Chua Chia-Yi

Adjunct Professor, tax litigator, strategy advisor and currently serving as Singapore’s Honorary Consul-General in Toronto.

ACADEMIC & ANALYTICAL EXPERIENCE

Adjunct Instructor, Professional LLM in Taxation | Osgoode Professional Development, York University | Winter 2026
• Taught two graduate tax-law courses, translating complex legislation, jurisprudence, and administrative practice into structured analysis for LLM students.
• Designed course content and assessed graduate-level written work, connecting legal doctrine with tax administration, government decision-making, and institutional practice.

MBA Global Experience – Singapore | Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto | Ongoing
• Collaborated with Professor Beatrix Dart on experiential learning concerning Singapore’s innovation ecosystem and corporate venture building.
• Deliver preparatory teaching and help construct a week-long Singapore programme involving DBS, Singtel, Changi Airport Group, Singapore Economic Development Board and PSA.
• Use long-standing institutional relationships to create repeated Canada–Singapore educational engagement and reciprocal learning.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Head of Tax | GrahamThompson | June 2025–Present
• Lead the firm’s tax practice, advising on complex tax disputes, tax-risk management, statutory interpretation, and administrative decision-making.
• Develop tax capability across advisory, audit preparedness and dispute resolution, drawing on more than three decades of Canadian tax litigation and strategic advisory experience.

Partner / Senior Tax Counsel | Leading Canadian law firms, including McCarthy Tétrault and Dentons
• More than three decades of complex tax litigation, dispute resolution, and strategic advisory work; appeared before Canadian courts, including Canada's apex court,  the Supreme Court of Canada.
• Advised corporations and institutions on matters requiring rigorous legal analysis, negotiation, judgment, and engagement with government authorities.
• Co-chaired McCarthy Tétrault’s Asia Practice Group, supporting institutional and business relationships across Asia.
• Recognised by Chambers Global for tax expertise and strategic judgment.

LEADERSHIP, GOVERNANCE & COMMUNITY

Canadian Consular Corps of Toronto | Secretary, Executive Committee | 2018–2021
• Supported engagement among career and honorary consular representatives and helped strengthen Toronto’s international consular community.
• Past board and leadership roles include the Canada–China Business Council, Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers, ASCEND Canada and ACCES Employment.
• Ongoing community volunteer and mentor to lawyers, students, and younger professionals.

SELECTED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
• Institute of Corporate Directors, ICD.D Board Directors Course | 2023
• Cambridge Lectures, United Kingdom | 2023
• Milken Institute Asia Summit, Singapore | 2017
• Trilateral Commission Conference, Singapore | 2015
• Intensive Trial Advocacy Course, Osgoode Hall Law School | 2003

HONOURS & RECOGNITION
• Public Service Star (Distinguished Friends of Singapore), Government of Singapore | 2026
• Chambers Global – recognised Canadian tax practitioner
• Canadian Immigrant Awards – inaugural Top 25 Canadian Immigrants | 2009
• Dean’s Honour Roll, York University

LANGUAGES
• English; Mandarin