Our Team

David A. Steele

Partner

	Direct: 416.865.8150 Office: Toronto Fax: 416.865.7380 Email: dsteele@torys.com

	David is recognized as one of Canada's leading trusts and estates lawyers.

Practice

David Steele's practice focuses on the areas of domestic and international family trusts, estate planning and administration, charities and business trusts. David regularly advises domestic and international financial institutions and others acting as trustees and custodians.

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Recognitions

Lexpert/Thomson Canada’s Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory 2011—Repeatedly recommended practitioner in estate and personal tax planning, and charities/not-for-profit law

Woodward White’s Best Lawyers in Canada 2006–2012—Leading lawyer in trusts and estates law

Lexpert/Thomson Canada’s Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory 2008, 2009 and 2010—Repeatedly recommended practitioner in estate and personal tax planning (estate planning)

Practical Law Company’s Which Lawyer? Yearbook 2009 and 2010—Leading Canadian lawyer in private client

Citywealth 2009—One of two Canadians designated as a leading lawyer in North America in private wealth advisory

Practical Law Company’s Which Lawyer? Private Client 2008 and 2009—Leading Canadian lawyer in domestic and international trusts, estate planning and administration

Professional Involvement

David was a lecturer in the law of trusts at Osgoode Hall Law School, York University from 1991 to 1998 and 2000 to 2005. David is the director of a master of laws program in the law of trusts at Osgoode Hall Law School, in which he has taught courses on the commercial uses of trusts.

Selected Publications and Presentations

Alter Ego Trusts and Joint Partner Trusts: Important Estate Planning Tools for Individuals Aged 65 Years or Older
| January 16, 2008

Powers of Attorney for Property and for Personal Care
| January 16, 2008

Planning to Reduce Probate Fees
| January 16, 2008

The Role of an Estate Trustee
| January 16, 2008

Your Will: The Foundation of Your Estate Plan
| January 16, 2008

The Beneficiary's Right to Know
Fourth Annual Estates and Trusts Forum, Law Society of Upper Canada CLE Program | November 2001

Some Debtor-Creditor Issues in the Context of Estate Administration
| June 11, 2001

Business Trusts: Some Key Issues for the Trust and Estate Lawyer
Law Society of Upper Canada CLE Program: Second Annual Estates and Trusts Forum | November 1999

Enforcement Against the Assets of a Business Trust by an Unsecured Creditor
Canadian Business Law Journal, vol. 31, no. 1 | November 1998

Disclosure of Trust Documents Revisited
15 Estates and Trusts Journal 218 | 1996

Exculpatory Clauses in Trust Instruments
14 Estates and Trusts Journal 216 | 1995

The Deductibility of Child Care Expenses Re-Examined: Symes v. R.
7 Canadian Family Law Quarterly 315 | 1991

Selected Media Highlights

May 17, 2011: Lexpert ranks 56 Torys lawyers among Canada's top legal experts

August 26, 2010: Best Lawyers names 52 of Torys’ practitioners as leading lawyers in Canada

April 8, 2010: PLC's Which Lawyer? names 42 of Torys' lawyers as leading Canadian practitioners

August 13, 2009: Best Lawyers names 56 of Torys’ practitioners as leading lawyers in Canada

May 25, 2009: Lexpert names 39 of Torys' lawyers as leading experts in Canada

Memberships

International Academy of Estate and Trust Law (Academician)
Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners
Executive Committee, Trusts and Estates Section, Ontario Bar Association (former member)

Practice Areas and Industry Groups

Personal Client Services

Bar Admissions

Ontario, 1993
New York, 1993

Education

LLM, 1991
Cornell University

LLB, 1990
Osgoode Hall Law School, York University

BA (Honours), 1987
McGill University