Best Lawyers in Ontario, Canada for Trusts and Estates

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...

Victoria Winter is a partner in the firm’s Trusts and Estate Planning Group and a Trust and Estate Practitioner (TEP) as designated by the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP). Victoria practises in the areas of estate planning and succession including the preparation of Wills, Powers of Attorney and Trusts (domestic, international, Henson), corporate reorganizations, business succession planning, advising clients on methods in which to minimize income tax and estate adminis...

Linda Godel is a partner at Torkin Manes LLP in Toronto, Ontario, and chairs the firm’s Not-for-Profit and Charities Law practice group. Her practice focuses on Charities / Non-Profit Law and Trusts and Estates , advising a broad range of charitable and not-for-profit organizations across Canada. Linda provides counsel to charitable organizations, public and private foundations, professional and industry associations, self-regulated bodies, and organizations operating in sectors includi...

Jennifer Searle is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Trusts and Estates. Jennifer practices law in Toronto, Ontario Best Lawyers has recognized Jennifer Searle since 2024. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Jennifer Searle is held by other lawyers.

David Morgan Smith joined Rodney Hull, Q.C. and Ian Hull in their estate litigation counsel practice in September 1997. In August 1998, Rodney and Ian, together with David as associate, founded Hull & Hull. In January 2006, David became a partner of Hull & Hull LLP. David also maintains a mediation practice through Hull Estate Mediation Inc. David was an instructor at the Ontario Bar Admission Course (Estates and Trusts) from 1998 to 2005. He is a frequent guest lecturer for both Law ...

David Chernos is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Alternative Dispute Resolution, Corporate and Commercial Litigation and Trusts and Estates. David practices law in Toronto, Ontario Best Lawyers has recognized David Chernos since 2012. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which David Chernos is held by other lawyers.

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...

Barrie Hayes graduated from the University of Windsor Faculty of Law in 1979 and has been serving clients throughout Simcoe County for more than four decades. Based in Barrie, Ontario, Barrie practises in the areas of Family Law, Trusts and Estates, and estates litigation. He assists individuals and families with a wide range of legal matters, including separation and divorce, parenting and support issues, estate disputes, and elder law matters. In addition to his legal practice, Barrie is a ...

Rahul Sharma advises international and Canadian clients on a variety of tax, trust, and estate planning matters. He is particularly experienced with cross-border and international trust and estate matters, as well as matters involving offshore or non-resident trusts with ties to Canada. Rahul also counsels high net-worth individuals, as well as corporations, trusts and estates on Canadian income tax matters, including succession planning for closely held businesses. As part of his practice, R...

Sheila practices in all areas of estates and trusts litigation, and has built a reputation as a skilled and tenacious advocate. Based on her expertise in this area, her peers have repeatedly elected her one of the Best Lawyers in Canada. Sheila is pragmatic, and clients value her knack for getting to the heart of an issue, and providing results-driven and cost-effective legal advice. Sheila acts for individuals and their families, trust companies, financial institutions and charitable organiz...

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...

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...

M. Elena Hoffstein, FEA, has a practice focused in all areas of estate planning, family business succession planning, corporate reorganization both pre and post mortem planning. She also advises on cross border and international matters, will, trusts and marriage contracts. Elena is also a recognized leader in charity law advising both charities and donors on effective legislative, tax and regulatory matters and on tax effective charitable gifting. Elena frequently advises clients on family b...

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 ...

Craig Vander Zee is a partner at Torkin Manes LLP in Toronto, Ontario and practises in the firm’s Trusts & Estates and Litigation Groups. He is certified by the Law Society of Ontario as a Specialist in Estates and Trusts Law . Craig advises and represents individuals, trust companies, government agencies and other organizations in estate, trust, capacity, fiduciary and power of attorney disputes and litigation. His practice includes advising clients on the rights and obligations of...

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...