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 & trustees
- Beneficiaries
- Trust companies
- Non-profit organizations and charities
- Committees
Services
| Wills variation claims | Passing of executor and trustee accounts |
| Undue influence and incapacity claims | Committeeship applications |
| Unjust enrichment claims | Construction of wills applications |
| Applications to have a document declared a will | Abuse of powers of attorney claims |
| Breach of trust claims | Mediation Services |
Amy firmly believes in contributing to BC’s legal and professional community. In particular, 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. The textbook provides historical context, legal analysis, and commentary on practice and strategy.
In addition to speaking at numerous seminars, Amy has co-chaired many successful conferences for lawyers and industry professionals. Since 2018, she has co-chaired the TLABC Women Lawyers Retreat, and since 2019, she has co-chaired the CBABC Wills & Estates three-day conference.
She was instrumental in creating and organizing three Charities Forum events, which were highly successful conferences that brought together industry practitioners to provide professional education to gift planners and others involved in charities and not-for-profits. She has also been on the host committee for the annual national conference for the Canadian Bar Association and the Canadian Association of Gift Planners.
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.
Amy has served on the Board of Directors of the Continuing Legal Education Society of British Columbia from 2016 to 2023, and was the Chair, during COVID, from 2020 to 2021.
Amy is also involved in the legal community, serving on the Federal Judicial Advisory Committee, the Board of Governors of the Trial Lawyers Association of British Columbia, and as Referal Counsel to The BC Court of Appeal, through Access Pro Bono.
Awards & Distinctions
- Appointed King's Counsel, 2023
- Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory®, Repeatedly Recommended Lawyer, Estate & Personal Tax Planning - Estate Litigation, 2021-2025
- Best Lawyers® in Canada, Trusts and Estates, 2017-2025
- Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) Private Client Awards finalist for Contentious Trusts and Estates Team of the Year 2021
