Mary Hamilton

Mary Hamilton, K.C., esteemed Partner at her law firm, specializes in the nuanced fields of Wills, Estates + Trusts, and Charities + Non-Profit Practice Groups. With over three decades of rich experience, Mary stands out as an authority in the complex areas of wills, trusts, and estate administration. Her career trajectory includes pivotal roles in leading wills, estates, and trusts groups across Vancouver, earning her the prestigious title of Vancouver Trusts and Estates “Lawyer of the Year” from Best Lawyers® in Canada in multiple years: 2011, 2017, 2021, and 2024.

Mary’s expertise encompasses a wide spectrum of estate planning services. She is adept in advising on the formulation of wills, creation of alter ego and joint spousal trusts, the intricacies of discretionary family trusts, and the establishment of qualified disability trusts. Her proficiency extends to strategic charitable giving and other methods of wealth transition, both during a client's lifetime and posthumously. Business owners and affluent individuals regularly seek her counsel for ensuring smooth generational transitions of their business and for equitable and responsible family benefaction.

A significant portion of her professional time is dedicated to guiding executors, administrators, and trustees through the probate process and the administration of estates and trusts. Her role often involves aiding them in successfully navigating the complexities of account passing.

Mary’s contributions extend beyond direct legal advice. She is deeply involved in preparing for scenarios of incapacity, drafting powers of attorney, nominations of committee, and representation agreements. Her experience is particularly noted in advising attorneys, committees, and representatives about their duties and responsibilities, as well as in providing counsel for supporting a disabled relative or friend.

Recognized as a thought leader in her field, Mary frequently delivers lectures to diverse audiences including clients, fellow lawyers, charitable organizations, and the general public. Her topics of expertise span wills, estates, incapacity, and charitable giving. She generously shares her knowledge with the legal community in British Columbia, contributing significantly to the updating of a comprehensive resource for wills lawyers (an annotated guide on Wills and other personal planning documents) and co-editing esteemed practice manuals on both Estate Planning and Estate Administration.

Her past contributions include membership on several advisory committees tasked with creating and revising educational materials, booklets, and precedent documents for the Continuing Legal Education Society and the Law Society of British Columbia, further cementing her status as a venerated figure in her field.