Beth Porter, FCPA, FCA, CFP
Tax Partner, Noseworthy Chapman Chartered Professional Accountants
Beth’s practice focuses on providing tax planning and consulting advice to owner-managed businesses, estates and trusts, and high-net-worth individuals. This includes corporate restructuring, succession planning, tax minimization strategies and personal financial planning. Beth takes pride in providing tailored advice to clients navigating a wide range of financial and tax-related challenges.
Beth started her career with Noseworthy Chapman as a student and re-joined the firm in 2000. She has worked full-time in the area of taxation for 25 years. She has completed the CPA/CICA Canada In-Depth Tax Program, along with several advanced courses specializing in taxation for owner-managed businesses, corporate reorganizations, and other complex tax matters.
A graduate of Memorial University of Newfoundland, Beth earned her Bachelor of Commerce (Co-op) degree in 1995 and obtained her Chartered Accountant designation in 1997. She became a Certified Financial Planner in 2006. In 2025, Beth was elected as a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Professional Accountants of Newfoundland and Labrador (FCPA), recognizing her outstanding career achievements and contributions to the profession.
Beth is a frequent lecturer and has authored numerous articles on tax matters affecting owner-managers including for the Association of Chartered Professional Accountants of Newfoundland and Labrador and the Canadian Tax Foundation as well as many other professional and industry groups.
Beth is an active contributor to both her profession and her community. She has previously served on the Board of Directors for the Association of Chartered Professional Accountants of Newfoundland & Labrador (CPANL), the CPA Atlantic School of Business and is past-President of DFK Canada. She is also a member of the Canadian Tax Foundation.
Melissa Saunders
Partner, Saunders Collins and Loeb Law
Melissa has dedicated her practice to estates, trusts, and guardianship law. She is called to the Bar in Newfoundland and Labrador, Ontario and Nova Scotia (non-practicing status in the latter) and began her career at an international Bay Street law firm in Toronto. After some time, she returned to St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, and established Saunders Collins & Loeb Law, where she is trusted counsel to various institutional clients, including trust companies, government agencies, charities, as well as individuals.
Melissa is an estate litigator, representing clients on breach of trust claims, dependant support applications, will challenges, contested passings of accounts, as well as contested power of attorney and guardianship disputes. She advises executors and beneficiaries on matters of estate administration, including the administration of complex estates and inter vivos trusts. In addition to her litigation practice, Melissa advises clients on estate planning matters. Her expertise also extends to health law, including mental health law and consent and capacity issues.
As an active member of the Canadian Bar Association, she sits on the national executive of the Wills, Estates and Trusts section as Past Chair. She is the current Branch Chair for the Canadian Bar Association’s Elder Law section (NL) and sits on the executive of the Atlantic branch of the Society of Estates and Trusts Practitioners (STEP). Melissa regularly presents on topics related to estates, trusts and guardianship to groups across the country.
In 2019, Melissa was co-counsel on A.A. Re, 2019 NLCA 7 before the Newfoundland and Labrador Court of Appeal. This important decision deals with the legislative gap which exists in the province in respect of guardianship of the person. Since the Court of Appeal’s decision in A.A. Re, Melissa has been involved in advocacy work related to guardianship and the protection of vulnerable persons, including older adults and persons with capacity issues.
Melissa has experience before the Ontario Superior Court, the Federal Court of Canada, the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador and the Court of Appeal of Newfoundland and Labrador. Melissa has been appointed as Amicus Curiae or “friend of the Court” by the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Melissa dedicates significant time and effort to her pro bono litigation practice. In 2023, she established SCL’s Vulnerable Persons Advocacy practice group which is dedicated to advocating for the interests of minors, older adults and adults with diminished capacity (and their legal representatives and advocates) in matters involving state action, including child protection, guardianship and adult protection.
Patrick Edwards, CPA
Patrick is a Wealth and Tax Planning Consultant with Canada Life in Halifax.
Patrick partners with financial advisors throughout Atlantic Canada, working closely with their clients and advisory teams as they develop and execute their wealth management, business succession and estate plans. He works primarily with successful business owners and high net worth families committed developing effective plans for the management and transition of their wealth. He has an extensive background in the application and integration of financial products and strategies to achieve effective outcomes for his clients.
Patrick is a CPA (CA,1996).
Patrick is married to Andrea and has two boys (Josh 21 and Ben 24).
Patrick Uzan, BA (Econ.), CPA, CA, TEP, CLU
Vice President, Professional Services, PPI
Patrick is Vice President, Professional Services at PPI where he supports advisors in the high net worth market throughout Canada in developing and implementing tax and estate planning strategies. For over 28 years, Patrick’s tax planning experience and expertise has encompassed the areas of succession and estate planning, corporate reorganizations and insurance planning. Throughout his career, he has delivered numerous tax seminars and presentations and authored insurance planning articles, including his regular column in Forum Magazine. He is also the editor of the recently published book, “The Essential Canadian Guide to Corporate-Owned Life Insurance,” written by Kevin Wark.
Patrick graduated from McGill University with his Bachelor of Arts in economics, and Concordia University, where he obtained a post-graduate accounting diploma. He holds the designations of Chartered Professional Accountant and Chartered Accountant (CPA, CA) and Registered Trust and Estate Practitioner (TEP). He also holds the designation of Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) and was the 2016 recipient of the John A. Tory Award for CLU Studies. Over the years, he has been heavily involved as a member of various committees for the Conference for Advanced Life Underwriting (CALU), and is also a member of Advocis and the Canadian Tax Foundation (CTF).