Best Lawyers Near You in Toronto, Ontario for Trusts and Estates

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...

Denise Cooney is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Administrative and Public Law, Health Care Law, Labour and Employment Law and Trusts and Estates. Denise, who practices law in Toronto, Ontario, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Denise is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Jan Goddard entered law school with an interest in working with elderly persons and their legal issues, but over 30 years ago the term ‘elder law’ did not even exist. So Jan made her own path to the law practice she has today. Along the way, she served for 10 years as counsel at the Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee in Ontario, obtained a certificate in gerontology from Ryerson University and a mediation certificate from Osgoode Hall Law School, and founded and developed t...

Adam began his legal career articling with a law firm on Bay Street. After articling, Adam worked with several boutique firms, initially working more broadly in the civil litigation field, then narrowing his focus to estates litigation, planning, and administration. As well as estates matters, Adam also practices immigration law, specifically focused on inadmissibility and enforcement issues in Canada. Adam obtained a B.A. (honours) from York University, then his J.D. from the University of W...

David Chernos is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Alternative Dispute Resolution, Corporate and Commercial Litigation and Trusts and Estates. David, who practices law in Toronto, Ontario, has been recognized since 2012. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which David is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

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. ...

Matthew Urback is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Trusts and Estates. Matthew, who practices law in Toronto, Ontario, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Matthew is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Joanna is a partner at de VRIES LITIGATION LLP with extensive experience in estates, trusts, and capacity litigation. Joanna has a keen interest in issues regarding will challenges, dependant’s support, and power of attorney disputes. She has appeared before the Ontario Superior Court and the Ontario Court of Appeal. Joanna obtained her law degree from the Schulich School of Law at Dalhousie University after completing a Bachelor of Arts degree at McGill University. Joanna was called to...

Heela Donsky Walker is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Trusts and Estates. Heela Donsky, who practices law in Toronto, Ontario, has been recognized since 2022. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Heela Donsky is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Joan is a Partner in Minden Gross LLP's Tax Group and has extensive experience in domestic and international tax planning. Both highly detailed and experienced, Joan has the unique ability to see the big picture while drilling down to the finest points of a client's needs. Joan chose tax as her specialty for its analytical nature. In tax, the rules are always changing and Joan really enjoys the challenge of keeping up-to-date. Joan is a frequent lecturer for professional and commercial organi...

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...

Lorne H. Saltman is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Tax Law and Trusts and Estates. Lorne H., who practices law in Toronto, Ontario, has been recognized since 2022. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Lorne H. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Debra Stephens is Counsel to WEL Partners and practices exclusively in the following areas: Passing of Accounts, Guardianship, Fiduciary appointments and representation, Estate administration and Mediation. She was called to the Bar of Ontario in 1982. Her practice initially focused on family, estate, trust and guardianship issues. Since 1998 she has specialized in estate litigation, administration and planning. Debra has worked in private legal practice for most of her career. Prior to joini...

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...

Susan Sack is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Family Law, Insurance Law, Legal Malpractice Law and Trusts and Estates. Susan, who practices law in Toronto, Ontario, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Susan is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Christopher Steeves is the Leader of the firm’s Tax group. Frequently advising Canadian businesses in corporate restructurings and acquisitions, Christopher also assists with income tax aspects of complex domestic and cross-border financings, and financial instruments including derivatives, securities lending and collective investment funds. With expertise in transfer pricing and the resolution of disputes with Canadian tax authorities, Christopher has worked with clients and advisors o...