Linda Godel

Partner, Business Law Group | Torkin Manes LLP

Toronto, ON, CANADA

Extensive experience advising charities and not-for-profit organizations — Chair of the firm’s Not-for-Profit & Charities Law Practice Group

Biography

Linda is the Chair of Torkin Manes’ Not-for-Profit & Charities Group. She acts as external general counsel to numerous not-for-profit organizations, both charitable and non-charitable, and provides advice to local, provincial, national and international organizations covering a wide range of disciplines. Her clients include professional associations, self-regulated bodies and organizations in such fields as religion, health, education, social services, poverty, childcare, athletics and recreation. She advises organizations in the third sector on structuring and restructuring matters, corporate governance, by-law interpretation, director and member disputes, directors’ and officers’ liability, compliance issues, cross-border and international relationships and gifting, endowment and fundraising issues. She is a frequent speaker and writer on topics pertinent to the voluntary sector and is an active volunteer.

Industry Expertise (7)

Non-Profit/Charitable

Legal Services

Corporate Leadership

Corporate Training

Fund-Raising

Philanthropy

Religious Institutions

Areas of Expertise (5)

Not for Profits

Charities

Governance of Not for Profits and Charities

Directors' Duties of Not For Profits and Charities

Mergers of Not For Profit and Charities

Accomplishments (8)

The Canadian Legal Expert Directory, Not-for-Profit & Charities (professional)

2016-06-01

Featured leading lawyer in Lexpert Directory.

The Canadian Legal Expert Directory, Not-for-Profit & Charities (professional)

2015-06-01

Featured leading lawyer in Lexpert Directory.

The Canadian Legal Expert Directory, Not-for-Profit & Charities (professional)

2014-06-01

Featured leading lawyer in Lexpert Directory.

The Canadian Legal Expert Directory, Not-for-Profit & Charities (professional)

2013-06-01

Featured leading lawyer in Lexpert Directory.

The Canadian Legal Expert Directory, Not-for-Profit & Charities (professional)

2012-07-01

Featured leading lawyer in Lexpert Directory.

The Canadian Legal Expert Directory, Not-for-Profit & Charities (professional)

2011-06-01

Featured leading lawyer in Lexpert Directory.

The Canadian Legal Expert Directory, Not-for-Profit & Charities (professional)

2010-07-01

Featured leading lawyer in Lexpert Directory.

The Canadian Legal Expert Directory, Not-for-Profit & Charities (professional)

2009-07-01

Featured leading lawyer in Lexpert Directory.

Education (2)

Osgoode Hall Law School, York University: LLB, Law 1987

McGill University: BA, English Literature 1984

Affiliations (4)

Member, Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada, Not-for-Profit Governance Committee
Member, Ontario's Business Law Advisory Council, Not-For-Profit Subcommittee, Ministry of Government and Consumer Services
Vice-Chair, Canadian Bar Association, Charities and Not-for-Profit Law Section Executive
Member, Ontario Bar Association, Charities and Not-for-Profit Law Section Executive

Links (1)

Torkin Manes LLP

Languages (1)

English

Media Appearances (1)

What are we talking about when we talk about social innovation?

The Philanthropist online

2017-01-23

Quoted on social innovation in article written by John Lorinc.

Event Appearances (20)

Effecting Fundamental Changes: Unification, Separation, and Dissolution of Charities and Not-For-Profit Corporations In Ontario

Ontario Bar Association, Charity and Not-for-Profit Law Program Toronto, Ontario, Canada

2017-04-04

Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act: Lessons Learned

Law Society of Upper Canada, 6th Annual Business Law Summit Toronto, Ontario, Canada

2016-05-12

Setting the Record Straight – Recordkeeping Requirements of Charities

2015 National Charity Law Symposium Toronto, Ontario, Canada

2015-05-29

Corporate Procedures and Compliance with the Corporate Legislation

UJA Federation of Greater Toronto 4th Charity Law Seminar Toronto, Ontario, Canada

2015-03-02

Canada’s Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL)

UJA Charity Law Seminar Toronto, Ontario, Canada

2014-05-08

Canada's Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL)

KPMG's Annual Seminar for Not-for-Profit Organizations Toronto, Ontario, Canada

2014-03-25

The ONCA is Coming into Force - What Now?

Ontario Bar Association's Institute 2014, The Latest Developments in Charity Law Toronto, Ontario, Canada

2014-02-07

Corporate Conundrums (including Continuance), panel discussion with Donald J. Bourgeois and David P. Stevens,

2013 National Charity Law Symposium Toronto, Ontario, Canada

2013-05-10

How to Run a Meeting

The 2013 OBA Institute, The Nuts and Bolts of Non-Share Capital Corporate Law Toronto, Ontario, Canada

2013-02-08

The Impact of the New Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act and the Impending Ontario Not-for-Profit Corporations Act

Torkin Manes and Stern Cohen Seminar, Current Issues of Interest to the Not-For-Profit Sector Toronto, Ontario, Canada

2013-01-24

How Will the New Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act Affect your Governance?

Torkin Manes and Base Consulting and Management Inc. Seminar Toronto, Ontario, Canada

2012-10-23

Ontario Not-for-Profit Corporations Act - Ask a Lawyer

Policy to Practice - Ontario Nonprofit Network Conference 2012 Toronto, Ontario, Canada

2012-09-27

Governance Issues: Best Practices and New Legislation

3rd Annual Charity Law Seminar for Jewish Communal Organizations Toronto, Ontario, Canada

2012-01-17

The Practical Impact of the Not-for-Profit Corporations Act, 2010 Ontario (ONCA)

Osgoode Professional Development, The Intensive Short Course on Legal and Risk Management for Charities and Not-for-Profit Organizations Toronto, Ontario, Canada

2011-10-05

Here Comes the CNCA: Are You Ready to Advise Your Clients?

2011 National Charity Law Symposium Toronto, Ontario, Canada

2011-05-06

The Perils and Pitfalls of Board Governance: What Happens When Governance Goes Wrong

Management Advisory Service Governance Forum: Connecting Boards, Staff and Volunteers Toronto, Ontario, Canada

2011-02-02

Probate Planning & Use of Testamentary Trusts / Strategies to Preserve Wealth & Leave a Legacy

Investors Group T.A.D. Education Session Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada

2010-04-16

Keeping Pace with the Responsibilities of Association Leadership: Governance in a Changing World

Base Consulting and Management Inc. and RBC Royal Bank Seminar Toronto, Ontario, Canada

2010-02-10

Strategies to Preserve Wealth and Leave a Legacy

Torkin Manes, Investment Advisors Toronto, Ontario, Canada

2009-10-06

Legal Issues Update for Charitable & Non-Profit Organizations

Long-Term Care and Retirement Communities Convention and Trade Show Toronto, Ontario, Canada

2009-04-14

Articles (7)

Final Deadline for Federal Not-for-Profit Corporations: Do You Have Your Certificate of Continuance under the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act?

Torkin Manes LegalPoint

Linda J. Godel

2017-02-01

If your federal not-for-profit corporation has not yet received a certificate of continuance under the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act, immediate steps should be taken to ensure that it gets one before July 31, 2017.

Important Change to Recordkeeping Requirements for Ontario Not-for-Profit Corporations That Own an Interest in Land in Ontario

Torkin Manes LegalPoint

Linda J. Godel

2016-12-15

Effective December 10, 2016, every newly incorporated Ontario not-for-profit corporation is required to keep a register of the land in Ontario in which it has an ownership interest.

Pre-Meeting Fundamentals for Ontario Not-For-Profit Corporations

Torkin Manes LegalPoint

Linda J. Godel and Dianne Hajdasz

2016-03-14

Not-for-profit corporations (“NFPs”) are required to hold various member and director meetings during the course of a year. This article reviews different issues that Ontario NFPs must consider in preparation for these meetings.

Pre-Meeting Fundamentals for Federal Not-For-Profit Corporations

Torkin Manes LegalPoint

Linda J. Godel and Dianne Hajdasz

2016-03-14

Not-for-profit corporations (“NFPs”) are required to hold various member and director meetings during the course of a year. This article reviews different issues that Federal NFPs must consider in preparation for these meetings.

2016 Federal Budget Confirms Tax Measures with Respect to Holdings of Charities in Limited Partnerships

Torkin Manes LegalPoint

Linda J. Godel

2016-03-15

As reported in January, the Canada Revenue Agency had announced at the end of December 2015 that Canadian registered charities are now required to report their limited partnership holdings in their T3010, Registered Charity Information Returns. The 2016 Federal Budget briefly addressed these holdings and their acquisition by confirming that the Federal Government intends to proceed with the tax measures related to them.

Does Being an Ontario Not-For-Profit Corporation Mandate Audited Financial Statements?

Torkin Manes LegalPoint

Linda J. Godel and Dianne Hajdasz

2016-02-08

A reminder about the financial disclosure requirements contained in the governing corporate legislation for charitable and non-charitable Ontario not-for-profit corporations.

Does Being a Federal Not-For-Profit Corporation Mandate Audited Financial Statements?

Torkin Manes LegalPoint

Linda J. Godel and Dianne Hajdasz

2016-02-08

A reminder about the financial disclosure requirements contained in the governing corporate legislation for charitable and non-charitable federal not-for-profit corporations.