The power of a family constitution
A practical tool to align across generations
Session two of UHN’s Legacy Giving Speaker Series
Three conversations to help shape your family’s future
Date: Thursday, November 20, 2025
Time: 12:30 – 1:30 PM EST
Featuring: Serena Hak, CI Private Wealth, Natasha Smith, Charity & Non-Profit Lawyer, and Samantha Prasad, Private Client, Tax & Trust Lawyer, Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP
Family conflict can arise when roles, values and expectations aren’t clearly defined. A family constitution is a practical and empowering tool that helps families stay aligned, reduce misunderstandings and preserve what matters most. This session will introduce the concept of a family constitution and explore real-life Canadian examples so you can walk away with simple questions to begin crafting your own
In this session you will learn:
- Practical strategies to reduce family conflict and improve communication
- Insights into how a family constitution can foster unity and safeguard your family’s values
- Tools to get started
Meet your experts
Serena Hak is a Wealth Advisor at CI Private Wealth who works with high-net-worth families to align their wealth with their values. With more than 15 years of experience, she specializes in integrated financial and philanthropic planning—designing tax-efficient giving strategies, preparing the next generation and supporting families as they shape their long-term legacy.
Her insights on wealth and generosity have been featured in The Globe and Mail and The National Post’s Guide to Charitable Giving. Serena holds the Master Financial Advisor – Philanthropy (MFA-P™) designation and is a recognized national voice on the future of wealth and giving, frequently speaking to organizations across North America.
Beyond her advisory practice, Serena serves as Chair of the Canadian Association of Gift Planners Board of Directors and plays active leadership roles with Benefaction Foundation, AMREF Canada, and The National Ballet of Canada.
In her spare time, Serena enjoys sailing and spending time with her beagle, Bogart.
Natasha Smith is the lead partner for the Charity & Not-for-Profit team at Cassels, with a practice exclusively dedicated to providing practical legal advice to charities and non-profits. In an effort to ensure these organizations achieve their missions and mandates successfully, Natasha assists these entities with a variety of matters including corporate governance and tax compliance.
Natasha’s practice focuses on helping her clients to determine the best structure for their organization and to navigate the complex regulatory environment in which they operate. Specifically, she provides tailored advice on various issues including incorporation and charitable registration, operating in foreign jurisdictions, structuring complex gift agreements, reporting, and general compliance under legislation governing the voluntary sector. Natasha has expertise in structuring merger and asset-transfer transactions between non-share capital corporations, advising on social enterprise and social finance ventures, and facilitating corporate re-organizations.
In 2021, Natasha was awarded the Lexpert Rising Stars Award, which honours leading lawyers under 40. She has been Lexpert-ranked consistently since 2021 and has been specially regarded as Up-and-Coming by Chambers Canada.