Daniel Dochylo

Counsel

Daniel is certified as a Specialist in Estates and Trusts Law by The Law Society of Ontario. He is a designated Associate of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.

His practice focuses on estates and trusts litigation, including will challenges and interpretations, passings of accounts, removals of trustees, dependants' relief, guardianships, and other cases involving trusts, powers of attorney and estate bonds. He also represents clients in contentious multi-jurisdictional administrations and financial institutions in disputes involving aging investors.

  • E: ddochylo@cooliganyehia.com

    T: 289.815.5849

    • Presentation

    Co-presenter, 2021 Trust and Estate Controversy Forum – US, UK, Canada, McDermott Will & Emory LLP, September 2021

    • Presentation

    Chair, Foreign Trusts – Three Nations: Spain, Canada, Italy, inter-firm seminar by Cuatrecasas, BLG and Chiomenti firms, January 2021

    • Publication

    Chair and Presenter, “Claims on Administration Bonds in Times of Economic Crisis,” Client Virtual Seminar (Toronto and Vancouver), April 2020

    • Publication

    Co-author, “The Role of the Medical Expert in the Retrospective Assessment of Testamentary Capacity,” The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, April 2020

    • Presentation

    Co-presenter, “My Court Process is Better Than Yours,” Legal Week, Trust & Estates Litigation Forum (Marrakech), February 2020

    • Presentation

    Co-presenter, “Power of Attorney Disputes – What to Expect” at “Capable or Not? How to Effectively Litigate and Mediate a Power of Attorney Dispute,” Advocates’ Society, September 2019

    • Presentation

    Speaker, “The ‘Requirement’ of Probate, Guardianship Orders and Obtaining Recognition of Foreign Equivalents” (Quebec City) ILCO, May 2019.

    • Presentation

    Co-Presentor, “The Latest Trends in Private Client Litigation”, Legal Week, Private Client Forum Americas (Newport Beach, CA) March 2019.

    • Presentation

    Co-Presentor, “The Moral and Ethical Dilemmas when Lawyers make mistakes”, Bnai Brith, Estates Trusts Seminar (Toronto) May, 2019.

    • Presentation

    Panel Member, “Capabilities and Competition in Trustee Appointments and Ramifications for Litigation”, Legal Week, Trust and Estates Litigation Forum (Girona) March 2019.

    • Presentation

    Co-Presentor, “Developments in the Law of Estoppel: Sword v. Shield”, Legal Week, Trust & Estates Litigation Forum (Evian) March, 2018.

    • Presentation

    Chair, “Incidence of Claims for Alleged Professional Negligence, Steps Which May be Taken to Avoid a Claim, Repair a Situation or Mitigate Liability” for STEP Toronto branch, February, 2018.

    • Presentation

    Speaker, “Identifying Undue Influence: Good Samaritans, Opportunists and Bad Actors,” BLG Aging Investors’ seminars, January (Toronto) and June (Calgary) 2017

    • Presentation

    Speaker, “Incomplete Beneficiary Designations: Corroborating Intention and the Remedy of Rectification,” RBC DS, April 2017

    • Presentation

    Panel member, “Public v. Private: How Private are Trust Proceedings?” Legal Week, Trust & Estates Litigation Forum (Provence), March 2017

    • Presentation

    Chair, “Probate Planning – Issues Arising from Drafting and Litigating Secondary Wills,” STEP Toronto, January 2016

    • Presentation

    Panel member, “Mediation Advocacy,” Ontario Bar Association, September 2015

    • Presentation

    Panel member, “Servicing Aging Investors – Some Practice Tips,” July 2015

    • Publication

    Contributor, "ADR and Trusts: An international guide to arbitration and mediation of trust disputes", January, 2015

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    • Presentation

    Speaker, “Trustees’ Exercise of the Power to Encroach,” Ontario Bar Association/BLG Ottawa, November 2014

    • Presentation

    Speaker, “Charitable Gifts: Complications Arising in Applying Cy-Près Doctrine,” LSUC – 16th Annual Estates and Trusts Summit, November 2013

    • Presentation

    Panel member, “Trusts Law: Selected Aspects as Related to Family Law,” Osgoode Hall Law School York University’s 2nd Annual Recent Developments and Complex Issues in Property and Equalization, June 2013

    • Presentation

    Panel member, "Tips for Success at Estate Mediation," Ontario Bar Association's Institute, Trusts and Estates Law – Best Practices, Practical Tips and Risk Management for Estate Planning, February 2013

    • Presentation

    Speaker, “Wills, Powers of Attorney and Challenges to Them,” The Medico-Legal Society of Toronto’s program on Capacity Assessments, April 2013

    • Presentation

    Speaker, "Claims on Administration Bonds: The Mysteries Unveiled," The Law Society of Upper Canada 15th Annual Estates and Trusts Summit, November 2012

    • Presentation

    Panel member, "Solicitors' Duty of Care in Preparing Wills, Subject to Challenges," Law Society of Upper Canada 14th Annual Estates and Trusts Summit, November 2011

    • Presentation

    Speaker, "Duties of Attorneys for Property: Jurisprudence: Solicitors as Attorneys, Trustees and Estate Trustees – What You Need to Know," Ontario Bar Association Conference, May 2010

    • Presentation

    Speaker, "The Outer Limits in Will Challenges: Common Claims that May Be Brought Against an Estate: Will Challenges, Extensions, or the Election Under the Family Law Act, and Dependant's Relief Claims," Ontario Bar Association Conference, October 2009

    • Publication

    Author, periodic articles for Advisor's Edge Report, a publication on financial planning and wealth management, on various topics in estate and trust law, September 2009-2012

    • Presentation

    Speaker, "Entitlement of Support of Adult Disabled Child – from a Parent or Estate," Family Institute Program entitled "Everything You STILL Don't Know About Family Law and Are Afraid to Ask!" Ontario Bar Association, February 2009

    • Publication

    Guest blogger, "Fight or Flight?: The Responsibilities of Executors?" slaw.ca, August 2009

    • Publication

    Author, "A Charitable Beneficiary's Entitlements – Rainy Days and Rainbows," BLG's Not-for-Profit Newsletter, June 2009

    • Presentation

    Speaker, "Implications and Open Questions of Court of Appeal Decisions in Frye and Serra cases" and panel member, "Variations of Trust", Society of Estates and Trusts Practitioners (STEP) Canada 11th National Conference, June 2009

    • Presentation

    Speaker, "Settlements in Estates," Ontario Bar Association Civil Litigation Section Program "The Essentials of Settlements: From Offers to Handshakes," December 2008

    • Presentation

    Speaker, "Litigation Involving Intestate Estates," Ontario Bar Association Estate and Trust Section Meeting, October 2008

    • Presentation

    Speaker, "The Award of Costs in a Will Challenge," Ontario Bar Association Conference "The Will Challenge: From Notice of Objection to Trial," March 2007

    • Presentation

    Speaker, "Unjust Enrichment, Constructive Trust and Quantum Meruit Claims," LSUC 9th Annual Estates and Trusts Summit, November 2006

    • Presentation

    Speaker, "Aging Donors & Their Unhappy Children: Disturbing Trends in Estate Litigation and How to Effectively Respond to Challenges to Donations and Will Bequests," Ontario Hospital Association Conference "Legal Issues for Hospital Foundations," October 2006

    • Presentation

    Speaker, "Rule 75.1 and the Order Giving Directions," and panellist, "How Experienced Counsel Prepare their Clients for Mediation," joint ADR and OBA Estate and Trust Section Program "Rolling Over in Their Graves," February 2006

    • Publication

    Co-author, "Mental Capacity and Consent," Chapter in Advising the Elderly Client, Butterworths, 2005

    • Presentation

    Panel member, "Three Estate Litigation Case Studies"; also speaker, "Strategies in Dependant's Relief Cases," LSUC 7th Annual Estates and Trusts Summit, December 2004

    • Presentation

    Speaker, "Claims Against the Estate: Quantum Meruit, Constructive Trusts and Proprietary Estoppel," Ontario Bar Association Program "Estates: Beyond the Will," October 2004

    • Presentation

    Speaker, "Mediating Mental Health Disputes," Law Society of Upper Canada Program entitled "Capacity, Consent and Substitute Decisions," 2003

    • Presentation

    Speaker, "Types of Disputes" and "The Estates Rules," Strategy Institute Program entitled "Estates Law for Mediators, Lawyers, Advisors, Charities and Financial Institutions," June 1999

    • Presentation

    Co-speaker, "Lost in the Litigation Forest: Where are the Rights of the Child in the Dispute Process," Annual ACPD/CALT Conference on the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child, June 1998

    • Publication

    Co-author, Family Law in Ontario: A Practical Guide for Lawyers and Law Clerks, Canada Law Book Inc., Updates for 1998-99

    • Recognized in the 2026 edition (and since 2010) of The Best Lawyers in Canada (Corporate and Commercial Litigation and Trusts and Estates)

    • Recognized in the 2025 edition (and since 2017) of Chambers High Net Worth Guide (Private Wealth Disputes, Band 1)

    • Recognized in the 2026 edition (and since 2013) of The Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory (Estate & Personal Tax Planning)

    • Recognized in the 2024 edition (and since 2023) of Lexology Index (previously Who's Who Legal: Canada) (Private Client) and in 2023 (Mining)

    • Listed in the Private Client Global Elite Directory, Legal Week, 2018-2019