Best Lawyers in Canada for Trusts and Estates

Mediation gives people more control over the outcome of their disputes and provides privacy over what are often highly sensitive issues for the parties involved. Many people do not fully realize the lack of control one faces at trial nor do people understand the truly public nature of the courthouse. As a mediator, Diane helps clients overcome legal challenges in a fair and efficient manner. She manages emotions and expectations, and, by engaging in an active risk analysis, she helps to achie...

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 ...

Rahim Visram is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Leasing Law, Real Estate Law and Trusts and Estates. Rahim, who practices law in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Rahim is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

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 ...

Scott Boucher focuses his practice on commercial litigation, with particular emphasis on trusts and estate disputes, as well as insolvency and restructuring matters. He advises clients on a broad range of issues, including wills variation and validity claims, elder law and capacity matters, receiverships, CCAA and bankruptcy proceedings, foreclosures, and contract, corporate, and property disputes. He has appeared before the Supreme Court of British Columbia, the British Columbia Court of App...

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...

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...

Pia Hundal is a partner in Miller Thomson LLP's Litigation and Dispute Resolution group, with a practice that focuses on estate and trust litigation, including will challenges, will interpretation, passing of accounts applications, dependent’s support claims, power of attorney disputes, guardianships, trust litigation and alternative dispute resolution. Pia also acts as a mediator in estates disputes. Prior to joining Miller Thomson LLP, Pia practiced family law, estates and civil litig...

Michael works exclusively with the social impact sector, advising charities, not-for-profit organizations, associations, professional bodies, clubs, and social enterprises. With 15 years’ experience, Michael advises sector organizations on a variety of tax and legal matters: Creation: Incorporation and structuring, charity registration applications, organizational start-up. Tax Compliance: Obligations under the Income Tax Act, including charitable purposes and activities, granting, fund...

Louise Houle puts her invaluable experience at your disposal to keep your assets safe. Louise is an experienced lawyer in the taxation team. Her practice focuses on tax and estate planning, especially for families holding real estate in Canada, the United States and Europe. She also advises wealthy families on matters pertaining to trusts as well as Canada-United States cross-border tax planning. Louise has extensive experience in complex national and international business structuring and in...

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...

Martina Zanetti is a lawyer on our private wealth, trusts and estates team. Her practice focuses on estate planning, estate administration, and incapacity matters. Martina assists clients with preparing wills, powers of attorney and healthcare representation agreements, as well as the documentation required to establish and fund discretionary family trusts, alter ego trusts, joint partner trusts and other trust structures. She possesses a strong base in family law, which she utilizes to assis...

Anne draws on her decades of broad experience in complex commercial litigation, real estate disputes, corporate governance challenges, professional liability matters and medical negligence cases. She also has experience in the areas of human rights and privacy law. Anne’s judgment is respected by her peers, and she is often retained as a mediator to settle disputes. She is a frequent lecturer at trust and estates conferences with the Law Society of Ontario, the Advocates Society and the...

Daniel J. Stober is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Trusts and Estates. Daniel J., who practices law in Toronto, Ontario, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Daniel J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Amanda provides advice in the areas of wealth management, estate planning, charity, and not-for-profit law. She advises clients on wills, trusts, powers of attorney, family business succession planning, and corporate re-organizations. Amanda also advises on the establishment, tax compliance, governance, and regulation of charities and not-for- profit organizations. She also assists financial institutions with issues pertaining to administering estate assets, registered and non-registered acco...

David A. Hunter is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Corporate and Commercial Litigation, Insurance Law and Trusts and Estates. David A., who practices law in Surrey, British Columbia, has been recognized since 2020. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which David A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.