Marni Pernica

Understanding both the financial and personal elements of a family is essential to ensuring that a client’s estate plan reflects their unique circumstances. Marni works closely with her clients to provide them with practical, thoughtful advice regarding their estate plan.

Clients appreciate Marni’s strong relationship-building skills and reputation as a thought-leader, and trust her because they are comfortable confiding in her and confident in her ability to advise them effectively. As Co-Leader of the firm’s Tax, Trusts & Estates and Private Client Groups, Marni’s practice focuses on estate, income tax and succession planning, including cross-border planning, planning to reduce estate administration tax (formerly known as probate fees), the preparation of wills, powers of attorney and trusts, and assisting with estate administration. Additionally, Marni advises clients on how to reduce personal and corporate tax, including the effective use of a family trust.

Marni offers thoughtful and effective planning for clients ranging from young families who are just starting out to multi-generational families who are looking for effective ways to transition assets to the next generation. Marni enjoys navigating the complexities that arise in complicated and layered family structures, such as the dynamics that are present in blended families. Marni also has significant experience with cross-border planning for clients who have U.S. or other foreign connections.

Marni frequently writes and speaks on topics involving tax, estate planning and business succession planning for audiences such as insurance and financial advisers, accountants, professionals, and fellow lawyers.

Selected Speaking Engagements

Speaker, "Professionalising the Personal," Private Client Forum Americas 2026, June 2-5, 2026.

Co-Chair, "Women's Lunch With Justice Rosalie Silberman Abella," UJA Federation of Greater Ontario, May 14, 2026.

Moderator, "Trust Us - It Will Be Topical - Part I: Responsible Integration of AI into Your Practice," STEP Canada Seminar, November 20, 2025.

Speaker, "Practical Estate Planning," The Canadian Jewish News Webinar, September 29, 2025.

Speaker, "Death, Taxes and Philanthropy," Estate & Trust Planning Symposium, September 17, 2025.

Speaker, "Estate and Trust Planning Symposium," B’Nai Brith Canada, September 17, 2025.

Speaker, "Yours, Mine, and Ours: Tips and Traps for Estate Planning with Blended Families," Law Society of Ontario, The Six-Minute Estates Lawyer, April 22, 2025.

Speaker, "Estate Strategies for Complex Lives," Cumberland Private Wealth Seminar, April 15, 2025.

Past Chair, OBA Trusts and Estates Section

Member, The International Academy of Estate and Trust Law (TIAETL)

Member, Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) Canada Education Committee

Member, Private Client Global Elite

Chair of Programming Committee, STEP Toronto Branch Executive

Officer, Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) Toronto Branch Executive

Chair, Osgoode Hall Law School Intensive Program in Wills & Estates

Member, UJA Foundation of Greater Toronto, Professional Advisors Executive Committee

Member, Law Society of Ontario

Member, Canadian/Ontario Bar Association's Estates and Trusts Section and Tax Section

Member, Canadian Tax Foundation