YPDaily: Marc Richardson Arnould

Marc Richardson Arnould is an associate in taxation at Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP, one of Canada’s leading law firms, playing an exciting role in some of the country’s most significant and complex transactions. In addition to that, he is involved in the planning of a fundraiser for the Montreal Cancer Institute: the Casino against Cancer…

Elevator Pitch: Describe your job in a nutshell.
I’m an associate in taxation at Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP, where I work on a wide range of local, national and international transactions, as well as dispute resolution work and estate planning. Tax law is a particularly complicated area of law. It is complicated for both business executives as well as lawyers. I like to solve problems that simplify business life.

Why did you start working at your company? What was the inspiration for this career route?
For some time now I have been particularly interested in what I see as the inherent tension between the practices of tax legislators and administrators and the objectives of business. While tax authorities try to ensure that taxpayers comply with the object, spirit and purpose of tax legislation, business interests attempt to structure their affairs in a tax efficient manner so as to minimise their tax burden. Sometimes these two positions create tension. It is in dealing with that tension that some of the most complicated and interesting files arise. The Montreal office of Osler, Hoskin and Harcourt LLP, which is connected to a national and cross-border tax presence of approximately seventy tax practitioners, offered me a great platform and the opportunity to actively engage in this exercise. The office is one of the only top-tier firms in the city that has a significant group of tax lawyers able to advise businesses on domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance and tax issues. It’s quite simply the place that offered me the possibility to work on some of the most exciting and challenging tax files in the country!

What is the best part of what you do on a day-to-day basis? The most challenging part?
The best part of my day is tackling difficult issues. I have the added advantage of working alongside fantastic colleagues with which I get to discuss these issues in great detail and come to original and creative solutions for our clients.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
I see myself continuing my legal career at Osler surrounded by inspirational people. As I like to say when participating in the recruitment of young and ambitious law students, “Working at Osler means being able to converse with Canada’s leading legal experts over a cup of coffee.”

What does success look like to you?
Professional success to me is the opportunity to consistently be surrounded by intelligent, dynamic and creative people both internally, among my colleagues, and externally, interacting with clients. A legal career offers this opportunity in spades. In my personal life, I consider success to mean being surrounded by friends who are compassionate and caring people with similar interests.

What is the most memorable milestone in your career?
Every new file, along with its own challenges and excitement, presents the opportunity for becoming a memorable milestone. My most memorable milestone to date was that I had the opportunity to represent a client in an important tax dispute and won, which was a great victory for our client and a professionally satisfying experience.

Do you have any advice for other young professionals?
When I applied to law school, a family friend approached me and gave me the following piece of advice: “Being a great lawyer is twenty percent intelligence and eighty percent hard work.” So I put it to those who are either entering the legal profession or are members thereof – put in the effort! A second piece of advice: press yourself to find a work-life balance that suits you.

Do you support any charities? If so, which one(s) and why is that important to you?
Along with a group of passionate young professionals, I am actively engaged in the planning of and fundraising for the Casino against Cancer fundraiser for the Montreal Cancer Institute. Last year the Montreal Cancer Institute’s Casino against Cancer managed to raise a significant sum of money to fund a research chair in immunotherapy, which is anticipated by some to be the future in combating cancer. The cause is very close to my heart and I was very touched by the great turnout and wonderful feedback from the Montreal community. I am also very proud to say that we will be holding a second Casino against Cancer at the Windsor in Montreal on September 20th, 2013. 

What to you is notable?
Kipling said it best in a poem to his son titled ‘If’, but I would place particular emphasis on humility, candour and perseverance. 

Blackberry, iPhone, Android, or Other?
BlackBerry, but seriously considering the switch!