President, Benefic Group
Principal, Benefic Lawyers
Blake's benevolent sector expertise may be unparalleled in Canada and his technical competence is only trumped by his passion. Blake began his B.A. at the University of Singapore and completed degrees in contemporary China studies and law at the University of British Columbia. Historically, his practice related almost exclusively to charitable and tax planning matters. As President of Benefic Group he spends an increasing amount of his time on policy and strategic considerations in philanthropy both domestically and internationally.
Blake is a globally recognized expert on the comparative law of charity and regularly advises charities and donors operating around the world on tax and legal issues relating to the international transfer and utilization of charitable funds as well as on matters of corporate control and structure. Blake has advised governments in China, Russia, Vietnam, England, Australia, South Africa and Eastern Europe on drafting their laws governing rights and tax privileges of social organizations. Lord Phillips of Sudbury refers to his friend Blake as the international 'bumble bee' of the charity world because he ceaselessly travels the globe learning and then cross-pollinating his accumulated knowledge with others.
While Blake's level of knowledge and applied experience extends far beyond Canada, he is an authority on Canadian charity law. In addition, Blake has incorporated and registered well over 500 registered charities and non-profit organizations as well as provided professional advice to many hundred charities previously set up by others. He assists donors to achieve both tax efficiency and satisfaction in diverting a portion of their excess wealth to philanthropic purposes. He has planned, negotiated and closed over one billion dollars worth of inter-vivos gifting plus several times that in future testamentary giving on behalf of wealth creators and both large and small organizations.
Blake is committed to advancing understanding and sophistication in the benevolent sector. He proposes creative and innovative solutions to charitable endeavours and his significant academic interest have him continually writing and lecturing widely on legal/tax issues as well as contemporary general matters, including anti-terrorism legislation. Blake's interest is in not only expanding an academic understanding of the law but also changing and improving the law of gift and charity as well as the regulatory environment facing charities.
