Best Lawyers in Canada for Trusts and Estates

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 ...

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 ...

Shelly is an experienced solicitor who helps businesses, family enterprises, and individuals meet their legal needs, now and for the future. Her practice focuses on corporate / commercial matters, business and succession planning, estate planning, including Wills, Enduring Powers of Attorney, Personal Directives, family trusts, and estate administration. She is the firm’s Wills, Estates & Trusts Team Lead. Prior to entering law, Shelly worked for the Capital Health Authority and was...

Michelle practices in all areas of trust and estate law. With over 25 years of corporate and commercial experience, she provides comprehensive solutions for clients from both estate planning and succession planning perspectives. Michelle has been recognized by The Best Lawyers in Canada™ as a leading lawyer in Trusts and Estates for 2024, 2022, 2021 and 2020, and was named the 2023 Trusts and Estates ‘Lawyer of the Year’ in Edmonton. Michelle is also ranked as a featured Lea...

Antonio Nadaira is a talented tax and business lawyer who focuses his practice on domestic and international taxation with an emphasis on corporate reorganizations, sale and acquisition, and estate planning. He assists businesses of all sizes in the various stages of their growth by being involved in a number of major commercial transactions. Antonio joined BCF in 2012, before which he was with a major national law firm where he practiced taxation and business law. Dedicated and attentive to ...

Craig is a partner in our Trusts & Estates and Litigation Groups and is certified by the Law Society of Upper Canada as a Specialist in Estates and Trusts Law. His practice includes all aspects of estate, trust, capacity, fiduciary and power of attorney disputes and litigation for clients consisting of individuals, trust companies, government agencies and other organizations. Craig provides counsel on, amongst other things, the rights and obligations of estate trustees, estate trustees du...

Daniel Frajman is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Corporate Law and Trusts and Estates. Daniel, who practices law in Montréal, Quebec, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Daniel is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Marni Whitaker is a partner practicing with Loopstra Nixon’s Wills, Trusts & Estates and Business Law groups. Marni has extensive experience in all aspects of estate planning and administration including drafting and giving opinions on wills, powers of attorney, trusts, corporate reorganizations associated with estate planning, personal tax advice, advice and documentation relating to the Family Law Act , administration of estates, estate accounting problems, work for charitable and...

Zachary is a full-service solicitor and litigator, practicing in the areas of Wills, Estates & Trusts; Charities and Not-for-Profits; and Elder/Adult Guardianship Law. Zachary assists clients in preparing estate and incapacity plans and in the administration of estates of deceased individuals. His estate planning clients range from young professionals looking to establish their first foundational estate plan, to retired individuals looking to ensure that their estate plans are probate fee...

Errol Tenenbaum is a top lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Trusts and Estates. Errol, 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 Errol is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area. Errol Tenenbaum, Partner in the Tax and Wills & Estates Groups at Robins Appleby LLP, has over 20 years of experience advising ...

Ray Adlington is an experienced lawyer well versed in all areas of tax law. He has a robust practice with particular focus on corporate tax, commodity tax, and tax dispute resolution with the Canada Revenue Agency on behalf of taxpayers. Ray is a past four-year member of the joint Canadian Bar Association – CPA Canada Joint Committee on Taxation tasked with advising the Department of Finance (Canada) on tax policy and legislative drafting matters. He acts as counsel to private and publi...

Megan Shortreed is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Administrative and Public Law, Corporate and Commercial Litigation, Health Care Law, Labour and Employment Law and Trusts and Estates. Megan, who practices law in Toronto, Ontario, has been recognized since 2014. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Megan is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Michael began his legal career with Bennett Jones LLP. Michael joined Carbert Waite LLP in 2003. In 2020, Michael was appointed King’s Counsel by Alberta’s Minister of Justice and Solicitor General, Doug Schweitzer. Appointments of King’s Counsel are awarded to lawyers who have made significant contributions to the legal profession and have demonstrated exceptional leadership. LITIGATION PRACTICE Michael is an accomplished advocate and maintains an active civil and commercia...

Amy acts as litigation counsel on highly complex estate and trust matters, and in contested committeeship matters. She is also a mediator, assisting other counsel and parties in resolving all manner of estate and trust litigation. Amy’s strong legal skills are balanced with her empathetic but practical approach to what are oftentimes highly emotionally charged files. She excels at identifying opportunities and obtaining results for our clients. Amy’s clients include: Executors &am...

Joanna is a partner at de VRIES LITIGATION LLP with extensive experience in estates, trusts, and capacity litigation. Joanna has a keen interest in issues regarding will challenges, dependant’s support, and power of attorney disputes. She has appeared before the Ontario Superior Court and the Ontario Court of Appeal. Joanna obtained her law degree from the Schulich School of Law at Dalhousie University after completing a Bachelor of Arts degree at McGill University. Joanna was called to...

Diane A. Vieira is a partner at de VRIES LITIGATION LLP. Prior to joining de VRIES LITIGATION LLP, Diane articled at the Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee where she gained experience in estate, charity and capacity law. Diane’s practice areas include will challenges, guardianship applications, power of attorney proceedings, passing of accounts applications, administrations of complex estates, and dependant support claims. Diane obtained her law degree from Queen’s Universi...