Find Lawyers in Canada for Trusts and Estates

Caroline Abela specializes in complex business and estate litigation matters. Focusing on commercial and corporate litigation and estates and trusts litigation, Caroline represents clients ranging from large corporations and institutions to small business owners and professionals. Caroline has appeared as counsel before all levels of courts in Ontario and the Federal Court of Canada. Caroline has been named in the Who’s Who Legal for Asset Recovery and in the Canadian Legal Lexpert Dire...

Ray Adlington is an experienced lawyer well versed in all areas of tax law. He has a robust practice with particular focus on corporate tax, commodity tax, and tax dispute resolution with the Canada Revenue Agency on behalf of taxpayers. Ray is a past four-year member of the joint Canadian Bar Association – CPA Canada Joint Committee on Taxation tasked with advising the Department of Finance (Canada) on tax policy and legislative drafting matters. He acts as counsel to private and publi...

Mastering the business issues of the business leaders he advises, Pierre T. Allard has established himself over the years as one of the best tax lawyers of his generation and a national reference in his field. The unanimous recognition from his peers and our clients speaks for itself. As a member of BCF’s Executive Committee, he is the one to turn to for major transactions, including the sale or acquisition of a business, the incentive and retention of key employees or the transfer of a...

Kristine founded Fern Law in 2023 and brings over 20 years of experience to her practice. She focuses on trusts and estate litigation as well as estate planning and the intersection of these two areas with family law. Kristine delivers effective and creative advice on estate matters, dependant support claims, power of attorney disputes and guardianship applications. In family law matters, Kristine focuses on elderly persons with capacity issues that may require advice and representation. Kris...

Lex Arbesman's journey into the legal field began early. As a young boy in Toronto, he penned "lawyer" in his grade five yearbook, a declaration that would shape his future. After completing an honours double major in History and Law at York University, Lex pursued his legal studies at Dalhousie Law School, earning the prestigious Milton and Carole Ehrlich Prize. Upon graduation, Lex returned to Toronto to embark on his legal career. A commitment to public service marked his early years as he...

Jordan is a Certified Specialists in Estates and Trusts Law and an Adjunct Professor of Law at Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto, Canada. Lexpert rates Jordan as one of its top recommended estate lawyers in Canada as well as being rated as a Best Lawyer in Canada. In addition to his planning and administration practice, Jordan is Senior Associate Counsel to Hull & Hull LLP and a senior mediator with Hull Estate Mediation Inc. He is a Past Chair of the Ontario Bar Association - Trust and ...

Risa is a partner at Torkin Manes. She focuses her practice on estate planning, including the preparation of wills, powers of attorney and trusts, and estate administration. Risa advises clients on strategies to minimize income tax and Estate Administration Tax and attends to the structuring and implementation of the plan.Risa works closely with the firm’s corporate and tax lawyers and the clients’ advisors in advising business owners with respect to business succession planning. ...

Karon Bales is a founding partner of Bales Beall LLP whose experience speaks for itself. Her practice is centred on family law, wills and estate issues. Her experience in trial and appellate advocacy in family law and estate matters is extensive, particularly with those involving partnerships, business corporations and commercial issues. Karon also provides sound guidance with estate administration and planning, domestic and off-shore trusts, and succession planning for owners of family busin...

A lawyer with exceptional leadership skills, Marie-Pier Baril stands out for her entrepreneurial spirit and her intimate knowledge of the Québec SME community. She advises an impressive portfolio of clients in the Greater Québec City area and the Centre-du-Québec region in corporate and business law. When faced with complex situations, she works tirelessly to unite the forces of multiple shareholders to achieve a common objective. With a particular focus on corporate gove...

Navigating legal matters involving the death or incapacity of a loved one is an emotionally-charged experience, which many clients find difficult. For a decade, clients have entrusted Gordon to guide them through their estates and trusts disputes with practical advice, sound strategy, and unwavering support throughout the process. Whether client matters are ultimately resolved through negotiations or in the courtroom, Gordon knows that preparation and positioning from the outset are critical ...

Mediation gives people more control over the outcome of their disputes and provides privacy over what are often highly sensitive issues for the parties involved. Many people do not fully realize the lack of control one faces at trial nor do people understand the truly public nature of the courthouse. As a mediator, Diane helps clients overcome legal challenges in a fair and efficient manner. She manages emotions and expectations, and, by engaging in an active risk analysis, she helps to achie...

Justine Benoit is a partner in the Tax Group of our Montréal office. She has extensive experience in corporate taxation, and her practice focuses primarily on transactions, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate reorganization. Justine takes a modern and proactive approach on taxation, closely monitoring the most recent changes and emerging practices in tax law. She keeps close tabs on areas of concern in the business community and adjusts her practice in order to keep up with the eve...

Maureen Berry’s practice is focused on wills, estate planning, domestic and international trusts, private corporation taxation, and executive compensation. Maureen also advises charities and non-profit organizations. Working with Canadian and international families, firms, corporations and charitable organizations, she provides advice on all aspects of private client matters, including inter vivos trust and will planning, post-mortem planning, donation planning, as well as succession pl...

Jeff's practice is dedicated to estate planning, estate administration, trusts, charities and not-for-profits. Jeff advises clients on all aspects of estate administration and estate planning. Jeff counsels executors and trustees on administering estates and trusts and helps beneficiaries understand their rights. Jeff has extensive experience in developing tailored estate plans and drafting wills, powers of attorney, representation agreements, trusts and related planning documents. Jeff is a ...

Serving a wide range of business clients, Matthew Bilmes is an authority on tax and estate planning matters. Matthew Bilmes proudly assists business owners plan for tax efficiency throughout their company’s life cycle. He works with commercial clients and owner-operators across generations to effectively minimize tax while helping to propel growth for a future sale or family succession. He is also involved in numerous cross-border tax planning files, assisting clients with interests in ...

Gail Black’s tax-based private client services practice focuses on trusts and estate planning and administration including Wills, substitute decision-making, various trusts, charitable planning and probate matters. As an active member of both the BC and Alberta Law Societies, she also advises on cross-provincial estate planning and administration matters. Working with US counsel, she assists clients on the tax-effective planning and administration of estates with US components including...

Howard’s practice focuses on estate litigation, in-person and online mediation and arbitration of estates disputes, and all aspects of estate planning and administration. In addition to a busy estate litigation and mediation practice, Howard advises on wills and powers of attorney to middle and high net-worth individuals. Howard is passionate about the law. He has been Adjunct Professor of the Estates and Estate Litigation courses at Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto since 1992, and ha...

Michael works exclusively with the social impact sector, advising charities, not-for-profit organizations, associations, professional bodies, clubs, and social enterprises. With 15 years’ experience, Michael advises sector organizations on a variety of tax and legal matters: Creation: Incorporation and structuring, charity registration applications, organizational start-up. Tax Compliance: Obligations under the Income Tax Act, including charitable purposes and activities, granting, fund...

Lori Bokenfohr is a tax lawyer in Fasken’s Calgary office. She grew up on a grain farm and attended school in a Franco-Albertan town, where her family operated a hotel business. Lori therefore developed an early appreciation of the intricacies and demands of farming and business operations. Her practice covers complex tax matters such as business structuring, corporate reorganizations, pre-sale and divestiture planning, business succession planning, executive and employee compensation, ...

Scott Boucher is a partner in our litigation group, practising general commercial litigation with an emphasis on insolvency and restructuring and estates litigation. He assists clients and other lawyers on a wide variety of matters, including contract and property disputes, insolvency files including receivership, CCAA, bankruptcy and foreclosure proceedings, wills variation claims, and trusts litigation. He has appeared before the Supreme Court of British Columbia, the British Columbia Court...

For over 38 years, Cathie Brayley has worked with clients through all types of tax complexities, including Canada Revenue Agency audits and appeals, buying and selling businesses, structuring international and domestic investments, representation and warranty insurance, tax insurance as well as personal tax and estate planning. Her aptitude for creative and strategic thinking, combined with her practical approach are complimented by her significant experience in commercial transactions. For C...

With more than 30 years of knowledge and experience, Don provides guidance to family-owned businesses and high net worth individuals in Ottawa and the surrounding region. His areas of practice include corporate law, wills, trusts, and succession planning, with a primary focus on the creation of tax-effective structures for the accumulation and transfer of wealth. Clients appreciate his accessibility, judgment, quality of work, and proactive approach in addressing their needs. Don studied math...

Rick Breen is a highly-experienced lawyer assisting his clients with practical advice on structuring their corporate and personal matters. He has worked with owner managers to establish, grow and ultimately transition businesses for over 20 years. Additionally, Rick’s experience with personal planning allows him to ensure the personal affairs of his clients are in order. Rick provides pragmatic advice and counsel in acting for owner managers and their families to address risk and planni...

Tara Britnell is the Co-Chair of the Estate and Trust Litigation department. She assists clients with the complete range of complex and challenging estate and trust cases, including undue influence and capacity claims, adult guardianship, construction and variation of wills and trusts, contentious estate administrations, and the identification and prevention of elder abuse. Tara’s clients include executors, trustees, beneficiaries, people disappointed in a Will and those concerned about...

Clare Burns is a senior trusts and estates litigator. She served as the Children's Lawyer for the Province of Ontario from 2003 to 2008 pursuant to an Order-in-Council appointment. As the Children's Lawyer, Clare's office was responsible to investigate, advocate, protect and represent persons under the age of 18 in proceedings before the courts and tribunals of Ontario. In this role, she supervised more than 11,000 cases including variations of trust, will challenges, passings of accounts, gu...

Riley Burr's practice largely focuses on commercial tax work. Riley also advises clients on GST, PST and property transfer tax issues in the corporate, charitable and real estate sectors, both in structuring designed to minimize taxes as well as in handling administrative appeals, ruling requests and voluntary disclosures relating to such taxes. Riley also works with high-net-worth individuals with significant private company interests in a wide variety of industries to structure their affair...

John Campbell practises taxation law, advising clients on domestic and international income tax issues, with a focus on advising Canadian clients with international interests and non-Canadian clients with Canadian interests. John has extensive experience with respect to the tax implications and structuring of corporate reorganizations, mergers and acquisitions, international tax planning and tax planning using trusts. He provides his clients with effective, practical tax advice based on his e...

Laura provides passionate and dedicated representation for clients who find themselves faced with death, financial vulnerability, or capacity concerns. Laura first became interested in estates law while clerking at the Ontario Superior Court in Toronto, where she worked on a variety of estates matters, from routine probate applications to more complex disputes. Since her call to the bar in 2015, Laura has practiced exclusively in the area of estates, trusts and capacity litigation, and has re...

Eleanor is a partner at Carbert Waite and chair of the Trusts and Estates group. She is a recognized wills and estates lawyer who takes a forward-thinking approach to the practice of estate law. From personal estate planning to navigating high-conflict estate disputes, Eleanor is committed to empowering her clients during the legal process. Eleanor has obtained the Trust and Estate Practitioner (TEP) designation by STEP Canada, which demonstrates her advanced understanding of the trust and es...

Angela is a fierce advocate for people affected by death and diminished mental capacity. Her professional peers voted to recognize her as one of Canada’s leading lawyers for estate litigation in Lexpert magazine. Her clients appreciate Angela’s ability to tell their story in a compelling way, and her “committed, supportive work” on their behalf. Her clients include trust companies, charities, government agencies, the Office of the Children’s Lawyer, individuals a...

Shelly’s practice focuses on corporate/commercial matters, business and succession planning, estate planning, including Wills, Enduring Powers of Attorney, Personal Directives, family trusts, and estate administration. She is the firm’s Wills, Estates & Trusts Team Lead. Prior to entering law, Shelly worked for the Capital Health Authority and was the Regional Coordinator for the Department of Laboratory Medicine. She also worked overseas as a medical laboratory technologist i...

Jules Charette practises tax law. He regularly advises businesses, developers, public bodies and financial institutions on the tax aspects of financings, mergers and acquisitions, reorganizations, executive compensation and international transactions. Mr. Charette also represents taxpayers in disputes with the tax authorities. In addition, he advises individuals on estate planning, which has led him to develop expertise in trusts and estates. Mr. Charette is co-chair of our Canadian tax team ...

Kelly Charlebois is a tenacious advocate who specializes in estates and trusts litigation. She persuasively and effectively advances her clients’ interests and achieves positive and cost-effective results for them in a broad range of areas. Kelly's clients praise her strategic approach to handling their files. Kelly has particular expertise in matters relating to estates, trusts, and fiduciary and capacity-related proceedings. Kelly has successfully represented individuals, institutions...

Annie Chen is a wills, estates, trusts and corporate lawyer in Vancouver advising clients on wealth management, estate planning and personal and corporate tax planning. Annie works collaboratively with clients and their advisors and focuses on providing creative, practical and cost-effective personal planning and corporate planning structures to meet clients’ planning/succession needs and objectives while minimizing risks and taxes. A trusted advisor to personal and corporate clients, i...

Jessica is a partner at Bales Beall LLP whose practice is devoted to advising Canadian and international clients on a wide range of estate and trust matters. This work includes drafting Wills, trusts, and Powers of Attorney and providing guidance to executors and beneficiaries. In addition to legal work, Jessica is actively involved in the community. She was a member of the trusts and estates executive of the Ontario Bar Association for many years and currently sits on the programming committ...

Mae Chow’s commitment to client relationships, her community, and delivering legal solutions are what make her a reliable ally for small- and mid-sized business owners, families, and agribusinesses. With over 30 years of experience in real estate, business, estate planning and estate administration, Mae is a knowledgeable and dependable advisor who takes a takes a personal interest in her clients’ well-being. With life-long ties to Drayton Valley, Mae’s contributions to the ...

Eric Clavier is a trusts and estate litigation lawyer in Fasken’s Vancouver office, assisting clients with resolving contentious matters related to wills, trusts, undue influence and incapacity claims, committeeship applications, unjust enrichment claims, breach of fiduciary duties cases, abuse of powers of attorney claims, breach of trust claims, and passing of accounts. Providing innovative solutions to disputes arising from estate planning, wills, trusts and personal documents, Eric&...

As the managing partner of one of Western Canada’s largest law firms, Emily’s leadership and strategic vision ensures that Clark Wilson delivers excellent service to our clients across Canada and around the globe. She is consistently recognized by her peers across the country as a Best Lawyer® in Canada for Trusts and Estates, and is a repeatedly recommended lawyer by Lexpert. Emily has been lead litigation counsel on cases at all levels of Court. She has acted as counsel in c...

Brian Cohen is a partner and lawyer in Gowling WLG’s global Private Client Services Group. Based in Toronto, he assists clients in the areas of estate planning, trusts and personal taxation, with a focus on advising high net worth individuals on succession planning alternatives. Brian also advises donors, charitable organizations, public and private foundations, and not-for-profit organizations regarding the tax implications of formation, registration, governance and planned giving stra...

Bob brings a rare combination of talents to his clients’ real estate and estate planning objectives by drawing on his wealth of legal experience, results-oriented approach, and formidable negotiation skills. Dedicated to providing the highest level of service to his clients - something seldom seen these days - Bob’s clients trust him to provide timely, pragmatic solutions to their legal and business concerns. Major commercial real estate investors acquiring and selling apartment b...

Jennifer Corak advises Canadian and international clients on a wide range of estate and trust matters, including Will and probate planning, taxation in relation to estates and trusts, planning with inter vivos trusts, incapacity planning, and estate administration. She has particular experience with cross-border and international estate planning, including dealing with high and ultra-high net worth individuals with assets in multiple jurisdictions, individuals who are nationals and/or tax res...

Wendi Crowe’s practice focuses on tax, business succession planning, trusts and estate planning, to address the complexities of today’s families. She uses a practical, holistic and collaborative approach to assist owner-managers in achieving their business succession goals. Wendi advises clients at all stages of the business life cycle, including incorporation and ownership structure, partnership and shareholder agreements, employee profit-sharing plans and stock options, acquisit...

Deb Lister enjoys a litigation practice, representing clients in a wide range of industry sectors. Her breadth of expertise has earned her recognition as a Best Lawyer in Canada for the past 7 years in a number of areas, including corporate and commercial litigation, insurance law, and trusts and estates. Deb has a particular interest in shareholder disputes, director’s liability and corporate governance matters, contract law, professional liability claims and insurance law, both covera...

Stephanie is a tax and estate planning lawyer in the Tax and Private Wealth Group at Farris. Since her call to the bar in 2004, Stephanie has practised in the areas of taxation, wealth management, and trust and estate planning. Stephanie creates tax-effective estate plans and corporate structures for families and high-net-worth individuals, including wills, estate freezes, all types of trusts and corporate reorganizations. She also assists not-for-profit and charitable organizations in respec...

Nicole D’Aoust is a partner specializing in charity and not-for-profit law. She has particular expertise advising private clients on the structuring and implementation of legacy, philanthropic, and planned giving matters. This includes structuring private foundations as trusts and corporations, advising on gifts of cash, shares, real estate, and other types of property, drafting gift agreements, and advising on operational matters such as governance, financial statements, gifting to qua...

Dwight Dee, TEP, has a business law and estates and trusts practice with a focus on private client services. Dwight works with individuals and families in the areas of estate and incapacity planning, trusts, succession planning, and elder law matters. Dwight also has extensive experience in all aspects of business law. Dwight regularly assists clients with the preparation of wills, enduring powers of attorneys, family trusts, alter ego and joint spousal trusts, and healthcare representation a...

With over 30 years as a lawyer in Saskatoon, Connie is a skilled and practical advisor, supporting clients to navigate legal matters with ease in Estate Administration, Estate Planning, Real Estate and Small Business matters. Whether it is advising an executor, preparing wills, assisting with a real estate transaction or advising on a business startup, she values her relationship with her clients, responding promptly and directly and making their needs a priority. Connie is an experienced law...

Justin is the Principal of de VRIES LITIGATION LLP. Justin was a partner at Fraser Milner Casgrain LLP (now Dentons LLP) and a partner and counsel at Hull & Hull LLP. He is the founder of allaboutestates.ca; a popular collaborative blog on estate and trust matters. Justin is a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP), the Advocates’ Society, the Estate Planning Council of Toronto, and the Estate Planners’ Council of Halton. He has consistently been named ...

Brendan is co-founder of Donovan Kochman LLP, a boutique law firm focused on estate and trusts litigation in Ontario. Brendan represents clients on all estates and trusts matters, including will challenges, will interpretations, dependant’s support claims, breach of trust claims, contested applications to pass accounts, and the removal of trustees. Brendan also represents clients in capacity litigation, including contested powers of attorney and guardianship litigation. His clients incl...

Fulvio Durante joined Dunphy Best Blocksom LLP in 1994 and conducts a business and estate-oriented practice. He brings extensive experience in the areas of business law, corporate restructuring, mergers & acquisitions, commercial transactions, trusts, banking, mental incapacity and estate planning & administration. Fulvio is committed to teaching and mentoring the newest members of the profession. He was an instructor for the bar admission courses required for the admission of new law...