Melissa Saunders
Partner
Melissa is called to the bar in Newfoundland and Labrador and Ontario and has dedicated her career to the practice of estates, trusts, and guardianship law. She began her career at an international Bay Street law firm in Toronto before returning her practice home to St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, where she eventually went on to establish Saunders Collins and Loeb Law, a boutique law firm with focus and expertise in the areas of estates, trusts and guardianship law.
Melissa is an estate litigator representing clients on breach of trust claims, dependant support applications, will challenges, contested passings of accounts, as well as contested power of attorney and guardianship disputes. She also advises executors and beneficiaries on matters of estate administration, including the administration of complex estates and inter vivos trusts. In addition to her litigation practice, Melissa advises clients on estate planning matters.
Melissa is trusted counsel to various institutional clients, including trust companies, government agencies, charities, as well as individuals. Melissa also has expertise in health law, including mental health law and consent and capacity issues.
Melissa is an active member of the Canadian Bar Association where she sits on the national executive of the Wills, Estates and Trusts section as Past Chair. She is the current Branch Chair for the Canadian Bar Association’s Elder Law section (NL) and she sits on the executive of the Atlantic branch of the Society of Estates and Trusts Practitioners (STEP). Melissa regularly presents on topics related to estates, trusts and guardianship to groups across the country.
In 2019, Melissa was co-counsel on A.A. Re, 2019 NLCA 7 before the Newfoundland and Labrador Court of Appeal. This important decision deals with the legislative gap which exists in the province in respect of guardianship of the person. Since the Court of Appeal’s decision in A.A. Re, Melissa has been involved in advocacy work in the province related to guardianship and the protection of vulnerable persons, including older adults and persons with capacity issues.
Melissa is called to the Bar in Newfoundland and Labrador, Ontario and Nova Scotia (non-practicing status in the latter). She has experience before the Ontario Superior Court, the Federal Court of Canada, the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador and the Court of Appeal of Newfoundland and Labrador. Melissa has been appointed as Amicus Curiae or “friend of the Court” by the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Melissa dedicates significant time and effort to her pro bono litigation practice. In 2023, she established SCL’s Vulnerable Persons Advocacy practice group which is dedicated to advocating for the interests of minors, older adults and adults with diminished capacity (and their legal representatives and advocates) in matters involving state action, including child protection, guardianship and adult protection.
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Our Practice
Estates and trusts, real estate, capacity issues, private disputes, corporate and commercial matters, and public and regulatory law in St. John’s, Newfoundland. Learn more about our areas of expertise and how we can assist you.
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Office Hours
Monday-Friday 9am – 5pm