U.S. Market Entry and Structuring
We design legal structures for Canadian businesses entering the United States. This includes entity selection, ownership planning, and coordination with tax and immigration considerations.
U.S. Cross-Border Legal Strategies
Your Source for U.S. Cross Border Legal Solutions
We advise Canadian business owners, investors, and individuals on how to structure, enter, and operate in the United States. Our work integrates corporate, tax, immigration, and estate considerations into a single, coordinated strategy.
25 Years
U.S. legal practice
4 U.S. States
CA · MI · FL · AZ bar admissions
Ontario FLC
Foreign Legal Consultant, Law Society of Ontario
Founded 2012
Boutique cross-border practice
Why a Coordinated Approach
Cross border legal issues do not exist in isolation.
Business structure, ownership, tax exposure, immigration status, and estate planning are connected. Decisions made in one area affect the others.
We help you address these issues at the outset through a defined scoping engagement. This allows you to move forward with a clear structure and a coordinated plan, rather than reacting to problems after they arise.
Who We Work With
Canadians with United States exposure.
We work with:
- Canadian business owners expanding into the United States
- Canadian companies establishing or growing U.S. operations
- Owners managing cross border structures and ownership issues
- Executors and families dealing with U.S. situs assets
- Clients who need coordinated advice across legal, tax, and immigration considerations
If your situation involves both Canada and the United States, and the issues are structural or strategic, we can assist.
How We Help
Practice areas built around outcomes.
Our work centers on helping Canadian businesses, owners, and estates address U.S. legal issues in a coordinated way — focused on structure, ownership, and long-term alignment.
Cross Border Ownership and Reorganization
We advise on restructuring existing cross border operations, including changes in ownership, control, and corporate relationships.
U.S. Expansion and Immigration Strategy
We integrate immigration strategy with business operations, including E-2, L-1, and related visa pathways for Canadian businesses establishing a U.S. presence.
Cross Border Estate and Asset Planning
We advise on the ownership of U.S. assets, including real estate and business interests, with a focus on estate tax exposure and long term planning.
U.S. Estate Tax and Transfer Certificates
We advise non U.S. estates with U.S. situs assets, including preparation of estate tax filings and securing IRS transfer certificates required to administer and distribute assets.
U.S. Probate and Estate Administration
We represent executors and families in U.S. probate proceedings involving non resident decedents, including matters in Florida, Michigan, California, and Arizona.
Cross Border Real Estate
We assist with acquisitions, dispositions, and ownership structuring of U.S. real estate, with a focus on Michigan and Florida. Our work includes coordination with title companies, closing processes, and ownership planning.
How We Work
A defined process from the outset.
We do not start with open ended consultations. We begin with a paid scoping engagement — a focused, structured process that replaces uncertainty with a defined strategy.
Scoping Engagement
We review your situation, identify the relevant cross border issues, and define a clear strategy.
Strategy and Plan
You receive a structured plan addressing corporate, tax, immigration, and estate considerations as applicable.
Implementation
We work with you to implement the structure and coordinate with your other advisors where needed.
This approach ensures that the work is deliberate, efficient, and aligned with your objectives.
About Ingenuity Counsel
A boutique firm. A coordinated strategy.
Ingenuity Counsel is a boutique cross border law firm focused on United States legal matters for Canadian clients.
Our work centers on structuring and advising on cross border business operations, ownership, and estates. We act as U.S. counsel and coordinate with Canadian advisors to ensure alignment across jurisdictions.
- U.S. counsel for Canadian clients
- Coordinated approach across legal disciplines
- Direct, practical recommendations
- Defined scope before engagement
- Long-term advisory relationships
Get Started
Define the structure. Then move forward.
If you are dealing with a cross-border issue involving the United States, the first step is to define the structure and strategy. Contact us to begin the process.