Tara is the Co-Chair of the Estate and Trust Litigation department of Hamilton Duncan.  She assists clients with the complete range of complex and challenging estate and trust cases, including undue influence and capacity claims, adult guardianship, construction and variation of wills and trusts, contentious estate administrations, and the identification and prevention of elder abuse.

Tara’s clients include executors, trustees, beneficiaries, people disappointed in a Will and those concerned about elder financial abuse. She understands the stress her clients experience in these often highly contentious disputes, and she excels at finding the most effective and efficient means of resolving these difficult situations, making her an expert in navigating wills and trusts practice issues.

Topic: Wills and Trusts Practice: Issues Spotting Roundtable

Rob practised as a barrister and solicitor in Alberta before obtaining his DPhil from the University of Oxford under the supervision of Professor Peter Birks. He has been a senior lecturer at the University of Melbourne and a professor at the University of Alberta, King’s College London, and University College London.

Rob's main research and teaching interests are property, restitution, trusts, and unjust enrichment. He is the author of Resulting Trusts (Oxford 1997), An Introduction to Property Law in Australia (4th edn, Sydney 2019), and The Law of Property (Toronto 2021), a co-author of Oosterhoff on Trusts (9th edn, Toronto 2019), and a member of the editorial boards for the Journal of Equity (Sydney) and Trust Law International (London). Rob teaches Property, Trusts, and Conflict of Laws.

Topic: Keynote Address - Unjust Enrichment at 70

Parveen is a tax, trusts and estate planning lawyer, experienced in advising clients on personal and corporate taxation, estate planning, wealth management and trust-related matters. As part of her estate planning practice, Parveen provides tailored estate plans to clients to ensure that their legacies are properly provided for.

Parveen has experience preparing simple and highly complex Wills as well as Powers of Attorney, Representation Agreements, Alter Ego Trusts, Joint Spousal Trusts and other estate related documents.

Topic: Advanced Tax Issues in Estates and Trusts

Scott has a broad litigation practice, with specific expertise in trusts, probate, estate and incapacity disputes, Indigenous law, constitutional law and general litigation. Scott also has significant expertise in Indigenous law, with a primary focus on Indigenous rights and title claims, and the Crown's duty to consult Indigenous groups.

Scott is the regional leader of BLG’s Estate Litigation Group and regional co-leader of BLG’s Private Client Group. Prior to being called to the bar, Scott completed a judicial clerkship with the British Columbia Court of Appeal.

Topic: Tricks and Traps for Preparing and Challenging Inter Vivos Trusts

Jaimie helps her clients resolve disputes in estates, construction, corporate and real estate transactions. She assists clients who have suffered personal injuries including those dealing with ICBC. She guides clients through getting a will or power of attorney made, and she enjoys helping in any aspect of equine law.

Jaimie has represented clients in BC Supreme Court, BC Small Claims Court, the BC Human Rights Tribunal, the Employment Standards Tribunal, and in mediation. Jaimie is a governor of the Trial Lawyers Association of B.C., past Chair of the Okanagan Civil Litigation section of the Canadian Bar Association and has given lectures on estate law at Okanagan College.

Topic: Wills and Trusts Practice: Issues Spotting Roundtable

Janis is a trusts and estates litigation lawyer in Fasken’s Vancouver office. Janis has over a decade of experience in estate litigation, is passionate about this area of law, and is excited to discuss the latest developments in the field. Over the years, Janis has assisted numerous clients in a variety of complex estate litigation cases dealing with matters such as wills variation, contested spousal status, unjust enrichment, undue influence, and lack of capacity. 

Topic: Antidote to FOMO: Year-in-Review 

Hugh is a past chair of the CBABC Elder Law and Wills and Trusts – Vancouver Sections. He has written numerous articles on estate litigation and elder law, and he is a frequent lecturer for the Professional Legal Training Program, the People’s Law School and Continuing Legal Education.  

In 2004, Hugh was awarded the Community Service Award by the CBA for his work with groups supporting citizens with intellectual disabilities. He is also a member of the Estate Planning Council of Vancouver, an associate editor of the Estates & Trusts Reports and a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. Hugh is a contributing editor of Financial & Estate Planning for the Mature Client in British Columbia and a contributor to the Annotated B.C. Representation Agreement Act, Adult Guardianship Act and related statutes. 

Topic: Tricks and Traps for Preparing and Challenging Inter Vivos Trusts 

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.  She has lectured extensively to other lawyers, law students, accountants, gift planners, notaries, trust officers, and the public for many years.

In 2020, she and Mark Weintraub, K.C., published a comprehensive text, British Columbia Estate Litigation, which addresses the key areas British Columbia estate practitioners face. In addition to the textbook, Amy is a contributing author to two leading resources for estate and trust law, and also writes for various other publications.

Topic: Wills and Trusts Practice: Issues Spotting Roundtable

Maryanne is a lawyer responsible for managing LIF's risk management initiatives. This includes presenting risk management strategies to the legal profession through notices to the profession, risk management videos, E-Brief, articles, presentations, and other communications.

In addition, she also acts as Claims Counsel, where she is responsible for handling and defending claims reported under the compulsory professional liability indemnity program. Before joining LIF, Maryanne spent close to a decade working as senior legal counsel to RIM (BlackBerry) and as a litigator in downtown Vancouver—primarily in the areas of construction, creditors' remedies, and commercial disputes.

Topic: Cyberfraud & Indemnity Claims: Lessons Learned & Best Practices

After working as a Senior Manager at KPMG for 20 years specializing in tax planning services, Nicole founded Watson CPA in 2022 to focus on providing specialized tax planning services to her clients along with working with other CPA firms.

Her specialized tax services include restructuring the business, transitioning the family business to the next generation, mergers and acquisitions, sales of businesses, estate planning, and real estate, as well as a client focused approach to their annual accounting and tax compliance needs.

Nicole is heavily involved in various organizations including President of Kelowna Estate Planning Society, Member of Canadian Tax Foundation, Society of Estates and Trusts Practitioners (“STEP”) and KGH Planned Giving Society and teaches tax courses at Okanagan College.

Topic: Advanced Tax Issues in Estates and Trusts

Mark is knowledgeable on outside-the-box solutions for his clients, having given strategic direction to some of the most complex estate files, representing both individual and institutional clients, including personal Executors and Trustees, trust companies, non-profit organizations, charities, and committees. Mark excels at moving files through the “litigation pipeline” with perseverance based on extensive knowledge of the law and hard-fought experience. Mark’s career has been highlighted by his long-standing contributions to continuing legal education to ensure the highest standards for both new and experienced practitioners.

His estate litigation practice has encompassed litigants residing in the UK, Australia, Hong Kong, and various Canadian and US jurisdictions.

Topic: Cutting Edge: Equity and Beyond

Jacy is highly experienced in providing solutions to family members needing help sorting out property issues, or to family members needing help with estates that seem to be unfairly distributed by a will or by transactions. Jacy approaches dispute resolution through a variety of processes or through the courts. She has appeared at all levels of court in British Columbia and uses a solutions-based approach to dealing with matters and a personal, team-oriented approach to dealing with clients. Jacy and her team also bring years of experience in guiding and protecting those involved in administering estates and trusts.  Her litigation experience complements the steps and strategies she employs in navigating the estate and trust administration process.

Topic: Wills And Trusts Practice: Issues Spotting Roundtable