David P. Stevens

David Stevens is a partner at Gowling WLG who advises clients at pivotal moments—when a business or charity is evolving, wealth is being transferred, or a family is planning for what comes next. With a practice rooted in corporate and personal tax planning, trusts and estates, and the charitable sector, David helps his clients make confident decisions in complex circumstances, balancing technical precision with practical, long-term outcomes.

Consistently recognized as a leader in his field by Lexpert, Best Lawyers in Canada and the Chambers High Net Worth Guide (Band 1), David is trusted by high-net-worth individuals and families, private companies, trust companies, and charities and not-for-profit organizations alike. His work spans business succession planning, estate planning and administration, family trusts, tax reorganizations, international planning, private foundations, charitable gift planning, and regulatory compliance for charities.

David brings a unique depth of perspective to client matters, shaped by 15 years as a professor of law at McGill University. During his academic career, he directed the Ontario Law Reform Commission’s project on the law of charity and authored the Commission’s two-volume final report (1996). That foundation continues to inform his client work today, particularly where tax, governance, and fiduciary issues intersect.

Outside of his practice, David speaks and writes regularly on a range of topics related to private company taxation, trust taxation, and tax-exempt entities.