taxation of Foreign Controlled Companies - Inbound Tax Conference
- Foreign Tax Considerations for Foreign Multinationals
- The Offshore Wealth Summit - Canada - A Tax Haven?
- The Small Cap Finance and Investor Relations Conference
- Financing in a Bear Market
- Canadian Tax Reporter/Writer for Tax Notes International
- Barbados Financial Forum on Global Financial Services
-“The Future of Banking in Low Tax Jurisdictions - Regulation”
- Offshore Summit (Cancun)
- “International Tax Planning using Trusts, Offshore Corporations, Treaties and Immigration”
- The World Market Research Centre (London)
- Legal Issues in Regard to Mining Activities in Peru
- JKS Financial Services Inc.
- Tax Havens, Estate Planning and Insurance (the Vancouver Club)
- Offshore Wealth Summit (Hawaii) - December, 1999    
- “Expatriation and Foreign Citizenships - the Ultimate Plan”
- Langara College Continuing Studies - Skills for Small Business and Self-
Employment Program - “Legal Issues”
- Lorman Education Services
- British Columbia Directors’ and Officers Liability (Program Chair)
- U.S. Commercial Service - U.S.A. Department of Commerce - RepCanDealMaker - “Canadian Legal Issues for US Exporters”
- Waiting List Group “Tax, Litigation, Negotiation and Collection Strategies”
- Master Media Publishing: “The Offshore Solution” Contributor
- Citadel Bank & Trust Forum - “Business, Legal and Tax in the Peoples Republic of China”
- U.S. Consulate “Doing Business in Canada”
- Expert Witness U.S. Federal Court on Offshore Banking and Secrecy
- China Forum “Immigration, Residency and Passport Alternatives” and “Tax and
Asset Planning Alternatives”
- Editor Dial-A-Law script “Forming a Partnership”
- Business in Vancouver
- Tax Tips for Managers and Shareholders
- International Investment and Tax Havens

Practice

- Tax/Corporate/Securities - international financing, acquisitions and tax planning
- Acting in regard to numerous sale of assets, shares, franchises, joint ventures,
public and private financings, distributions and stock exchange listings
- Structuring, forming and use of offshore Trusts, Banks, Foundations and International Business Corporations

International Practice

- Assisted clients in legal and business affairs in Mexico, Ecuador, Venezuela,
Chile, China, Belize, Peru, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Barbados,Jersey, Turks and Caicos, Bermuda, Bahamas, Guernsey, England, Austria,France, Japan, Wales, Germany, Scotland, United States, Ireland, Thailand,Gibraltar, Hong Kong, Malta, Panama, Dominican Republic, Turks & Caicos,Dominica, Costa Rica, Honduras, Germany, Denmark, Cuba, Dubai, South Korea, Isle of Man, Poland, Singapore and Thailand.

Directorships

- Director of the Alliance of Business Lawyers
- Past directorships on Companies listed on Toronto Stock Exchange,TSX Venture Exchange and NASDAQ

Memberships

- Alliance of Business Lawyers
(www.a-b-l.com)
- CPL Consulting Company Ltd. (www.cplchina.biz) with offices in Shanghai and Beijing    
- Canadian Bar Association
- Law Society of British Columbia
- CBA Law Subsections - Securities, Resource, Tax and Business Law
- Canadian Tax Foundation
- Practice Advisory Board Corporate/ Commercial Practice(Law Society/CLE)(former)
- The Offshore Institute
- International Tax Planning Association
- Consular Corps of British Columbia

Service/Charitable Organizations (Past/Present)

- Director - Vancouver Aquarium
- Member of Canadian Olympic Committee
- President - Triathlon Canada
- Director - Triathlon World Championship Society
- Past President - B.C. Triathlon Association
- Selection Committee - Triathlete Funding - British Columbia
- Board of Directors for Triathlon Canada
- Red Cross - Fund Raising Committee (Golf)
- United Way (former joint chairman of initial legal subsection)
- Canadian Mental Health Association (chairman of golf committee - raised over $800,000.00)
- Carol Ship Society (honorary solicitor)
- Vancouver Maritime Museum (honorary solicitor)
- Sea Festival Society (honorary solicitor)
- Coach - Olympics of Mind (Vancouver District Champions)
- West Vancouver Girls - 3 Pitch, T-Ball and Softball

Clubs

- Capilano Golf and Country Club
- Hollyburn Country Club
- Vancouver Club
- Spanish Trail Golf and Country Club, Las Vegas, Nevada
- Terminal City Club

References

- Canadian Legal Who’s Who
- British Columbia’s Who’s Who
- International Professional Who’s Who
- Who’s Who Executive and Professional

Associations

- B.C. Track & Field Association
- B.C. Triathlon Association
- Capilano Eagle Running Club

Personal

- Married - two children
- Triathlon - 1995 Canadian Triathlon Team competing in 1995 World Championships in Cancun, Mexico
- 1998 World Masters Championship in Portland, Oregon
- 1999 Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon, San Francisco, California (Third Place)
- 2000 Ironman Canada
- 2001 Canadian Triathlon Team competing in 2001 World Championships in Edmonton, Alberta
- 2004 Canadian Triathlon Team - competing in World Championship in Madeira, Portugal
- 2006 Canadian Triathlon Team – competing in World Championship in Lausanne, Switzerland
- 2007 Canadian Triathlon Team – competing in World Championship in Hamburg, Germany
- 2008 Canadian Triathlon Team – competing in World Championship in Vancouver, B.C.
- 2008 Age Group Champion – Pan American Championships in Mazatlan, Mexico
- Duathlon - 1996 Canadian National Duathlon Team competing in 1996 World Championships in Ferrera, Italy
- 1997 Canadian Nation Duathlon Team competing in 1997 World Championship in Guernika, Spain    
- Running - including New York and Boston Marathons, Canadian Cross Country Championships
- Skiing, scuba diving, golf and tennis
- Working knowledge of Spanish and some French and Italian
- Awarded Community Service Award for Vancouver and District by CMHA
- Young Businessman of the Year (ADS)
- Presidents Award (Sport BC)

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