MLT AIKINS LLP | MLTAIKINS.COM
Zaira Petruf
Associate
Zaira is an associate lawyer in the firm’s Vancouver office whose practice focuses on corporate and commercial law, including mergers and acquisitions. She advises clients on complex business transactions and structuring, bringing a practical approach informed by experience with tax and regulatory considerations.
Education & Qualifications
- British Columbia Bar (2020)
- Ontario Bar (2020)
- In-Depth Tax Program, Years 1 and 2, CPA (Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants, 2025)
- JD (University of British Columbia, 2019)
- MA (Simon Fraser University, 2013)
- BA (University of British Columbia, 2009)
More about me
Zaira is a corporate and commercial lawyer whose practice includes advising on corporate reorganizations, mergers and acquisitions and strategic business transactions. She works with both private and public companies across a range of industries, including mining, technology, financial services and aviation. Her work is informed by experience with tax and dispute-resolution considerations, enabling her to identify regulatory and risk issues early and support practical, commercially-sound outcomes in complex matters. She has experience assisting with matters affecting Indigenous businesses and organizations, and brings a thoughtful, solutions-oriented approach to client service.
Zaira clerked at the Federal Court and interned with the Provincial Court of British Columbia and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, where she developed a rigorous analytical approach and strong professional judgment. Prior to law school, Zaira worked with science-entrepreneurs at the University of British Columbia, supporting the commercialization of academic research.
Zaira holds a Master of Arts in International Studies and a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology. She is the recipient of a SSHRC Graduate Scholarship and a Soroptimist Foundation Scholarship for her work supporting former child soldiers and women survivors of violence in northern Uganda. Zaira has completed Years 1 and 2 of the CPA Canada In-Depth Tax Program.
- Member, Canadian Tax Foundation (2020–present)
- Member, Canadian Tax Foundation Young Practitioners (2020–present)
- Member, Law Society of British Columbia (2020–present)
- Member, Law Society of Ontario (2020–present)
- Recognized in the 2026 edition of the Best Lawyers in Canada (Ones to Watch – Mergers and Acquisitions Law and Tax Law)