Top Lawyers In Canada In 2020

Lorne Waldman

Waldman & Associates, Toronto, Ont. Waldman is a good defender of refugees, immigrants, and human rights. He's won a variety of significant successes, such as healthcare for refugees in Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care v. Canada and a female 's right to wear the niqab whilst producing her citizenship oath in Ishaq v. Canada together with his associate Naseem Mithoowani. In addition, he argued at the Supreme Court of Canada in J.P. v. Canada and G.J. v. Canada, that Canada's anti-human smuggling provisions should consist of asylum seekers participating in mutual aid. In addition to Peter Edelmann, he acted on behalf of the CBA in the Harkat case prior to the SCC in 2014. On the international stage, he represents Mohamed Fahmy (along with Amal Clooney), the Canadian journalist working for Al Jazeera. He has also been a vocal opponent of Bill C-51 and changes to Canada's citizenship legislation. What voters had to say: Lorne reminded us all, particularly today, to preserve democracy and to preserve the rule of law, lmia permanent residence.

Katrina Pacey

Executive director, Pivot Legal Society, Vancouver, B.C. Pacey was recently appointed executive director of Pivot Legal and continues the fantastic work of her predecessors. Pivot focuses on issues associated with health, police accountability, drug policy, and homelessness, poverty, and sex workers' rights. She might be best known for her role in the Bedford situation, but Pivot is about more than that and frequently has intervener status in important Supreme Court of Canada cases, including the recent one on mandatory minimums. She's also talented at bringing on board highly respected counsel to perform pro bono on a number of these instances that can definitely affect the lives of a number of the city, and country's, most vulnerable citizens. What voters had to say: Incredible devotion to social justice at every level with keen enthusiastic intellect. She has helped change draconian legislation that threaten the lives of sex trade workers and restore dignity to people who have been marginalized.

Justice Beverley McLachlin

Chief justice, Supreme Court of Canada, Ottawa, Ont. A frequent member of the Top 25 list and the very best vote-getter in years ago, McLachlin proceeds to make waves, handing down two very significant decisions on aboriginal law. The 2014 Tsilhqot'at Nation v. British Columbia decision led by McLachlin is the earliest of its kind in the history of British Columbia. Last year the Supreme Court of Canada granted announcement of aboriginal title to over 1,700 square kilometres of land. She is responsible for upholding the decision of the Ontario Court of Appeal in Keewatin v. Ontario (Natural Resources) released in July 2014, she has what the Lamer court started and has left her mark in this area for decades to come. The chief justice is still a powerful proponent of greater justice for all Canadians. As her incredible amount of votes once more this year show, McLachlin is greatly admired not just for her rulings but also her public support in favour of free speech, diversity, and inclusive leadership. What Republicans needed to say: A brilliant judge who, time and time again, marries the law with common sense. Justifiably most respected legal mind in the nation; outstanding integrity; reliable public servant; obviously guided by the law and also a strong moral compass.

Marie Henein

Old partner, Henein Hutchison LLP, Toronto, Ont. Considered one of Canada's greatest criminal defence lawyers, Henein is notorious for representing high-profile customers including former CBC radio host Jian Ghomeshi -- charged with seven counts of sexual assault, of which two have already been dropped -- former Ontario attorney general Michael Bryant, along with junior hockey coach David Frost. Most recently Henein has taken on the event of defence counsel colleague Leora Shemesh, that had been charged with perjury and obstruction of justice by Peel Police. Henein is well known in the profession as a go-to lawyer for all high-profile criminal matters. She has a superb track record of wins versus losses and has been part of the team that recently was victorious in getting John Salmon's certainty in a 1970s murder . What Republicans needed to say: Most observable leader of [the] criminal defence bar.

Fred Headon

Assistant general counsel, labor and employment law, Air Canada, Montreal, Que. As chairman of the Canadian Bar Association's Futures Initiative, Headon has given over 25 presentations to attorneys, law students, professors, librarians, law firm personnel, and regulators from Toronto to Buenos Aires, Victoria to Halifax, in person and online. The Futures report has been released in August 2014 and its recommendations place Headon squarely in the middle of many vital discussions on subjects essential to the profession. He continues to direct the Futures steering committee because it now turns its guidelines into action. Headon is an integral component of the discussion on the future of this profession and he was the first in-house counselor to become the president of this CBA. What voters had to say: Brings energy and decency and the smarts to everything he does.