Edward Rogers has filed a notice of objection in Ontario Superior Court to the “excessive” $11 million in compensation claimed by three trustees of his mother’s $250-million estate — and attempted to block any payment at all to Kilmer Group founder Larry Tanenbaum.
The dispute is the latest tale of tension atop one of Canada’s most powerful business empires.
The estate in question belongs to Loretta Rogers, who died in 2022, leaving behind a fortune in real estate, financial assets, and personal property such as artwork and jewelry.
Loretta’s will appointed Tanenbaum, along with Mary Filippelli, a former partner at Deloitte, and Jim Reid, the former chief human resources officer for Rogers Communications, as trustees.
The trustees have not yet responded to Edward’s notice of objection.
According to executor timesheets in the court filing, between 2022 and 2024 the trustees spent a combined 2,653 hours administering the estate, billing about $11 million in fees.
The sum was calculated by applying a 2.5 per cent fee — a guideline often used in the administration of Ontario estates — to Loretta’s estate, according to a statement of compensation claimed included in documents filed on Oct. 29.
Rogers argues the fees are “excessive” given the size of the estate, according to his objection filed March 8.
The court filing estimates the fees work out to $3,557 (Canadian) an hour, plus an additional $438 (U.S.) an hour to handle U.S. assets.
In the documents, Rogers’ lawyers describe the compensation as “neither fair nor reasonable,” contending that the standard percentage-based model results in disproportionately large payouts when applied to estates of a magnitude like Loretta’s.
He has also challenged in court a $14.5 million expense for executor liability insurance, despite the will explicitly allowing such a purchase. According to the filing, the estate’s existing legal protections already mitigate most risks, making insurance unnecessary.
Loretta’s will also includes provisions protecting trustees from liability — including any legal actions involving her son, Edward.
Rogers’ objections single out Tanenbaum, arguing that he should receive no compensation at all.
According to the timesheets in the court filing, Tanenbaum contributed about five per cent of the total hours spent managing the estate, leading Rogers to claim he “delegated” his responsibilities to the other trustees.
Filippelli and Reid carried the majority of the workload, accounting for more than 95 per cent of the hours logged, according to the time sheets.
Edward’s objection also accuses Filippelli and Reid of delegating “almost all of the day-to-day supervision, administration and management of the Estate” to other parties.
The disagreement is the latest chapter in a complicated relationship between Rogers and Tanenbaum, with business interests overlapping significantly in professional sports.
Tanenbaum’s company, Kilmer Sports, a division of Kilmer Group, holds a 25 per cent stake in Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE), while the Rogers Communications owns 75 per cent. Both men sit on the MLSE board. Tanenbaum currently owns 80 per cent of Kilmer Sports, giving him an effective 20 per cent personal stake in MLSE.
This latest dispute also recalls earlier infighting within the Rogers family.
In 2021, Edward faced opposition from his mother and sisters in a high-profile battle over control of Rogers Communications, which ultimately played out in court and ended in his favour.
