Nimali has had a long-held interest in issues relating to health, disability and aging.
Yet after graduating from law school in 1999, she worked at a full-service firm where there was little exposure to the issues that interested her. She was so disillusioned with the practise of law at that time that she thought she might leave it all together to become a VJ at Much Music (which seemed like a reasonable exit strategy at the time). Fortunately for Nimali and her future clients, she did not get the VJ job and instead landed her first law job with the Walkerton Commission of Inquiry working for former Associate Chief Justice Dennis O’Connor. Her time with the Inquiry taught Nimali the value of surrounding herself with lawyers of high integrity who practise in areas of law that she finds interesting and meaningful. And that is what led her to joining Jan Goddard as Jan’s first associate in 2002. Nimali became partners with Jan in 2012, finally and happily confirming that she no longer required an exit strategy from law.
Nimali's practice at Goddard Gamage includes both litigation and solicitor’s work and has a special focus on guardianship, power of attorney issues, elder law, estate planning, estate litigation and Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) issues. She has extensive experience assisting families with disabled loved ones with their estate planning, litigation regarding mental capacity issues, and guardianship and ODSP advice. She also has significant experience representing persons whose capacity is being questioned by others, whether they are involved in litigation, doing their own estate planning, or need advice about ODSP legal issues. Nimali enjoys practising in this focussed area of law as it combines her legal expertise and excellent communication skills with her ability to empathize with her clients.
Nimali is recognized in “The Best Lawyers in Canada” (2014-2025) in the field of Trusts and Estates. In 2014, she was the recipient of the Hoffstein Prize, an award from the Ontario Bar Association Trusts and Estates group that recognizes excellence in the field of Trusts and Estates law. In 2009, she was selected and continues to be a member of the Estates Subcommittee of the Civil Rules Committee for the Province of Ontario and in 2017 she was instrumental in creating the Rule 7 Subcommittee of the Civil Rules Committee which aims to improve the Rules of Civil Procedure for parties under disability. Nimali is passionate about sharing her knowledge and experience and is frequently asked to chair and present papers at programs for the Ontario Bar Association, the Law Society of Ontario, and other organizations, having co-chaired the Law Society’s flagship Estates and Trusts Summit since 2018 and on-going. She frequently provides education in her areas of expertise to other professionals at various law firms, financial institutions, and community organizations, and in 2021 and on-going, she was invited to create and teach the first Elder Law course at Osgoode Hall Law School as an adjunct professor.
Nimali is married to a full-time musician she met while trying to become a VJ, and has a daughter, a son, a step-daughter, and a black belt in Tae Kwon Do.
Education
- Certificate in Elder Law, Osgoode Hall Law School, Osgoode Professional Development 2015
- Bar Admission Course Law Society of Upper Canada 2001
- Bachelor of Laws University of Ottawa 1999
- Bachelor of Arts University of Windsor 1996
Practice Areas
Awards
- 2014-2025 One of the best lawyers in Canada, Trusts and Estates: The Best Lawyers in Canada.
- Goddard Gamage LLP chosen five times by Canadian Lawyer magazine as one of the Top Wills, Trusts and Estates boutique law firms in Canada, including for 2021-2022.
- Hoffstein Book Prize, presented by the Ontario Bar Association recognizing excellence in the field of trusts and estates, 2014.
Publications and Presentations
- Co-presenter with Lisa Wilder and Rosemary Maseman of “Substitute Decision Making – Legal Guardianship for People with Disabilities – Parent/Guardian Webinar” – Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation, Nov 20, 2024
- Co-chair with Cate Grainger of “27th Estates and Trusts Summit – Day 2”, Law Society of Ontario (LSO), Estates and Trust Summit, Oct 23, 2024
- Co-presenter with Lisa Wilder and Rosemary Maseman of “Substitute Decision Making – Legal Guardianship for People with Disabilities – Parent/Guardian Webinar” – Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation, Feb 27, 2024
- Co-chair with Cate Grainger of “26th Estates and Trusts Summit – Day 2”, Law Society of Ontario (LSO), Estates and Trust Summit, Oct 19, 2023
- Chair of module: “Managing Consent & Capacity Issues in Wills & Estates Practice”, Osgoode Intensive Program in Wills and Estates, Osgoode Hall Law School Professional Development, Mar 27, 2023
- Co-chair with Cate Grainger of “25th Estates and Trusts Summit – Day 2”, Law Society of Ontario (LSO), Estates and Trusts Summit, Oct 20, 2022
- “Strategic Disability Planning”, OBA, Strategic Advice for Effective Disability Planning, Apr 26, 2022
- Chair of module: “Managing Consent & Capacity Issues in Wills & Estates Practice”, Osgoode Intensive Program in Wills and Estates, Osgoode Hall Law School Professional Development, Apr 12, 2022
- Co-chair with Alyson Sweetlove of “24th Estates and Trusts Summit – Day 2”, Law Society of Ontario (LSO), Estates and Trust Summit, Oct 21, 2021
- “Annotated Power of Attorney for Personal Care”, contribution to annotated materials, presentation and panelist, Law Society of Ontario (LSO), Annotated Powers of Attorney for Property and Personal Care 2021, Mar 25, 2021
- Chair of module: “Managing Consent and Capacity Issues in a Wills and Estates Practice”, Osgoode Intensive Program in Wills and Estates, Osgoode Hall Law School of Professional Development, Mar 9, 2021
- “Parenting and Guardianship of Adult Children with Disabilities over the Age of Majority”, paper and presentation, OBA, OBA Institute – Serving the Family: Critical Insights on Issues Impacting Families in Corporate, Estates and Family Law, Feb 3, 2021
- Co-chair with Alyson Sweetlove of “23rd Estates and Trusts Summit – Day 2”, Law Society of Ontario (LSO), Estates and Trusts Summit, Oct 8, 2020
- “COVID-19 and Capacity Issues in a Wills and Estates Practice”, paper and presentation, Law Society of Ontario (LSO), Your Wills and Estates Practice and the COVID-19 Pandemic: What You Need to Know Right Now, Apr 16, 2020
- Chair of module: “Managing Consent & Capacity Issues in a Wills and Estates Practice”, Osgoode Intensive Program in Wills and Estates, Osgoode Hall Law School Professional Development, Mar 10, 2020
To view the entire list of Nimali's past publications and speaking engagements, please review her C.V.
Affiliations
- From 2009 to the present, Member of the Estates Subcommittee of the Civil Rules Committee for the Province of Ontario, a committee whose mandate is to make recommendations to the Attorney General for rules in relation to civil practice and procedure for the Court of Appeal, the Superior Court of Justice and the Small Claims Court.
- Since 2017, instrumental in the formation of the Rule 7 Subcommittee of the Civil Rules Committee for the Province of Ontario, a committee whose mandate is to make recommendations to the Attorney General regarding significant amendments to Rule 7 of the Rules of Civil Procedure which deals with parties under disability in litigation.
- 2013-2014, Member of Law Commission of Ontario, Capacity of Adults with Mental Disabilities and the Federal RDSP, member of advisory group.
- Ontario Bar Association
- Toronto Lawyers’ Association
- Cambridge Forums Senior Estates and Trusts Practitioners