Clare Burns is an experienced litigator who acts in complex and highly sensitive matters. Her practice focuses on trusts, estates and capacity litigation. In 2014, Clare received the Lexpert Zenith Award for her demonstrated excellence and thought leadership in trusts and estates.
She served as the Children’s Lawyer for the Province of Ontario from 2003 to 2008 pursuant to an Order-in-Council appointment.
As the Children’s Lawyer, Clare’s office was responsible to investigate, advocate, protect and represent persons under the age of 18 in proceedings before the courts and tribunals of Ontario. In this role, she supervised more than 11,000 cases including variations of trust, will challenges, passings of accounts, guardianships and all kinds of dependant’s relief matters. She also developed expertise in personal injury matters.
As the Children’s Lawyer, Clare appeared in the Ontario Superior Court and the Court of Appeal for Ontario on behalf of children. Notably she was counsel for the child in A. (A.) v. B. (B.), the case which determined that a child could have more than two parents.
Prior to her appointment as the Children’s Lawyer, Clare’s private practice was restricted to civil litigation. She appeared at the Ontario Superior Court (including many appearances at the Estates List), the Court of Appeal for Ontario, the Tax Court of Canada, the Federal Court of Canada, the Supreme Court of Canada and on various matters dealt with by way of ADR both in Ontario and internationally, pursuant to ICC Rules.
Significant commercial litigation briefs included: Bank of Montreal ats Bourgeois (concerning allegations related to the operation of the Bank’s managed futures business), Nesbitt Burns Inc. ats Ukrainain (Fort William) Credit Union Limited (concerning allegations of negligent derivates trading); Exxon Chemical Company ats Lubrizol (motor oil patent infringement); and Lurgi AG ats Cominco (concerning allegations of negligent construction of a lead smelter).
Significant briefs in trust and estate litigation included: acting for estate trustees on passings of accounts seeking approval of commercial transactions involving assets with a value in excess of Cdn $1 billion; and acting for a major trust corporation defending allegations that it failed to obtain an adequate rate of return on trustee investments.
In the three years prior to her appointment as the Children’s Lawyer, Clare was designated by Lexpert as a Leading Practitioner of Estate Litigation.
Outside the firm, she is actively engaged in the profession and broader community. She has been a Director of The Advocates’ Society and Vice President of the National Association of Public Trustees and Guardians. Clare has taught estates, children’s law and trial advocacy at the University of Toronto Law School, Osgoode Hall Law School and Western University Law School.
Clare has spoken widely in a variety of venues and has published many professional papers. She is a Past Director of World Literacy of Canada and About Face Craniofacial Family Society. She received an Ontario Volunteer Award in 2002.
Debono v. Debono, 2021 ONSC 3472
S.B. v. W.B., 2020 ONSC 5023
Neuberger v. York, 2016 ONCA 303 (Ont CA)
Neuberger v. York, 2016 ONCA 191 ( Ont CA)
Neuberger v. York, 2014 ONSC 7512
Leibel v. Leibel, 2014 ONSC 6482
Eaton v. Eaton-Kent, 2013 ONSC 7985
Feinstein v. Freedman, 2013 ONSC 4420
Orfus Estate v. The Samuel and Bessie Orfus Family Foundation, 2013 ONCA 314
Orfus Estate v. The Samuel and Bessie Orfus Family Foundation, 2013 ONCA 225
Feinstein v. Freedman, 2013 ONSC 1616
Perino v. Perino, 2012 ONSC 5260
K.S.W. v. S.W., 2012 ONSC 4545
Parker v. Fockler, 2012 ONSC 699
Perino v. Perino, 2012 ONSC 328
Dryden v. Dryden, 2011 ONSC 7060
Cherry v. Cherry, 2011 ONSC 4574
Wright v. Love, 2010 ONSC 3441
Orfus Estate (Re) (2010), 62 ETR (3d) 290 (Ont SC)
A (A) v B (B) (2007) 220 OA C115
Bhandari v Bhandari 2004 Carswell Ont 4918 (Ont CA)
Dabirian v Dabirian (2004), 193 OA C193
Simone v Cheifetz (2000) 137 OA C193
Re Thomson Kernaghan & Co (2003), 50 CBR (4th) 287 (Ont SC)
Headway Property Investments 78-1 In. v Edgecombe Properties Ltd 1998 CarswellOnt 2655 (Ont CA)
Bourgeois v Bank of Montreal 2002 CarswellOnt 1225 (Ont SC)
Ukrainian (Fort William) Credit Union Ltd v Nesbitt, Burns Ltd 104 OAC 273
Re Hicks Estate 2002 CarswellOnt 1163 (Ont SC)
Wilson v Simeunovich 2000 CarswellOnt 2436 (Ont SC)
Blatchford (Litigation guardian of) v Blatchford Estate; (1999) 45 OR (3d) 784 (Ont SC)
Re Phelan (1999) 29 ET. (2d) 82 (Ont SC)
Wallace v Laurentian Heights Ltd 1999 Carswell Ont 986 (Ont SC)
Laird v Mulholland (1998), 21 ETR (2d) 204 (Ont Ct (Gen Div))
Pet Valu Canada Inc v Thorsteinssons (1996), 48 CPC (3d) 332 (Ont Ct (Gen Div))
Re Maria Brown Trust (1995), 8 ETR, (2d) 197 (Ont Ct (Gen Div))
Morgan v Hoogovens Technical Services Canada Inc (1994), 5 WDCP (2d) 334 (Ont Ct (Gen Div))
Dunn v Dunn Estate (1992), 9 OR (3d) 95 (Ont Ct (Gen Div))
620637 Ontario Ltd. v Axton 1992 CarswellOnt 2266 (Ont Ct (Gen Div))
Rothwell Corp v Amstel Brewery Canada Ltd (1991) 6 OR (3d) 651 (Ont Ct (Gen Div))
Adler v Ontario [1996] 3 SCR 609
Debono v. Debono, 2021 ONSC 3472
S.B. v. W.B., 2020 ONSC 5023
Neuberger v. York, 2016 ONCA 303 (Ont CA)
Neuberger v. York, 2016 ONCA 191 ( Ont CA)
Neuberger v. York, 2014 ONSC 7512
Leibel v. Leibel, 2014 ONSC 6482
Eaton v. Eaton-Kent, 2013 ONSC 7985
Feinstein v. Freedman, 2013 ONSC 4420
Orfus Estate v. The Samuel and Bessie Orfus Family Foundation, 2013 ONCA 314
Orfus Estate v. The Samuel and Bessie Orfus Family Foundation, 2013 ONCA 225
Feinstein v. Freedman, 2013 ONSC 1616
Perino v. Perino, 2012 ONSC 5260
K.S.W. v. S.W., 2012 ONSC 4545
Parker v. Fockler, 2012 ONSC 699
Perino v. Perino, 2012 ONSC 328
Dryden v. Dryden, 2011 ONSC 7060
Cherry v. Cherry, 2011 ONSC 4574
Wright v. Love, 2010 ONSC 3441
Orfus Estate (Re) (2010), 62 ETR (3d) 290 (Ont SC)
A (A) v B (B) (2007) 220 OA C115
Bhandari v Bhandari 2004 Carswell Ont 4918 (Ont CA)
Dabirian v Dabirian (2004), 193 OA C193
Simone v Cheifetz (2000) 137 OA C193
Re Thomson Kernaghan & Co (2003), 50 CBR (4th) 287 (Ont SC)
Headway Property Investments 78-1 In. v Edgecombe Properties Ltd 1998 CarswellOnt 2655 (Ont CA)
Bourgeois v Bank of Montreal 2002 CarswellOnt 1225 (Ont SC)
Ukrainian (Fort William) Credit Union Ltd v Nesbitt, Burns Ltd 104 OAC 273
Re Hicks Estate 2002 CarswellOnt 1163 (Ont SC)
Wilson v Simeunovich 2000 CarswellOnt 2436 (Ont SC)
Blatchford (Litigation guardian of) v Blatchford Estate; (1999) 45 OR (3d) 784 (Ont SC)
Re Phelan (1999) 29 ET. (2d) 82 (Ont SC)
Wallace v Laurentian Heights Ltd 1999 Carswell Ont 986 (Ont SC)
Laird v Mulholland (1998), 21 ETR (2d) 204 (Ont Ct (Gen Div))
Pet Valu Canada Inc v Thorsteinssons (1996), 48 CPC (3d) 332 (Ont Ct (Gen Div))
Re Maria Brown Trust (1995), 8 ETR, (2d) 197 (Ont Ct (Gen Div))
Morgan v Hoogovens Technical Services Canada Inc (1994), 5 WDCP (2d) 334 (Ont Ct (Gen Div))
Dunn v Dunn Estate (1992), 9 OR (3d) 95 (Ont Ct (Gen Div))
620637 Ontario Ltd. v Axton 1992 CarswellOnt 2266 (Ont Ct (Gen Div))
Rothwell Corp v Amstel Brewery Canada Ltd (1991) 6 OR (3d) 651 (Ont Ct (Gen Div))
Adler v Ontario [1996] 3 SCR 609
Clare Burns is an experienced litigator who acts in complex and highly sensitive matters. Her practice focuses on trusts, estates and capacity litigation. In 2014, Clare received the Lexpert Zenith Award for her demonstrated excellence and thought leadership in trusts and estates.
She served as the Children’s Lawyer for the Province of Ontario from 2003 to 2008 pursuant to an Order-in-Council appointment.
As the Children’s Lawyer, Clare’s office was responsible to investigate, advocate, protect and represent persons under the age of 18 in proceedings before the courts and tribunals of Ontario. In this role, she supervised more than 11,000 cases including variations of trust, will challenges, passings of accounts, guardianships and all kinds of dependant’s relief matters. She also developed expertise in personal injury matters.
As the Children’s Lawyer, Clare appeared in the Ontario Superior Court and the Court of Appeal for Ontario on behalf of children. Notably she was counsel for the child in A. (A.) v. B. (B.), the case which determined that a child could have more than two parents.
Prior to her appointment as the Children’s Lawyer, Clare’s private practice was restricted to civil litigation. She appeared at the Ontario Superior Court (including many appearances at the Estates List), the Court of Appeal for Ontario, the Tax Court of Canada, the Federal Court of Canada, the Supreme Court of Canada and on various matters dealt with by way of ADR both in Ontario and internationally, pursuant to ICC Rules.
Significant commercial litigation briefs included: Bank of Montreal ats Bourgeois (concerning allegations related to the operation of the Bank’s managed futures business), Nesbitt Burns Inc. ats Ukrainain (Fort William) Credit Union Limited (concerning allegations of negligent derivates trading); Exxon Chemical Company ats Lubrizol (motor oil patent infringement); and Lurgi AG ats Cominco (concerning allegations of negligent construction of a lead smelter).
Significant briefs in trust and estate litigation included: acting for estate trustees on passings of accounts seeking approval of commercial transactions involving assets with a value in excess of Cdn $1 billion; and acting for a major trust corporation defending allegations that it failed to obtain an adequate rate of return on trustee investments.
In the three years prior to her appointment as the Children’s Lawyer, Clare was designated by Lexpert as a Leading Practitioner of Estate Litigation.
Outside the firm, she is actively engaged in the profession and broader community. She has been a Director of The Advocates’ Society and Vice President of the National Association of Public Trustees and Guardians. Clare has taught estates, children’s law and trial advocacy at the University of Toronto Law School, Osgoode Hall Law School and Western University Law School.
Clare has spoken widely in a variety of venues and has published many professional papers. She is a Past Director of World Literacy of Canada and About Face Craniofacial Family Society. She received an Ontario Volunteer Award in 2002.
Debono v. Debono, 2021 ONSC 3472
S.B. v. W.B., 2020 ONSC 5023
Neuberger v. York, 2016 ONCA 303 (Ont CA)
Neuberger v. York, 2016 ONCA 191 ( Ont CA)
Neuberger v. York, 2014 ONSC 7512
Leibel v. Leibel, 2014 ONSC 6482
Eaton v. Eaton-Kent, 2013 ONSC 7985
Feinstein v. Freedman, 2013 ONSC 4420
Orfus Estate v. The Samuel and Bessie Orfus Family Foundation, 2013 ONCA 314
Orfus Estate v. The Samuel and Bessie Orfus Family Foundation, 2013 ONCA 225
Feinstein v. Freedman, 2013 ONSC 1616
Perino v. Perino, 2012 ONSC 5260
K.S.W. v. S.W., 2012 ONSC 4545
Parker v. Fockler, 2012 ONSC 699
Perino v. Perino, 2012 ONSC 328
Dryden v. Dryden, 2011 ONSC 7060
Cherry v. Cherry, 2011 ONSC 4574
Wright v. Love, 2010 ONSC 3441
Orfus Estate (Re) (2010), 62 ETR (3d) 290 (Ont SC)
A (A) v B (B) (2007) 220 OA C115
Bhandari v Bhandari 2004 Carswell Ont 4918 (Ont CA)
Dabirian v Dabirian (2004), 193 OA C193
Simone v Cheifetz (2000) 137 OA C193
Re Thomson Kernaghan & Co (2003), 50 CBR (4th) 287 (Ont SC)
Headway Property Investments 78-1 In. v Edgecombe Properties Ltd 1998 CarswellOnt 2655 (Ont CA)
Bourgeois v Bank of Montreal 2002 CarswellOnt 1225 (Ont SC)
Ukrainian (Fort William) Credit Union Ltd v Nesbitt, Burns Ltd 104 OAC 273
Re Hicks Estate 2002 CarswellOnt 1163 (Ont SC)
Wilson v Simeunovich 2000 CarswellOnt 2436 (Ont SC)
Blatchford (Litigation guardian of) v Blatchford Estate; (1999) 45 OR (3d) 784 (Ont SC)
Re Phelan (1999) 29 ET. (2d) 82 (Ont SC)
Wallace v Laurentian Heights Ltd 1999 Carswell Ont 986 (Ont SC)
Laird v Mulholland (1998), 21 ETR (2d) 204 (Ont Ct (Gen Div))
Pet Valu Canada Inc v Thorsteinssons (1996), 48 CPC (3d) 332 (Ont Ct (Gen Div))
Re Maria Brown Trust (1995), 8 ETR, (2d) 197 (Ont Ct (Gen Div))
Morgan v Hoogovens Technical Services Canada Inc (1994), 5 WDCP (2d) 334 (Ont Ct (Gen Div))
Dunn v Dunn Estate (1992), 9 OR (3d) 95 (Ont Ct (Gen Div))
620637 Ontario Ltd. v Axton 1992 CarswellOnt 2266 (Ont Ct (Gen Div))
Rothwell Corp v Amstel Brewery Canada Ltd (1991) 6 OR (3d) 651 (Ont Ct (Gen Div))
Adler v Ontario [1996] 3 SCR 609
Debono v. Debono, 2021 ONSC 3472
S.B. v. W.B., 2020 ONSC 5023
Neuberger v. York, 2016 ONCA 303 (Ont CA)
Neuberger v. York, 2016 ONCA 191 ( Ont CA)
Neuberger v. York, 2014 ONSC 7512
Leibel v. Leibel, 2014 ONSC 6482
Eaton v. Eaton-Kent, 2013 ONSC 7985
Feinstein v. Freedman, 2013 ONSC 4420
Orfus Estate v. The Samuel and Bessie Orfus Family Foundation, 2013 ONCA 314
Orfus Estate v. The Samuel and Bessie Orfus Family Foundation, 2013 ONCA 225
Feinstein v. Freedman, 2013 ONSC 1616
Perino v. Perino, 2012 ONSC 5260
K.S.W. v. S.W., 2012 ONSC 4545
Parker v. Fockler, 2012 ONSC 699
Perino v. Perino, 2012 ONSC 328
Dryden v. Dryden, 2011 ONSC 7060
Cherry v. Cherry, 2011 ONSC 4574
Wright v. Love, 2010 ONSC 3441
Orfus Estate (Re) (2010), 62 ETR (3d) 290 (Ont SC)
A (A) v B (B) (2007) 220 OA C115
Bhandari v Bhandari 2004 Carswell Ont 4918 (Ont CA)
Dabirian v Dabirian (2004), 193 OA C193
Simone v Cheifetz (2000) 137 OA C193
Re Thomson Kernaghan & Co (2003), 50 CBR (4th) 287 (Ont SC)
Headway Property Investments 78-1 In. v Edgecombe Properties Ltd 1998 CarswellOnt 2655 (Ont CA)
Bourgeois v Bank of Montreal 2002 CarswellOnt 1225 (Ont SC)
Ukrainian (Fort William) Credit Union Ltd v Nesbitt, Burns Ltd 104 OAC 273
Re Hicks Estate 2002 CarswellOnt 1163 (Ont SC)
Wilson v Simeunovich 2000 CarswellOnt 2436 (Ont SC)
Blatchford (Litigation guardian of) v Blatchford Estate; (1999) 45 OR (3d) 784 (Ont SC)
Re Phelan (1999) 29 ET. (2d) 82 (Ont SC)
Wallace v Laurentian Heights Ltd 1999 Carswell Ont 986 (Ont SC)
Laird v Mulholland (1998), 21 ETR (2d) 204 (Ont Ct (Gen Div))
Pet Valu Canada Inc v Thorsteinssons (1996), 48 CPC (3d) 332 (Ont Ct (Gen Div))
Re Maria Brown Trust (1995), 8 ETR, (2d) 197 (Ont Ct (Gen Div))
Morgan v Hoogovens Technical Services Canada Inc (1994), 5 WDCP (2d) 334 (Ont Ct (Gen Div))
Dunn v Dunn Estate (1992), 9 OR (3d) 95 (Ont Ct (Gen Div))
620637 Ontario Ltd. v Axton 1992 CarswellOnt 2266 (Ont Ct (Gen Div))
Rothwell Corp v Amstel Brewery Canada Ltd (1991) 6 OR (3d) 651 (Ont Ct (Gen Div))
Adler v Ontario [1996] 3 SCR 609
Partner Clare Burns will speak during Issues of Capacity to Give Instruction, a program that will be hosted by Wagner Sidlofsky LLP on Tuesday, May 13, 2025.