It was a first-year law school course with the unlikely title, “Wealth, Death and The Lawyer” that clinched it.
Brittany had known since high school that she wanted to be a lawyer. At first it was the drama of criminal law that attracted her. Then it was the academic and intellectual challenge of constitutional law. But that first-year elective introduced Brittany to the world of wills and estates.
She discovered there a branch of the law that was technical, complex, and at the same time emotional and human, one that addressed the very real issues that people and their families face in their lives. She was hooked.
Brittany graduated from Osgoode Hall Law School and was called to the bar in 2018. She started her career with a respected commercial boutique firm in downtown Toronto, where she gained litigation and dispute resolution experience in everything from employment issues to shareholder battles.
When the opportunity arose to join Goddard Gamage, Brittany jumped at the chance not only to work in the area of law she was most passionate about, but to work with people who are experts at what they do, people she considers the best in their field.
Brittany is particularly drawn to estate administration, and to drafting wills and otherestate-planning documents. She understands that people often don’t really know how or whereto start, and she relishes the opportunity to be their guide.
In an alternate universe, Brittany would have been a sommelier. She loves travelling Ontario’s wine country and finds nothing more relaxing than cooking a meal for her friends and family.
Education
- 2021 Trust and Estate Practitioner ("TEP") Designation, The Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners
- 2018-2019 Certificate in Advanced Civil Litigation Toronto Lawyers Association
- 2014-2017 Osgoode Hall Law School, York University, Toronto, ON Juris Doctor, called to the Bar in June 2018
- December 2016 Mediation Training, Osgoode Mediation Clinic, Toronto, ON
- 2010-2014 University of Western Ontario, London, ON Honours Specialization in Political Science
- The Western Scholarship of Excellence (2010)
- Queen Elizabeth Aiming For the Top Continuing Scholarship (2010-14)
- University of Western Ontario Dean’s List (2010-14)
Awards
- The Best Lawyers in Canada: Ones to Watch in Trusts and Estates (2025)
Publications and Presentations
- “Essential Considerations for Cross-Border Estate Planning and Administration” co-chair with Aman Patel. Ontario Bar Association, 16 April 2025.
- “Challenges with Assessing Legal Capacity at a Client’s End of Life”, panelist. End-of-Life Decision Making: MAiD and Estate Planning. Toronto Metropolitan University, Lincoln Alexander Law Professional Development. 4 April 2025.
- “ODSP Issues in Estates and Capacity Law”, Junior Estate and Trusts Practitioners. 17 March 2025.
- “Drafting Wills and Powers of Attorney”, guest lecturer. Property Law Tutorial. Toronto Metropolitan University, Lincoln Alexander School of Law, Winter 2025.
- “The Nuts & Bolts of ODSP: The Top Ten Things Litigators Need to Know”, author. The Litigator, Winter 2024-2025.
- “Dealing with Capacity and Incapacity Issues”, speaker. Managing Consent and Capacity Issues in a Wills and Estate Practice. OsgoodePD, April 2022-2025.
- “Understanding Capacity”, panelist. Powers of Attorney and Guardianship Essentials. Ontario Bar Association, 4 November 2024.
- “Capacity Assessments and How to Select/Appoint a Representative”, panelist. Navigating Practice Challenges with Clients’ Capacity. Law Society of Ontario, 21 October 2024.
- “Issues Relating to POAs for Personal Care”, panelist. The Annotated Power of Attorney for Property and Personal Care 2024. Law Society of Ontario, 24 January 2024.
- “Issues in Estate Administration” co-chair with Liza Saad. Ontario Bar Association, 5 April 2023.
- “Issues Relating to the Use of POAs for Property and Personal Care”, panelist. The Annotated Power of Attorney for Property and Personal Care 2023. Law Society of Ontario, 26 January 2023.
- “ODSP Issues in Estate Planning, Estate Administration and Uncontested Guardianships” co-author and presenter with Alexandra Manthorpe. Law Society of Ontario, 25th Estates and Trusts Summit, 20 October 2022.
- “Public Appeals: A Practitioner’s Guide.” 22nd Estates and Trusts Summit, 17 October 2019.
- “To Settle or Not to Settle? Best Practices in Discussing Settlement with your Client.” The Advocates’ Journal, Winter 2017.
Regular contributor to Goddard Gamage LLP blog, including:
- "Andre Picard on the Crisis in Long Term Care: A Crisis We See Reflected in Our Elder Law Practice" March 3, 2021
- "An Update on the Law of Crowdfunding: What You Need to Know Before You Hit Post" April 23, 2020
- "I'm Worried My Inheritance May Affect My ODSP Eligibility: What Can I Do?" January 13, 2020
Affiliations
- Ontario Bar Association
- The Advocates Society
- Young Women in Law
- Brittany has been a Member-at-Large of the Estate and Section of the Ontario Bar Association from 2023-2025.
- Brittany is a member of the Rule 7 Subcommittee of the Civil Rules Committee for the Province of Ontario, a committee whose mandate is to make recommendations to the Attorney General regarding significant amendments to Rule 7 of the Rules of Civil Procedure which deals with parties under disability in litigation.