Kpmghelps clients navigate the pandemic
KPMG has built a reputation in Calgary as the go-to firm for navigating complex commercial and tax challenges. So it comes as no surprise that the global organization, renowned for its full spectrum of business services, would expand to deliver additional value to their clients by providing legal services through KPMG Law.
Since the start of the pandemic, KPMG Law has been an essential component of the KPMG service suite in delivering solutions to Calgary businesses throughout this period of uncertainty and economic upheaval.
“We recognized at the onset of the pandemic that Alberta businesses were going to need support understanding the government programs and managing the well-being of their people,” says Sebastian Elawny, KPMG’S Business Law lead in Calgary.
It started with the Canada Emergencywage Subsidy (CEWS), a federal program for companies experiencing revenue declines, and continued to expand to include return- to- work programs and compliance with occupational health and safety standards.
“With CEWS, we were able to do something that nobody else has been able to do,” says Elawny. “We’re the only ones in the market who can help employers understand the legal and accounting aspects of the program. In conjunction with our employment advice, we developed a digital tool that allows us to accurately calculate employee payroll reimbursement entitlements under the program painlessly and proficiently.”
“We continue to assist clients with the CEWS, particularly as a result of the complex changes that were introduced in July,” says Jenna Kirk, KPMG’S Employment and Immigration Law lead in Calgary. “We have seen heavy demand for support on the employment side, which includes support with office policies, employee recalls, employment contract redrafting, employee repurposing and risk mitigation strategies.”
Now that employees are returning to work, KPMG Law, alongside the firm’s Advisory practice, is helping clients minimize the impact of the pandemic on their businesses and allowing them to focus on generating revenues. One example of this is the KPMG Workforce Safeguarding App, a new tool to accelerate the safe return of employees to their workplace.
“Companies around the world have used the pandemic as an opportunity to optimize their business structures,” says Elawny, “and KPMG’S global reach, tax expertise and legal services team position us to be able to provide a one-stopshop solution for our clients right here in Calgary.”
It is this full suite of professional services that sets KPMG apart from traditional law and accounting firms, and what gives Calgary clients the advantage of a single access point for all their business needs.