durham region law association

2025 Fall Conference

schedule

9:00 AM

Opening Remarks 

Amelia Yiu, Partner—Elm Law & Phillipa Goddard, Associate—Schnurr Kirsh Oelbaum Tator LLP 

9:05 AM

Ethical Issues in Estate Planning 

Sandra Smith, Associate—Jenkins Newman & Shipley 

9:25 AM

Pitfalls to Avoid in Estate Administration 

Brandon McBride, Associate—Mason Bennet Johncox 

9:45 AM

Matrimonial Home Issues in Estates Disputes 

Nafisa Nazarali, Partner—INB Family Law LLP 

10:05 AM

How OT Functional Assessments Can Assist in Elder Care Disputes 

Galit Liffshiz—GLA Rehab 

10:30 AM

Morning Break 

10:50 AM

Preparing Your Case and Your Client for Mediation 

Felice Kirsh, Partner—Schnurr Kirsh Oelbaum Tator LLP 

11:10 AM

Navigating Competing Concepts of Fairness in Sibling Estate Mediation 

Charles B. Ticker, Partner—Charles B. Ticker Law Office 

11:30 AM

Defending your Power of Attorney—
How the Doctrine of Suspicious Circumstances Impacts Your Drafting 

Alex Procope, Partner—Perez Procope Leinveer LLP 

12:00 PM

Lunch

1:30 PM

The Collaborative Process, An Emerging Trend in Power of Attorney Disputes 

Panel: Amelia Yiu, Partner—Elm Law 

Phillipa Goddard, Associate—Schnurr Kirsh Oelbaum Tator LLP 

Nafisa Nazarali, Partner—INB Family Law LLP 

1:45 PM

What to do with squatting occupants in estate property 

Phillipa Goddard, Associate—Schnurr Kirsh Oelbaum Tator LLP 

2:00 PM

Estates and Personal Injury Claims 

Andrew Elrick, Partner—Elrick Law Litigation 

2:20 PM

Pitfalls of ETDL Work 

Andrew Felker, Partner—Walker Head Lawyers 

2:40 PM

Tips and Tricks for Taking Will Instructions 

John Montgomery, Partner—Johnston Montgomery Watson

Erin Watson, Partner—Johnston Montgomery Watson 

3:00 PM

Tax Strategies for Estates 

Francesca M. Loreto, CPA, CA, TEP, MAcc—Baker Tilly 

3:15 PM 

Afternoon Break 

3:30 PM

Notable trends and challenges in Ontario’s Estates and Trusts Law 

Amelia Yiu, Partner—Elm Law 

Phillipa Goddard, Associate—Schnurr Kirsh Oelbaum Tator LLP 

4:00 PM

Judges’ Panel 

4:30 PM

Program Ends 

Wine and Cheese Event with Judges