Best Lawyers in Alberta, Canada for Trusts and Estates
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Michael began his legal career with Bennett Jones LLP. Michael joined Carbert Waite LLP in 2003. In 2020, Michael was appointed King’s Counsel by Alberta’s Minister of Justice and Solicitor General, Doug Schweitzer. Appointments of King’s Counsel are awarded to lawyers who have made significant contributions to the legal profession and have demonstrated exceptional leadership. LITIGATION PRACTICE Michael is an accomplished advocate and maintains an active civil and commercia...
Andrea Luft is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Corporate and Commercial Litigation and Trusts and Estates. Andrea, who practices law in Edmonton, Alberta, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Andrea is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Dane specializes in corporate and personal tax planning, along with estate planning, administration and negotiation. Prior to joining Felesky Flynn, Dane practiced employment law at an Alberta-based firm. He holds his Bachelor of Laws with distinction from the University of Alberta. Dane has been ranked as a featured Leading Lawyer in both Corporate Tax and Estate & Personal Tax Planning – Estate & Tax Planning by Canadian Lexpert®. An astute listener, Dane finds great fulfi...
Andrew Bateman is Miller Thomson’s Leader of Corporate Tax. His practice covers a broad spectrum of taxation law, with a current focus on planning and dispute resolution for private corporations, trusts and other entities. Andrew has extensive experience in public and private corporate transactions and reorganizations, tax dispute resolution and litigation, trust and estate matters, First Nation taxation and goods and services tax. As a sought-after speaker and writer, Andrew provides i...
Mark Sawyer articled with Dunphy Best Blocksom LLP in 2003 and became a partner in 2010. Mark’s practice focuses on the business and commercial aspects of the law, as well real estate and estate planning. Mark works with many privately held businesses, advising them on their corporate, financing, contract and shareholder matters. Mark provides advice as well on the incorporation of new businesses and the sale and purchase of existing companies. He also acts for clients who are buying, s...
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...
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...
William (Bill) Fowlis, KC, FCPA, FCA, TEP is a lawyer, a Chartered Professional Accountant/Chartered Accountant, and a Trust and Estate Practitioner (TEP). With this complementary professional background, Bill focuses on taxation, corporate, trust, succession, and estate planning law for privately owned businesses, corporations, family enterprises and high net worth individuals. Bill is considered to be one of the top legal professionals practicing in these areas of law in Canada. His practic...
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...
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...
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...
Katherine Ratcliffe is a trusted advisor to high-net-worth individuals, families, and business owners on their estate, trust, and tax matters. She develops sophisticated, client-centric planning strategies that reflect legal precision, practical insight, and a deep understanding of clients’ particular objectives. Katherine’s practice focuses on complex estate planning, trust and corporate structuring, business succession, and post-mortem tax planning. She regularly prepares bespok...
Sandra L Hawes, K.C. is a civil litigation lawyer and one of Miller Thomson’s leading insurance and commercial litigation specialists. She is the Regional Managing Partner for Western Canada and a member of the National Executive Committee. Sandra’s practice is focused primarily on insurance defence litigation including defence of life, disability, and critical illness insurance claims; professional errors and omissions claims in a construction context; commercial insurance claims...
Maya’s clients benefit not only from her experience and skill, but also the thoughtfulness she brings to her practice. As an estate lawyer, Maya helps individuals and families craft comprehensive estate plans. This involves preparing Wills, Enduring Powers of Attorney and Personal Directives, and where necessary preparing additional documents including family trusts. She also works with executors, administrators and trust companies with estate administration duties, with the goal of bri...
Michelle Fong is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Trusts and Estates. Michelle, who practices law in Edmonton, Alberta, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Michelle is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Our Methodology
Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Our methodology is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.
The Process
Best Lawyers employs a sophisticated, conscientious, rational, and transparent survey process designed to elicit meaningful and substantive evaluations of the quality of legal services. Our belief has always been that the quality of a peer review survey is directly related to the quality of the voters.