Best Lawyers in Canada for Trusts and Estates

Darren Lund’s practice is focused on a range of estate planning, estate administration, and private client service matters. Darren regularly assists clients with complex multiple will planning, family trusts, alter ego and joint partner trusts, marriage contracts, business succession, estate freezes, charitable gift and tax planning, planning for individuals with disabilities, cross-border planning, powers of attorney, and estate planning aspects of assisted reproduction and posthumous ...

Estate and will planning is intensely personal and meaningful—it culminates into a person’s lasting legacy. However, it is often difficult to find the time and resources to make those important decisions. Geoffrey supports our clients with this burden and ensures that their estate goals are implemented in ways that protect wealth and avoid costs and complications. Work Highlights Successful BC business family Implemented an estate plan that ensures a tax- and cost-efficient transf...

Laura West is engaged in a general practice in the areas of wealth management, estates, trusts, charity and not-for-profit law. She advises clients on wills, trusts, powers of attorney, healthcare representation agreements, charitable giving, family business succession planning, corporate re-organizations and estate administration, as well as the establishment, governance and regulation of charities and non-profit organizations. Ms. West has taught wills and estate planning at the University ...

Serving a wide range of business clients, Matthew Bilmes is an authority on tax and estate planning matters. Matthew Bilmes proudly assists business owners plan for tax efficiency throughout their company’s life cycle. He works with commercial clients and owner-operators across generations to effectively minimize tax while helping to propel growth for a future sale or family succession. He is also involved in numerous cross-border tax planning files, assisting clients with interests in ...

Marc-Olivier Plante is a member of our tax team. His practice encompasses all tax aspects of mergers and acquisitions, corporate financing, business reorganizations and international transactions. He also handles matters relating to estate planning and transfers of family businesses. Mr. Plante also assists a wide array of taxpayers in disputes with the tax authorities, particularly in income tax and consumer tax matters. He also advises taxpayers in connection with voluntary disclosures and ...

Erin is an estate planning and real estate lawyer with 36 years of experience. She maintains a robust practice that covers estate planning, real estate and the probate and administration of estates. Erin’s deep experience in both estate planning and real estate law enables her to prepare tax planned estates with lasting relevance. Estate Planning: Erin advises clients on Wills, Personal Care Directives and Powers of Attorney – all recommended elements of a comprehensive estate pla...

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.

Alison’s practice is focused on wealth management, estate planning, trusts, and personal and corporate tax planning. She works with high-net-worth individuals, families and owner-managers to develop customized strategies to manage and transfer wealth. Alison works on matters such as: Basic estate and incapacity planning (wills, powers of attorneys and health care representation agreements) Complex estate plans involving tax-planned wills, multiple wills, alter ego and joint partner trus...

Rebecca has a broad range of experience in civil litigation matters including contractual disputes, construction disputes, insolvency and restructuring matters, estate and trust disputes and international trade matters. She is recognized by The Best Lawyers in Canada for both corporate & commercial litigation and insolvency & financial restructuring law. She is also recognized by Benchmark Litigation Canada as a "Future Star". She has experience in conducting trials, appeals, mediatio...

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.

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.

Nicole was called to the Manitoba Bar in 2005. Aside from two and a half years during which Nicole was away from private practice while appointed as Public Guardian and Trustee of Manitoba, Nicole has spent her law career as a litigator with Pitblado Law. During that time, her practice has included all aspects of civil litigation; her practice now focuses almost exclusively on estate litigation and administration. In that regard, Nicole acts for executors and administrators of deceased estate...

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 ...

Antonio Iacovelli is an experienced litigator whose practice is focused on successions (estates) and trusts law, as well as construction law. He joined Miller Thomson’s Montreal office in 2007 after having articled there. Antonio is a full member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP), a global professional association for practitioners in the field of trusts and estates whose members are recognized as experts in their field, with proven qualifications and experience. A...

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.

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...