Congratulations to Mitch Kitagawa on his election as the Regional Bencher for East Region of the Law Society of Ontario (LSO). The LSO governs Ontario’s lawyers and paralegals in the public interest by ensuring that the people of Ontario are served by lawyers and paralegals who meet high standards of…

Congratulations to Lawrence Silber, this year’s recipient of the County of Carleton Law Association’s Abe Feinstein Solicitors Award. The annual award is given to a solicitor who has distinguished themselves throughout their career by exemplary service to the County of Carleton Law Association (CCLA) and to the profession and has…

As an Estate Trustee, you might find yourself in a difficult situation in which a family member of the deceased is unreasonably refusing to vacate the Estate house.  Often these occupants are sons or daughters of the deceased who have been living rent free in the Deceased’s house for 30,…

Kelly Santini advised Ottawa-based Cleland Jardine Engineering on its sale to Bouthillette Parizeau (BPA).  The M&A team was led by Andrew Godfrey and included corporate lawyers Madelaine Thurston and Patricia Bejide. Sean Bawden advised on employment law. “On behalf of the Cleland Jardine partner group, I would like to thank…

If you are an executor of an estate or are named in a will as a beneficiary, you may be wondering, “What is probate?” Probate is the legal process of being appointed by the Court as the estate trustee of a deceased person’s estate. If there is no will, the…

Kelly Santini is pleased to welcome the commercial and construction litigation team of John Melia and Kara Takagi to the firm. A leading commercial and construction lawyer, John Melia brings over 20 years of experience representing Canadian and international clients in the construction industry. His practice also includes advising on…

There are several important factors to consider when estate planning, especially if you’d like to eliminate the need for probate, minimize probate tax, and make it easier on your loved ones upon your passing. This includes creating a will, considering joint ownership, making beneficiary designations, gifting assets, and more. Here,…

When a person passes away, their estate is usually administered by an executor or estate trustee. The duties of an estate trustee are numerous and varied, but can broadly be divided into two categories: administering the estate and distributing the assets. Another main duty of the trustee is to plan…