Top Lawyers In Canada In 2019

Justice David Stratas

Judge, Federal Court of Appeal, Ottawa, Ont. Stratas penned possibly the very talked-about choice in the region of employment law this year. It will affect federally regulated employers and employees for a long time to come. His February Federal Court of Appeal decision in Wilson v. Atomic Energy of Canada flies in the face of 40 decades of legislation allowing federally regulated employers to dismiss workers without cause. Prior to the decision, the consensus was that employees that are governed by the Canada Labour Code could only be terminated for just cause. Many federally regulated organizations including banks, telecommunications firms, and transportation businesses see the choice a success, because of its long-term effects. The court needs to be a tie-breaker on this issue, wrote Stratas. Because of its effect, Joseph Wilson filed for leave to appeal with the Supreme Court of Canada in late March. A choice on leave is impending. What Republicans needed to say: He's the greatest administrative law jurist of our age. The only one going deep into doctrine, making sense of it all. Thoughtful, scholarly, practical, and so hard working. Connected to the past, it seems the instances with a real effect from the Federal Court of Appeal are written by him. Plain speaking decisions really hammer the essential points home, Real Estate Lawyer Toronto - GK Law.

Orlando Da Silva

President, Ontario Bar Association, Toronto, Ont. Da Silva's heartfelt public confession of a long and deep depression and attempted suicide has started discussion on mental health within the legal community such as never before. Even though there is a deep-rooted stigma against mental illness facilitated by a dominance of type A personalities, Da Silva's courageous leadership has helped develop technical support programs for lawyers who struggle in silence. Like that was not sufficient, Da Silva has gone one step farther and asked lawyers to call him if they need assistance. His fans emphasise that Da Silva's efforts are critical in an industry that promotes bravado and frequently mistakes mental illness for an individual weakness. What Republicans needed to say: Mr. Da Silva's bravery in grounding increasingly recognized mental health issues in the legal profession in his own personal expertise will advance these issues among lawyers and cause positive ends.

Frank Iacobucci

Senior counselor, Torys LLP, Toronto, Ont. This retired justice has set the bar for police treatment of the mentally ill. His 2014 milestone report outlined 84 sound ways of helping to prevent shooting of mentally ill people by the Toronto Police. The execution of the report goes a long way toward preventing catastrophic confrontations between police and emotionally disturbed individuals. Some of the recommendations include the use of body-worn cameras and optimized use of tasers. The report is a powerful message that the status quo is no longer okay. As a Torys counsel, Iacobucci is accustomed to advising government and business on important policy and legal issues. What Republicans needed to say: Has anybody actually done more? and Energetic, not ceases.

Mark Tamminga

Partner, Gowling Lafleur Henderson LLP, Hamilton, Ont. Tamminga has devoted his career to automating lawful practices. His information technology focus started in 1986 while he was a law student and has been given the job of systemizing the production environment for mortgage files. Since that time, Tamminga's capability for legal technology has just grown with Gowlings LLP. Three decades ago, he was named Gowlings' Innovation Initiatives leader. He is responsible for automating the Gowlings recovery solutions practice. He's designed and built lots of additional training systems in the fields of debt collection, loan placement, and civil litigation. His role has demanded re-thinking that the thornier aspects of large firm operations: managing cultural change, inducing client-side thinking, and constructing the reimbursement mechanisms, which drive new behaviour. Exactly what the board had to say: Tamminga has shown actual vision in tackling tough issues that lots of law firms are not quite prepared to carry on.

Poonam Puri

Professor, Osgoode Hall Law School, Toronto, Ont. Though Puri might not be involved in the biggest transactions of the year or many publicized lawsuit, her work indelibly shapes the arguments and strategies of many attorneys. Her influence is reflected by the eagerness of the Canadian legal community to listen and react to her viewpoints and observations on the present condition of regulations and recommendations concerning what can be done to develop a more fair, just, and responsive legal system. She has led research plans including important corporate securities law initiatives in Canada (National Securities Regulator document ) and has been appointed by the Ontario Minister of Finance Charles Sousa, since the expert adviser for the Credit Unions' legislative framework review. She's a respected and popular professor and highly regarded by practitioners in the corporate-commercial bar. What voters had to say: Exceptional talent. Unassuming trendsetter. Wise beyond her years. Will be an influence for several years to come on the corporate phase in Canada. Outstanding research and technical skills.

Pascale Fournier

Professor & research chair, legal pluralism and comparative law, University of Ottawa Faculty of Law, Ottawa, Ont. Fournier has achieved international fame for her groundbreaking work on gender, faith, and the legislation, using fieldwork interviews with women from various states to emphasize the intricate interplay between religious and secular law. She's received numerous national and international awards and nominations in 2014. Fournier became a fellow of the prestigious International Women's Forum for her role as a pioneer in the legal profession; receiving the Canada-Arab Chamber of Commerce Award for academic excellence and contribution to humanity. Fournier represented the University of Ottawa as a successful leader at the Governor General's Canadian Leadership Conference and was appointed by the National Assembly of Quebec to the Quebec Human Rights and Youth Rights Commission. What voters had to say: Outstanding mind, according [to] Harvard's Prof. Kennedy.