Goddard Gamage LLP
7 lawyers · Established 1999 · City of Toronto
One of 2,345 law firms listed in Toronto, and one of 679 handling Wills, Estates & Trusts.
About Goddard Gamage LLP
Goddard Gamage LLP is a Toronto law firm focused on wills, estates, capacity, and elder law. It opened in 1999 and takes its name from Jan Goddard and Nimali Gamage, its principal lawyers, who still practise there as counsel and managing partner. The firm's seven lawyers handle estate planning, powers of attorney, estate administration, guardianship applications, and estate litigation, including will challenges, dependant support claims, and passing of accounts. It also takes on Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) matters, an area that isn't a typical fit for an estates and capacity practice.
The firm pairs planning work with litigation, so the lawyers who draft a will or a power of attorney can also step in if a dispute follows later. Jan Goddard spent 10 years as counsel with Ontario's Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee before entering private practice, and later co-directed Osgoode Hall Law School's Elder Law Certificate program. Nimali Gamage joined the firm as its first associate in 2002, became a partner in 2012, and has taught Osgoode Hall's Elder Law course as an adjunct professor since 2021. Canadian Lawyer magazine has named the firm to its Top 10 Wills, Trusts and Estates list seven times, most recently for 2025 to 2026.
Practice areas
Milestones & recognition
- Goddard Gamage LLP opened in 1999, taking its name from its principal lawyers, Jan Goddard and Nimali Gamage.
- Nimali Gamage joined the firm as its first associate in 2002 and became a partner in 2012.
- Jan Goddard received the Ontario Bar Association Trusts and Estates Section's Award of Excellence in 2020.
- Canadian Lawyer magazine has named the firm to its Top 10 Wills, Trusts and Estates list seven times, most recently for 2025 to 2026.
- The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory recognized Jan Goddard and Nimali Gamage in its 2026 edition, in the estate litigation and wills and estate planning categories.
- Aaron Chan and Lauren Peacock joined the firm as senior associates in February 2026, bringing the roster to seven lawyers.
In the community
- Jan Goddard co-directed Osgoode Professional Development's Elder Law Certificate program in 2015, 2016, and 2017.
- Nimali Gamage has taught Osgoode Hall Law School's Elder Law course as an adjunct professor since 2021.
- Jan Goddard served on the advisory group to the Law Commission of Ontario's Legal Capacity, Decision-Making and Guardianship project.
- The firm keeps a blog on wills, estates, capacity, and guardianship topics, including posts explaining Ontario's Guardianship Investigations Unit and estate planning for parents of children with disabilities.
Good to know
Wheelchair accessible
Hearing accessibleLawyers 7
Aaron Chan
Associate
Wills, Estates & Trusts
Brittany Miller
Partner, TEP
Wills, Estates & Trusts
Geenath Radhananthan
Associate
Wills, Estates & TrustsAdministrative & Regulatory Law
Jan Goddard
Counsel
Wills, Estates & TrustsAdministrative & Regulatory Law
Kostas Renieris
Associate
Wills, Estates & Trusts
Lauren Peacock
Associate
Wills, Estates & Trusts
Nimali Gamage
Managing Partner
Wills, Estates & TrustsAdministrative & Regulatory Law
This firm’s lawyers at a glance
- Called to the bar
- 1986–2024 · median 8 years in practice 6 of 7 lawyers
- Law schools
- Osgoode Hall Law School (3), Queen's University, University of Ottawa, University of Toronto 6 of 7 lawyers
Who handles what
The neighbourhood
Goddard Gamage's office is at 439 University Avenue, a 22-storey office building in Toronto's Bay Street Corridor known as the Phoenix Building, built in 1973. University Avenue is also home to a run of major hospitals, including Toronto General, Mount Sinai, the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, and the Hospital for Sick Children. For a firm whose work includes capacity litigation and guardianship applications, that's not just scenery: those cases often turn on hospital-based capacity assessments and medical records.
The same stretch of University Avenue runs past Osgoode Hall and the Toronto Courthouse, so much of the firm's estate litigation work, including will challenges, passing of accounts, and dependant support claims, plays out in courts a short walk from its own door.
Frequently asked questions
- Does Goddard Gamage LLP handle guardianship applications in Ontario?
- Yes. Guardianship applications are one of the firm's core practice areas, alongside capacity litigation and elder law.
- Can Goddard Gamage help if I'm worried a family member can no longer manage their own affairs?
- That kind of question falls under the firm's capacity litigation and power of attorney work, which covers disputes over a person's ability to manage property or personal care.
- Does the firm handle will challenges and other estate litigation?
- Yes. Estate litigation is one of the firm's main areas, covering will challenges, passing of accounts, dependant support claims, and disputes over trusts.
- Can Goddard Gamage assist with an ODSP issue?
- Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) issues are listed among the firm's practice areas, alongside its estates and capacity work.
- How long has Goddard Gamage LLP been practising in Toronto?
- The firm opened its doors in 1999 and has practised from Toronto since then.
- Where is Goddard Gamage LLP's office?
- The firm's office is at 439 University Avenue, Suite 1700, in downtown Toronto.
Where to find them
439 University Avenue, Suite 1700, Toronto, ON M5G 1Y8 · 416-928-6685
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