Wealth Preservation and Succession for the Family Enterprise 2026

Course Chair
Cheyenne J.H. Reese — Legacy Tax + Trust Lawyers, Vancouver

About the Course Chair
Cheyenne Reese assists clients with tax, estate and trust planning. Cheyenne received her JD from the University of Victoria in 2005 and her Masters of Law Degree in International Taxation from New York University in 2006. As a result, a major part of her practice is related to cross border US/Canada transactions and estate planning, including estate, gift, and generation skipping tax issues. In addition, Cheyenne advises US citizens and green card holders regarding US tax compliance and the US expatriation tax rules.

Cheyenne was called to the BC bar in 2007 and has been at Legacy Tax + Trust Lawyers since that time, becoming a principal in 2013. She presents often on cross-border tax and estate planning issues. Cheyenne was named 2022 Lawyer of the Year in Vancouver for her expertise in Tax Law and 2023 Lawyer of the Year in Vancouver for her expertise in Estate Planning by The Best Lawyers in Canada.

Cheyenne is a member of STEP, a board member of STEP Vancouver, and an ACTEC International Fellow and State Chair (Western Canada).

Faculty
Deena Chochinov — Director, Family Office, KPMG, Vancouver
Cody Kessler — Legacy Tax + Trust Lawyers, Vancouver
Ingrid M. Tsui — Alexander Holburn Beaudin + Lang LLP, Vancouver
Amanda N. Winters — Scion Law LLP, Vancouver
Tamara Wong — Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, Vancouver

Course Materials Contributor
Christy Tang — Alexander Holburn Beaudin + Lang LLP, Vancouver

Click here for full faculty bios

• wills and multiple wills
• other estate planning tools
• alter ego/joint partner trusts
• other inter vivos trust planning
• planning for incapacity

• why plan (not just to pay the lawyer)
• freezes for inter-generational planning
• family trusts in the freeze context and 21-year deemed disposition planning
• real estate taxes and disclosure requirements 
• potpourri of practice tips and traps: compliance, integration with other planning, and health checks

• how to create a joint tenancy
• benefits of joint tenancies
• filing considerations affecting joint tenancies (including real property and trusts, such as bare trusts)
• risks and traps of joint tenancies: overcoming unexpected outcomes

• understanding the family enterprise context, with an overview of current trends and challenges shaping the sector and their implications for estate and succession planning
• surfacing the family's underlying governance goals, values, and concerns that may not be explicitly stated
• strategic advice and practical tools for leading effective conversations that are often challenging, emotional, or complex
• the importance of a multi-disciplinary approach, and how collaborating with other advisors helps clients see the full picture of legal, financial, tax, and family considerations in their estate planning

• the breakdown of spousal relationships and the resultant challenges for the family enterprise
  • corporate interests
  • trust interests
• using domestic agreements to protect the family enterprise
• shareholders agreements as a means of managing risk