Overview

Heela has earned a strong reputation for her attention to detail, leaving no stone unturned as she helps her clients manage their legacy through their estate plan. She enjoys getting to know her clients and learning about their unique goals and concerns. Heela is an approachable lawyer who explains difficult and nuanced tax and other legal concepts in a simplified manner. As a Partner in our Wills and Estates group, Heela advises clients on all aspects of estate planning, estate administration and trust law . She also assists clients who have assets in multiple jurisdictions and is known for her ability to craft solutions in respect of Canada-US cross-border estate planning issues . Heela enjoys working collaboratively with her clients’ other advisors to maximize efficiencies, in particular when dealing with assets or beneficiaries across multiple jurisdictions. Heela relies on various “tools” in her “estate planning toolkit” to create clear, tax-efficient plans for her clients and provides honest and timely communications. Commonly used tools include Wills, Powers of Attorney, Family Trusts, Alter Ego Trusts, Joint Partner Trusts, Bare Trusts, Domestic Contracts, Corporations, and Probate Applications. Heela holds the highly recognized Trust and Estate Practitioner (TEP) designation and sits on the Toronto Board of the Society of Trusts and Estates Practitioners (STEP). She has a strong foundation in tax, having completed all three levels of the In-Depth Tax Course. Prior to joining Robins Appleby, Heela worked at a large national law firm where she focused on tax and estate planning, family business succession planning, and wills and trusts. Thereafter, she practiced at a boutique law firm for several years where she focused on the complex and unique interactions between the Canadian and US tax systems. Outside of the office, Heela loves to embark on travel adventures and has climbed one of the Seven Summits: Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. She also enjoys singing, going to concerts, cooking, and devoting time to her family. Expertise Tax Cross-Border and International Tax Planning Family Business Succession Planning (Tax) Personal Tax Planning Planned Giving and Charities (Tax) Support and Counsel to Professional Advisors (Tax) Wills and Estates Estate and Trust Administration Estate and Trust Planning, Wills, and Powers of Attorney Estate Litigation Family Business Succession Planning Planned Giving and Charities Post-Mortem Tax Planning Probate Planning Support and Counsel to Professional Advisors

Practice Areas

• Taxation Law

Bar Information

Called to the bar: 2010 (ON)