Tax Lawyer of the Year 18 www.lawyer-monthly.com Lawyer Monthly Women in Law Awards 2025 behind the scenes that advisors need to “sniff” out to provide the best solutions for the client. Examples include hostility amongst siblings (i.e., who is the “favorite” child) and balancing the “fair versus equal” debate when determining how to gift assets on death. - The personal element to business – founders feel a personal connection to the business they have built from the ground up. This impacts how/when they choose to sell the business, how comfortable they are on taking on additional debt, and what they see as the true “value” of business - Money does not always equal less problems – instead, it usually brings different problems, and a level of complexity that is not always desired by the clients. I have been referred to as the “interpreter” for my clients – I take the complex information that they are being provided by their financial advisors and accountants, and break it down into easily digestible pieces. I also tailor the information delivery to include “why” the information matters to their business. As a partner at SHTB, how do you approach building lasting relationships with clients, particularly in areas as personal and sensitive as estate and succession planning? I went to law school because I wanted to help people, and I wanted the opportunity to be able to advocate for others. Clients are people – not just the opportunity to make money. I have always approached my career with a client-first philosophy. Practically speaking, that means: - I pick up the phone when you call. I do not use my assistant or a junior lawyer as a buffer - Not every call needs to be billed. Over the years, I have acted as a sounding board for clients on many issues, and to provide a sympathetic ear on difficult days. Each time you have a conversation with a client, you have a decision to make – do you bill it or not? - Being honest – if you are looking for a lawyer that tells you what you want to hear, then I am not the right fit for you. I believe in being honest with my clients – honest about potential pitfalls, and honest about chances of success. - I also take an interest in my clients – I love meeting new people and hearing their stories – whether you are coming to me for an estate planning engagement, or for business advice, I will take the time to learn about you as a person. Everyone is driven/motivated by certain things, and we all just want to be heard. I think it is important as a lawyer to listen more, and speak less. You’ve earned both an LL.M. in Tax Law and the TEP / STEP designation. How have these advanced qualifications shaped your approach to legal problem-solving and client strategy? The legal landscape in Canada has changed dramatically in the last decade. The Canadian Government has introduced a plethora of new tax policy which has been an incredible challenge for advisors and their clients. In addition, our client needs are becoming more complicated each year. It is rare to now have a client who was born in Saskatchewan, dies in Saskatchewan, has all their assets in Saskatchewan, all their children live in Saskatchewan, and is in their first marriage. Instead, we are increasingly faced with globalization and it is critical to understand the interactions of the laws from different jurisdictions in order properly serve the client. As a result, education (and in particular, continued education) is critical. In order to do my job properly, I keep on top of the new developments in tax, trusts, and estate planning law. I also need to be a part of a larger global network so that I have connections around the world to help support my client needs. Lastly, organizations like STEP provide an opportunity for advocacy on a larger scale. Estate planning can involve complex family dynamics, long-term financial planning, and intricate tax considerations. How do you bring clarity and calm to the process for your clients? The longer I have practiced, the more comfortable I have gotten with being authentically, “myself”. I have been Q Q Q
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