Rachel Blumenfeld

Rachel advises clients on estates, tax and succession planning matters. By asking the right questions and listening carefully, Rachel gets the information she needs to structure her clients’ affairs effectively. She is an active speaker and participant at conferences and professional development events, ensuring she remains a leader on rapidly changing legal tax rules and regulations.

As Co-Leader of the firm’s Trusts & Estates Group and Charities & Not-for-Profit Law Group, and a member of the Tax Group, Rachel’s practice focuses on trusts and estates, personal tax planning, and charities and not-for-profit law. She advises on tax, trusts, estate planning and administration, preparation of wills, power of attorney documents, business succession, and insurance planning. Rachel has significant experience with cross-border planning for clients who have U.S. or other foreign connections. She also works with families with disabled children to plan and structure their estates appropriately and offers advice to charities and donors on planned giving, philanthropic programs, administration of bequests and other gifts.

Rachel frequently writes and speaks on topics involving tax and estate planning, life insurance and business succession planning and charitable giving for audiences such as insurance and financial advisers, accountants, fundraising professionals, and fellow lawyers. She is involved in the community and serves on a number of not-for-profit and charitable boards. Rachel served as Chair of STEP Canada for the 2023-2025 term.

Selected Speaking Engagements

"Global Transparency and Disclosure in 2026: The Next Chapter," School of International Financial Services, March 25, 2026.

"Estate and Capacity Considerations for Indigenous Clients: Understanding and Planning for One of Canada's Fastest-Growing Populations" and "Practitioners' Update: U.S. Tax Law," STEP Canada 27th National Conference, June 16-17, 2025.

"Anti-Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing," EU Global Facility Webinar, May 21, 2025.

"Case Study," PAC Speaker Series: Bridging Mind & Money, May 13, 2025.

STEP Canada National Conference, June 3-4, 2024.

"How to Leave a Part of Your Estate to a Child Unable to Manage Their Own," Moolala Podcast, SiriusXM Radio Canada Talks, November 4, 2023.

STEP Israel Jubilee Conference, June 13-14, 2023.

"Post Mortem Planning – Where Are We Now?," CALU 2023 Conference & AGM, May 7-10, 2023.

"Those With Special Needs, Need Special Planning," RBC Wealth Management Podcast, March 15, 2023.

Professional Activities

Past Chair, STEP Canada

Chair, STEP Canada, 2023-2025

Past National Secretary (2015-2019) and Director at Large (2014-2015), STEP Canada

Past President, Toronto Estate Planning Council, 2016-2017

Chair, CALU Associate Member Conference, 2016 & 2017

Chair, STEP Canada National Conference, 2015

Co-Chair, STEP Canada National Conference, 2012-2014

Member, STEP Toronto Executive, 2007-2013

Memberships

Canadian Bar Association, Ontario Bar Association (Trusts and Estates Section, Tax Section, Charities Section)

Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP Canada)

Fellow, The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC)

Academician, The International Academy of Estate and Trust Law

Conference of Advanced Life Underwriters (CALU)

Canadian Association of Gift Planners

Canadian Tax Foundation

Community Involvement

Director, Reena and Past Director, Reena Foundation

Past Director, McMichael Canadian Art Foundation

Past Director, Toronto Partnership Minyan

Past Director, York Region Community Foundation

Past Director, Netivot HaTorah Day School