Canada's charitable and not-for-profit sector operates within layers of federal and provincial regulations that continue to evolve. Ranked Band 1 by Chambers Canada for nine consecutive years, BLG's Charities and Not-for-Profits Group is nationally recognized as a leader in navigating this complex legal landscape.
The group is co-led by Ryma Nasrallah and Katherine Carre, among the sector's most actively engaged lawyers in Canada, with Ryma serving as Past Chair of the Canadian Bar Association's Charities and Not-for-Profit Section, and Katherine as current Chair of the Ontario Bar Association's Charity and Not-for-Profit Section.
We understand both the operational realities organizations face and the specialized legal frameworks that govern them. Clients across Canada and beyond depend on our team’s deep sector knowledge, bilingual capabilities and cross-border experience to achieve their missions while staying compliant. They span diverse charity and not-for-profit organizations, with a strong presence in the healthcare and education sectors, including hospitals, universities, colleges, social clubs, trade associations, charitable foundations, and community organizations.
How we can help charities and not-for-profits
As a full-service law firm, we support charitable and not-for-profit organizations across the full lifecycle – from formation and governance to regulatory compliance, strategic initiatives and disputes – helping them navigate complexity and deliver meaningful impact. Core practice areas include corporate and commercial, governance, charity, tax, labour and employment, intellectual property, real estate transactions, and regulatory compliance.
Our services range from incorporation and organization to obtaining and maintaining charitable status, corporate restructuring and reorganization, mergers, collaborations, and integrations. Governance services include board orientation and training, board manuals, regulatory compliance guidance, and risk assessment and management. We also advise on real estate purchases and leasing, corporate reviews and strategic planning, labour and employment issues, branding and licensing matters, and integration planning and execution.
In addition, we assist with structuring charitable gifts, securing funding and grants, revenue-generating activities, fundraising compliance, and establishing endowments.
Our lawyers regularly serve on charity boards and committees, bringing practical governance experience to legal advice, and many hold leadership positions in industry associations, staying current with sector developments. This commitment extends beyond our legal practice: The BLG Foundation supports dozens of charities annually across Canada, reflecting a firm-wide investment in the communities we serve.
