Profile
Wendi Crowe is a Business Lawyer and Partner in the Edmonton office of Miller Thomson. Her practice focuses on tax, mergers & acquisitions, trusts and estate planning. Wendi advises clients at all stages of the business life cycle, including incorporation and initial ownership structure, shareholder and partnership agreements, compensation issues including employee profit-sharing plans and stock options, acquisitions and divestitures, estate freezes and other restructuring. She prepares trusts for minors, spouses and dependent adults, Alberta-resident trusts, and wills, powers of attorney and personal (health care) directives. Wendi advises individuals on owning U.S. property and planning for U.S. citizens and U.S. beneficiaries. Her approach to transactions is practical and multi-faceted, addressing the operational, regulatory, tax, succession and estate planning issues facing individuals and family enterprises. Wendi has acted in both the acquisition and disposition of privately-held businesses in a broad range of industries such as construction, manufacturing, distribution, technology, consulting, aviation, and service firms.
She uses a practical, holistic approach to assist owner-managers in achieving their business succession goals. Wendi has assisted numerous entrepreneurs in transferring their business to a new owner, to key employees or to family members. Wendi’s clients include private and family enterprises, large and small, ranging from professional service firms to construction, manufacturing and technology companies. In addition, Wendi has extensive experience in probate and estate administration.
Education
- LL.B. (with distinction), University of Alberta, 1996
- B.Comm. (with distinction), University of Alberta, 1992
Professional Achievements
- Horace Harvey Gold Medal in Law, University of Alberta, 1996
- Writer & Presenter, 2003 Prairie Provinces Tax Conference
- Speaker, Independent Insurance Brokers Association of Alberta “Succeeding at Succession” Seminar, 2006
- Speaker, Merit Contractors Association "Business Succession" Series, 2011
- Best Lawyers in Canada, 2013
Community Involvement
- Former Chair, Fort Saskatchewan Subdivision and Development Appeal Board
Memberships
- Member, Law Society of Alberta
- Member, Canadian Bar Association
- Member, Canadian Tax Foundation
- Member, Society of Trust & Estate Planners
- Member, Edmonton Tax Lawyers & Accountants Discussion Group
- Member, Alberta Business Family Institute
- Member, Canadian Bar Association Tax Specialists, Business and Wills and Estates Sections
- Former Chair, Canadian Bar Association Business Law Section
Publications & Presentations
- Speaker, Merit Contractors Association "Business Succession" Series, 2011
- Speaker, Independent Insurance Brokers Association of ALberta "Succeeding at Succession" Seminar, 2006
- Writer & Presenter, 2003 Prairie Provinces Tax Conference
Faculty Experience
- Instructor, Metro Continuing Education "Being an Executor" course
- Past Lecturer, Bar Admission Course on commercial lending and the Personal Property Security Act
Publications
- Federal Budget Review, 2013
- Important Changes to Alberta Wills and Estate Law, 2012
- Canadian Tax: Update On Restrictive Covenant Proposals, Tax Notes, October 5, 2010
- Alberta Exempts Registered Savings Plans from Seizure, Wealth Matters, Spring 2010
- Estate Planning Under the New Dividend Regime, Wealth Matters, March 2007
- Lower Taxes on Dividends, Tax Notes, Fall 2006
- Recent Tax, Corporate and Trust Developments, 2005
- Alberta Opens the Door for Non-Resident Directors of Non-Profits, Charities and Not-for-Profit Newsletter, August 2004
- Amalgamation and windup: what's the difference?, 2003
- The Alberta Intestate Succession Act, Tax Notes, Summer 2002
- Tax Deferral for Exchanges of Employee Stock Options and Employee Stock Option Shares, Tax Notes, Summer 2001
- Estate Planning Opportunities Alter Ego And Joint Spousal Trusts, Tax Notes, Summer 2000
Key Practice Expertise
Areas of Focus
- Corporate Reorganizations
- Estate Freezes
- Family Trusts
- Shareholder Agreements
Year of Call
- Alberta Bar, 1997