Best Lawyers in Ontario, Canada for Trusts and Estates

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...

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 ...

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...

Nicole Woodward practices in the area of trusts, estates, succession planning, and taxation in relation to those areas. She advises clients in all areas of domestic and complex cross-border estate and trust matters, including indigenous trusts, planning for high net worth estates, estate and trust administration, and the preparation of wills, trusts, and other estate planning documents. Nicole regularly counsels individuals regarding a variety of cross-border issues, including tax planning fo...

Heela Donsky Walker is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Trusts and Estates. Heela Donsky practices law in Toronto, Ontario Best Lawyers has recognized Heela Donsky Walker 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 Heela Donsky Walker is held by other lawyers.

Matthew Getzler is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Trusts and Estates. Matthew practices law in Toronto, Ontario Best Lawyers has recognized Matthew Getzler 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 Matthew Getzler is held by other lawyers.

Andrew Valentine's charities and non-profit law practice focuses on providing advice to organizations on issues including gift planning, incorporation and registration, ongoing compliance matters, and audits. Andrew also deals extensively with non-profit corporate governance and corporate structuring issues, advising on corporate restructuring, directors' duties and liabilities, governance best practices, bylaws and policies, and membership disputes. Andrew also has expertise in social enterp...

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...

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...

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.

Frank Walwyn is known for his resourceful approach to litigating some of the most challenging business cases in Canada and the Caribbean. Frank is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and is repeatedly named as one of Canada’s top lawyers in the area of Corporate and Commercial Litigation in The Best Lawyers in Canada , Who’s Who Legal , Benchmark Canada, the Guide to Canada’s Leading Litigation Firms and Attorneys , and The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory , am...

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...

When lawyers and financial advisors have complicated estate and guardianship problems, they call Margaret. Specialized work in complex, high-conflict family estate and guardianship situations, international estate administration matters, and difficult estate planning scenarios are Margaret’s chosen practice area. As an advocate, client counsel and as a mediator, Margaret is a problem solver, using all of the available tools to achieve solutions that work. When necessary, she is ready, a...

Emily Hubling assists clients in fulfilling their unique estate-planning and wealth management objectives, through the use of Wills, Powers of Attorney, Trusts, and Domestic Contracts. Emily works closely with clients’ advisors to provide a holistic approach to planning. Emily also has experience in advising estate trustees in administering a range of complex estate matters, including intestacies, cross-border matters, and contested estates. Emily is an active member of the Toronto Esta...

Jonah Waxman is a Partner in the Wills, Trusts & Estates Practice Group at WeirFoulds LLP. Before joining WeirFoulds LLP, Jonah practised at a reputable law firm serving clients throughout Peel, Southern Ontario, and the Greater Toronto Area. During this time, he was responsible for carriage over a variety of diverse litigation matters, including but not limited to guardianship and estate disputes, oppression claims, aborted real estate transactions, and solicitor-client assessments. Jona...

Kay Leung is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Corporate Law, Tax Law and Trusts and Estates. Kay practices law in Toronto, Ontario Best Lawyers has recognized Kay Leung since 2021. 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 Kay Leung is held by other lawyers.