Long-time KRP tax partner Harris Kligman announces his retirement

Kestenberg Rabinowicz Partners LLP saying goodbye to one of its Iongest-serving and most highly respected partners.

Harris Kligman, who was brought on board to build and grow our tax department, has formally announced his retirement from KRP after an illustrious 25-year career. Harris has worked with organizations ranging from sole proprietorships to major corporations during his tenure with the firm. He has served a wide range of industries from manufacturing and trust companies, to professional services firms.

“Harris has been an integral part of our growth and success over the past two-and-a-half decades,” KRP Managing Partner Marshall Egelnick said. “His ability to develop innovative solutions to even the most complex tax challenges, then communicate those strategies to our clients to ensure their understanding of the situation and strategic plan, has been truly remarkable.”

Egelnick continued: “While Harris will be sorely missed, he’s done an outstanding job preparing our next generation of tax practitioners, as well as our new tax department head Armando lannuzzi. Our tax department is in excellent hands with Armando at the helm, and our clients can look forward to a continuation of our detailed and comprehensive tax service.”

Respected in tax circles for his deep technical knowledge, Harris has presented tax seminars to businesses, governments, and trade groups. He has also served as group leader for in-depth income tax training courses at the Institute of Chartered Accountants.

Harris has seen a sweeping change in the basic function of the tax department during his tenure. While his tax accountants focused mainly on planning work in the early years, Canada Revenue Agency’s heightened enforcement efforts and ensuing audits and penalties created more opportunities for growth in areas such as compliance and verification. The firm has also made significant gains in its cross-border tax business under his stewardship.

“The decision to retire stemmed from a meeting I had many years ago with one of Ontario’s top tax lawyers,” Harris recalled. “He was supposed to be the best, but I realized only moments into the meeting that his understanding of tax matters was subpar. The industry had passed him by. I promised myself that I would always leave at the top of my game, and I feel comfortable that now is the right time to make that move.”

Asked what he’ll miss most about his time at KRP, Harris pointed to the many friendships he’s built over the years, as well as the opportunity to help entrepreneurs achieve their goals through smart tax planning and strategy.

“I always liked the idea of being able to help people by providing good advice and steering them through the tax process,” he said.

Harris plans to spend more time with his family, continue with charitable work–he is currently the treasurer of The Minstrel Foundation–and indulge his passion for fine wine.

Throughout his career, Harris was quoted in the national media on a variety of topics. He spoke regularly at the Russell Bedford International Tax Conference, and was elected to the RBI Board of Directors–one of two representatives for North America–in 2010.

Harris is a member of the Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario, the Canadian Tax Foundation, the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners, and a former member of the Finance Committee of the Markham Board of Trade.

Harris’ clients have been notified of his retirement and all active accounts have been transitioned to other practitioners within the firm.

The KRP Team