ESTHER ABECASSIS

Esther Abecassis is passionate about estate litigation and recognizes the crucial importance of this time in the lives of her clients. By utilizing technical skills, teamwork and compassion, she is always looking for innovative ways in which to reach solutions for her client, while at all times remaining mindful of the value, costs and pressures of litigation. Esther seeks to alleviate the difficulties and stresses that often accompany litigation, toward achieving optimal results for clients.

Esther also specializes in private wealth management and business law with extensive experience in dealing with large and complex estate matters. Her practice includes estate planning, preparing wills and powers of attorney, estate administration and substitute decision making. Esther’s professional knowledge, sensible approach, and ability to understand difficult and emotional situations, enable her to assist clients in all aspects of their estate matters and provide the best possible legal representation.

Some of her areas of expertise include:

• Advising estate trustees, executors/administrator/personal representatives, trustees, beneficiaries and family members regarding estate and trust-related issues and disputes
• Challenges and Defence of Wills
• Interpretation of Wills and Trusts
• Dependants Support applications under the Succession Law Reform Act
• Guardianship disputes
• Passings of Accounts
• Defence of Solicitor’s Negligence
• Mediation and Alternative Dispute Resolution
• Spousal Rights
• Trust Law
• Quantum merut claims
• Unjust enrichment
• Facilitating mediated settlement of disputes

Esther Abecassis joined Derfel Estate Law in 2021 as an associate lawyer in our wills and estates litigation group. She is a graduate of Western University where she earned both her B.A. and J.D and was soon called to the bar in 2019. Esther began her legal career at a mid-sized downtown firm as a member of the corporate and tax law groups. She then joined a boutique corporate law firm where she developed her skills in business law, estate planning, and real estate.

Esther is fluent in Spanish and her interests include camping, travelling, cooking different cuisines and swimming. She is also a Broadway enthusiast having attended over 50 different plays.