Partner
J.D., T.E.P.

Direct Line: (204) 594-1094
Fax: (204) 947-3705
Email: KClendenning@traditionlaw.ca

Krista Clendenning is a partner with Tradition Law LLP, Estates and Trusts practicing in estate planning and estate administration.  Krista endeavours to make the estate administration process easier on executors and family members who are often grieving for their loved ones.  Compassion is an important part of her role.

Krista has focused her wills practice on the planning for family members of persons with disabilities. She has worked with many families with varying types and degrees of disabilities. She focuses on the challenges faced by each individual client and their family to build an estate plan tailored to their needs. She is experienced in navigating the regulations of the Employment and Income Assistance (EIA) program. Krista often presents on planning issues and strategies encountered by the disability community which includes setting up discretionary trusts commonly referred to as “Henson Trusts” and tailored powers of attorney for parents and family members of persons with disabilities.

Krista is committed to advocating for her clients and takes an active role in changing law and policy. She participated in the 2019 Manitoba government consultation regarding the new income program for persons with disabilities and has written multiple articles regarding incoming changes to the disability assistance program in Manitoba. Krista also prepared commentary assisting the Manitoba Law Reform Commission in making changes to Wills and Estate Law in Manitoba as well as addressing Elder Law issues. She has also volunteered her time to assist in updating the Manitoba Law Society’s educational materials on estate administration. Krista is always pleased to lend her expertise to educate the community and other professionals regarding the complexities involved with estate planning and administration.

Krista is a member of the Estate Planning Council of Winnipeg. Krista earned her T.E.P. and became a member of the internationally recognized Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) program in 2021. She is now assisting with local branch programming for STEP. She is also active in the Manitoba Bar and Canada Bar sections on Elder Law and Wills, Trusts and Estate Planning. Since 2018, Krista has also been a board member of Continuity Care, an organization that assists persons with intellectual disabilities and their families in planning for the future. During that time Krista assisted with the implementation of the Advisor to Trust program, created to provide support for trustees managing trusts for the benefit of persons with disabilities.

Krista has been published in national publications including the Canadian Estates and Trusts Reports and Estates, and the Canada Trusts and Pensions Journal. She also co-authored a guide for lawyers on videotaping Wills instructions and signings which was presented at the 2019 Pitblado Lectures, an educational seminar for Manitoban lawyers. In 2020, Krista was the recipient of the Manitoba Bar Association’s Headnotes and Footnotes Award on behalf of Tradition Law LLP for the firm’s outstanding contribution to the MBA’s monthly newsletter in the column on wills and estates decisions. 

In an effort to increase understanding of jurisdictional differences in wills and estate law across the country, Krista lends her time as the editor of the Manitoba chapter of the National Concordance, a reference guide for estate and succession law across Canada.

Krista is constantly learning, through independent research and professional development, to stay on top of changes in the wills and estate law. She has completed training in collaborative law, conflict resolution and cross-cultural awareness. She endeavours to provide her clients with exceptional service and is passionate about finding a solution to each client’s unique needs.

Krista graduated from the Faculty of Law at the University of Manitoba in 2017. Throughout law school, Krista volunteered her time as a member of Pro Bono Students Canada working on a number of projects with community organizations including New Directions and the Community Unemployed Help Centre. She was also the founding chair of the Robson Hall “Spirit Committee,” a member of the Manitoba Law Students Association and worked at the Legal Help Centre of Winnipeg. Krista was awarded the Class of 1980 Prize by her classmates for distinguished representation of the Faculty of Law in the community and outstanding involvement in extracurricular activities.