The Complex World of Trusts and Family Law

For more than 135 years, the Toronto Lawyers' Association, located within the Courthouse Library, has represented the interests of lawyers practising in the City of Toronto. The association was founded to support its members in three key areas: Knowledge, Advocacy, and Community. To uphold these pillars, the association offers a year-round mix of online and in-person education programs for lawyers, hosts both free and paid events to foster in-person networking, and submits advocacy pieces on behalf of its members to the Ontario bench and bar, all levels of government, and the broader public.

While in law school, Brigitte was a caseworker at the Queen’s Business Law Clinic, where she provided low cost legal services to small businesses within and surrounding the Kingston area. She received the course prize in Appellate Advocacy. Brigitte has successfully argued before all levels of court in Ontario. She represents clients in all areas of family law, including high conflict parenting disputes, child and spousal support claims, complex property issues and domestic contracts. Brigitte is a member of The Advocates’ Society, the Canadian Bar Association and the Ontario Bar Association.

Jen-Yii Liew is a founding partner of Maleki Liew LLP. She is an experienced litigator with extensive trial and appeal experience. She has advocated for her clients at all levels of court in Ontario, including the Court of Appeal for Ontario. Jen has practiced family law exclusively since her call to the Ontario bar in 2013. She advises on areas including complex divisions of property, child and spousal support, high-conflict parenting disputes, cross-border issues, and the negotiation of cohabitation agreements, marriage contracts, and separation agreements. Jen also frequently represents clients at both mediations and arbitrations. Prior to Maleki Liew, Jen spent most of her legal career at Niman Gelgoot & Associates LLP and Gelgoot & Partners LLP. Jen is known for her attention to detail and her ability to simplify complicated issues. She recognizes that every case is unique and deserves an individual approach. Jen holds a J.D. from the University of Toronto Law School. During law school, Jen was actively involved in the student legal clinic, Downtown Legal Services. She is a member of the Ontario Bar Association, the Advocates Society, Young Women in Law, and has co-authored papers for various family law programs. Jen has been recognized by Best Lawyers in Canada for Family Law. Jen lives in Toronto with her husband, two children and their Labrador-Collie mix.

Stephanie Gabor has over a decade of experience practising in trust and estate matters, bringing a cross-border perspective to her work advising individuals, families and fiduciaries. Stephanie’s practice focuses on the areas of trust and estate planning and administration. She counsels individuals and families on the most effective and efficient structures for transferring assets to successive generations and to charity. Stephanie also regularly advises fiduciaries on all aspects of trust and estate administration, including the participation of estate planning and charitable vehicles in corporate transactions.

Doreen So is a partner at Hull & Hull LLP, having joined the firm as an associate in 2013. Before this, she articled with the Office of the Children's Lawyer, gaining experience in estates, trusts, civil, family law, and child protection litigation. She also briefly practiced family law. Doreen earned her Juris Doctor from Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto and holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of British Columbia, where she studied English and the sociology of the family. She is a member of both the Ontario Bar Association and the Canadian Bar Association. In addition to her legal practice, Doreen contributes to the "Hull on Estates" podcast series, discussing various legal topics and case analyses.