Best Lawyers in Ontario, Canada for Trusts and Estates
Noah Kochman is a founding partner at Donovan Kochman LLP. His practice is focused on estates and trusts litigation as well as commercial litigation matters in Ontario. He regularly represents clients before the Court in power of attorney disputes, dependant support claims, will challenges, and other complex estates and trusts disputes. He is a fierce advocate for his clients in the courtroom, a skilled negotiator, and a thoughtful advisor. Noah's professional peers voted to recognize Noah as...
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...
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 ...
Rebecca Studin is a partner at de VRIES LITIGATION LLP. Before joining the firm, Rebecca practised estates and commercial litigation at a full-service international law firm in Toronto. Rebecca acts for clients in respect of a broad range of estates matters, including will challenges, will interpretation and rectification applications, contested guardianship and power of attorney disputes, complex probate applications, and contested passings of accounts. Rebecca obtained her law degree from O...
Wills, Estates and Trusts Group Head Craig Ross specializes in complex and high conflict wills and estates, representing business owners, professionals, high-net-worth individuals, blended families, families with children with disabilities, and individuals and families dealing with discord. In complex estate planning cases, he works closely with clients and other professional advisors to develop customized estate plans that give maximal effect to his clients’ intentions. These could be ...
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...
Wendy Griesdorf was called to the Ontario Bar in 1995 and practised estate litigation at Brian A. Schnurr & Associates in Toronto until 2001 when she was appointed adjunct professor and director of career services at Osgoode Hall Law School. Wendy moved to Kingston Ontario in 2004 where she established her own firm in estate litigation and mediation. Wendy is a retired deputy judge of the small claims court and retired sessional faculty of Queen's. Most of Wendy's current practice consist...
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...
Douglas D. Buchmayer is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Trusts and Estates. Douglas D., 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 Douglas D. 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. ...
Angelique helps clients resolve legal issues that can arise following the death or incapacity of loved ones. In these circumstances, feelings of sadness or anger can be overwhelming. Angelique listens carefully to her clients in order to really understand what they need, and then pursues their goals relentlessly. Former clients describe her as an astute negotiator who is very creative, caring, strong, witty and “a warrior in the truest sense of the word.” Angelique became interest...
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...
Tanisha Tulloch is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Trusts and Estates. Tanisha, who practices law in Toronto, Ontario, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Tanisha is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Lynne O'Brien is a litigation lawyer based in Toronto. She has a broad commercial litigation and advisory practice in the areas of financial services, corporate governance, insolvency, securities regulation and fraud.Lynne also practises estate litigation, providing advice on a range of issues, including will challenges, dependent support and guardian applications, contested passing of accounts, estate administration and disputes involving trusts.She frequently conducts investigations for cli...
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 ...
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.