Best Lawyers in Ontario, Canada for Trusts and Estates
David is proud to represent the fourth generation of Mills to practice at the firm since its founding in 1884. He is a great-grandson of Alexander Mills, K.C., one of the founders of the firm, grandson of Ralph S. Mills, Q.C., and a son of J. Paul Mills, K.C. David served his articles with Mills & Mills LLP, joined the firm following his call to the Bar and became a Partner in 2006. David’s practice is focused on estate law. As an estate lawyer, David provides a comprehensive range ...
Rachel Goldman Robinson is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Trusts and Estates. Rachel, 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 Rachel is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Jacob began his legal career at one of the world’s largest law firms, practicing in the areas of estate and commercial litigation. He then focused exclusively on estate litigation at a well-known boutique firm, eventually becoming a partner, before joining Donovan Kochman LLP. Jacob has acted as section 3 counsel and appeared before various levels of court, including the Superior Court of Justice and the Court of Appeal for Ontario. He is a knowledgeable and tenacious advocate who striv...
As a senior partner and past lead of the Social Impact Group at Miller Thomson, Susan Manwaring is a recognized expert advising social enterprises, charities and non-profits in her practice. Susan is considered a trailblazing thought leader in the charitable sector and is regularly called upon to advise charities and non-profit organizations on compliance and taxation matters under the Income Tax Act, as well as other relevant provincial tax regulations. Susan was a member of the Canadian Rev...
Denise Cooney is a top lawyer 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 is a thoughtful and practical advocate who is a trusted advisor to her clients. She has both a deep knowledge of the law and an understanding of the interpersonal dynamics underlying disputes. Denise acts for clients in complex commercial, estates, and employment disputes, as well as administrative law and ...
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...
Carole Chouinard is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Charities / Non-Profit Law, Tax Law and Trusts and Estates. Carole, who practices law in Ottawa, Ontario, has been recognized since 2018. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Carole 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...
Diane A. Vieira is a partner at de VRIES LITIGATION LLP. Prior to joining de VRIES LITIGATION LLP, Diane articled at the Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee where she gained experience in estate, charity and capacity law. Diane’s practice areas include will challenges, guardianship applications, power of attorney proceedings, passing of accounts applications, administrations of complex estates, and dependant support claims. Diane obtained her law degree from Queen’s Universi...
Executive Summary Jim is a member of the Non-Profit and Charities and the Tax and Estate Planning Groups. He has extensive experience advising clients in areas of personal tax, corporate tax, estate planning, wills and trusts, estate administration, charities and not-for-profit organizations, including planning for charitable donations. He assists clients in resolving complex disputes with tax authorities at both federal and provincial levels. On behalf of the CBA, Jim has prepared numerous s...
Executive Summary As a partner in the Tax and Estate Planning Group, Lindsay practises in the area of personal tax and estate planning, estate administration and estate litigation. She regularly advises her clients on a wide range of matters including wills, trusts, domestic contracts, powers of attorney, mental incompetency proceedings, court audits, estate and trust taxation and post-mortem estate planning. Lindsay has lectured extensively on tax and estate planning at the Canada Tax Confer...
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...
Craig is a partner in our Trusts & Estates and Litigation Groups and is certified by the Law Society of Upper Canada as a Specialist in Estates and Trusts Law. His practice includes all aspects of estate, trust, capacity, fiduciary and power of attorney disputes and litigation for clients consisting of individuals, trust companies, government agencies and other organizations. Craig provides counsel on, amongst other things, the rights and obligations of estate trustees, estate trustees du...
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.