Audrey A. Wakeling, K.C.

A solicitor focused on corporate and business structures, reorganization and succession matters, trusts, wills, and estate planning and administration, Audrey earned her B.A. (1974) and LL.B. (1975 - gold medalist) at the University of Saskatchewan and her LL.M. (1977) at the University of Illinois. Her book, Corroboration in Canadian Law, has been cited by the Supreme Court of Canada. She was a member of the University of Saskatchewan’s Faculty of Law for several years, teaching taxation and torts. Audrey was admitted to the Saskatchewan bar in 1980 and the Alberta bar two years later. She was appointed a Queen’s Counsel in 2014 and was recognized in the peer-reviewed list “Best Lawyers in Canada” in each year since 2019, being named “Lawyer of the Year” in 2022, in the areas of trusts and estates. 

A former bar admission course instructor, CPLED instructor and evaluator, Audrey often lectures on estate planning and corporate matters. She has been a member of the Alberta Corporate Tax Administration Advisory Group, the Revenue Canada Taxation Advisory Committee on Technical Publications,  the Law Society Focus Group (Edmonton), which advised the Alberta government on amending the Business Corporations Act, the executive of the Canadian Bar Association Wills, Estates and Trusts subsection, and the board of a charitable organization. She was also Deputy Chair of the United Way of Edmonton Leadership Division. Outside of work, Audrey enjoys travelling, reading fiction, fitness, golf, and caring for her standard poodle. She also enjoys spending time with her husband, three adult children and a growing number of grandchildren.

List of Publications and Papers Presented

Comment, a Case Study of Scope of the Right to Counsel in the Police Station Environment (1974-1975), 39 Sask. L. Rev. 183-185

A Proposal to Limit the Civil Liability of Corporate Directors and Officers, 1976 Ins. L.J. 608 - 621

Mutual Corroboration (1977-1978), 42 Sask. L. Rev. 41

Book Review (1977-1978), 42 Sask. L. Rev. 157

Corroboration in Canadian Law (Carswell Company Ltd. 1977) which has been cited or referred to in a number of court cases including by the Supreme Court of Canada.

Tax and Estate Planning (1979 Saskatchewan Bar Admission Course material)

Comment on the Spring 1979 Saskatchewan Budget (1979), 1 Canadian Taxation 74

Tax Planning for the Small Businessman (papers for a jointly sponsored CBA-Saskatchewan CLE seminar, 1980)

Comment on the Spring 1980 Saskatchewan Budget (1980), 2 Canadian Taxation 75

Tax Law Handbook (A Guide to Canadian Court Cases) (1980 International Self-Counsel Press;  2nd ed. 1981;  3rd ed. 1983)

Tax Implications of Saskatchewan's Matrimonial Property Legislation (paper for Saskatchewan CLE seminar, Regina and Saskatoon, 1980)

Estate Planning for Farmers, Canada Estate Planning Service (Richard de Boo Limited 1981)

Incorporation of a Law Practice - The Beleaguered Professional Corporation (paper for Canadian Bar Association Convention, Toronto, August 31, 1982)

Techniques for Income Splitting and Estate Freezing, 1984 Prairie Provinces Tax Conference (Canadian Tax Foundation)

Taxation of Corporations and Corporate Distributions (paper for Saskatchewan CLE seminars, Regina and Saskatoon, 1985)

Incorporation of a Law Practice - Professional, Personal Service and Management Corporations (paper for Canadian Bar Association Alberta Branch Mid-Winter Meeting, Calgary, January 31, 1986)

Taxation in Litigation Matters (paper for LESA seminars, Calgary and Edmonton, June 8 and 9, 1987)

Taxation of Trusts (paper for Canadian Bar Association Alberta Branch Mid-Winter Meeting, Edmonton, January 27, 1989)

Tax Planning With Trusts, 42nd Tax Conference (Canadian Tax Foundation 1990)

Forms of Business Organization (LESA Corporate and Commercial Banff Refresher Course, May 1992)

Planning for Business Succession (LESA Wills & Estates Banff Refresher Course, May 1996)

Contributed chapter on Shareholder Rights and Remedies to LESA Alberta Business Law Practice Manual (2021)