Top Lawyers In Canada In 2020

Justice Beverley McLachlin

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

Fred Headon

Assistant general counsel, labour and employment law, Air Canada, Montreal, Que. As chairman of the Canadian Bar Association's Futures Initiative, Headon has contributed more than 25 presentations to lawyers, law professors, professors, librarians, law firm staff, and labs from Toronto to Buenos Aires, Victoria to Halifax, in person and online. The Futures report has been released in August 2014 and its recommendations put Headon squarely in the midst of several vital discussions on subjects crucial to the profession. He continues to lead the Futures steering committee because it now turns its guidelines into action. Headon is an essential component of the discussion on the future of the profession and he was the first in-house counselor to eventually become the president of the CBA. What voters had to say: Brings energy and decency and the smarts to what he does.

Orlando Da Silva

President, Ontario Bar Association, Toronto, Ont. Da Silva's heartfelt public confession of a very long and deep depression and attempted suicide has opened discussion on mental health over the legal community such as never before. While there is a deep-rooted stigma against mental illness facilitated by a dominance of type A personalities, Da Silva's courageous leadership has helped create technical support programs for lawyers who battle in silence. Like that was not sufficient, Da Silva has gone one step farther and asked attorneys to call him if they require assistance. His supporters emphasise that Da Silva's efforts are crucial in a business that encourages bravado and frequently mistakes mental illness to get an individual weakness. What Republicans needed to say: Mr. Da Silva's bravery in grounding increasingly acknowledged mental health issues in the legal profession within their personal expertise will advance these issues among lawyers and lead to positive ends.

Wayne Myles

Counsel, Cox & Palmer, St. John's, N.L. Myles' recent claim to fame is the $3-billion international merger of Barbados-based Columbus International Inc. with England-based Cable & Wireless Communications PLC.. His M&A experience, combined with his dedicated client connections, have not only led to the greatest deal in the telecommunications company's history, but revealed that major foreign deals are being deftly managed by an Atlantic Canadian law firm. He also 's also acted as lead counsel and strategic adviser on numerous acquisitions, licensing, and financing of many subsea and terrestrial telecommunications companies in the global seafood processing and marketing industry. Myles also advised on aviation matters, on many domestic and international commercial bankruptcy and restructuring jobs and on power and transport matters. What Republicans needed to state:[An] outstanding attorney with global vision. Massive asset to any trade.

Pascal Paradis

Executive manager, Lawyers Without Borders Canada, Quebec City, Que. Back for his second time around the Best 25, Paradis is an unstoppable force and a passionate advocate for human rights, especially for women and kids. Thanks to Paradis' initiative, the Quebec bar joined LWBC to act as international counsel in favour of Raif Badawi, the Saudi blogger condemned to jail and flogging for his comments criticizing the plan. Since January 2015, Paradis and LWBC are leading a consortium of Canadian organizations working to get a wide-range five-year job to boost justice. They aim to execute means of prevention and reconciliation for women victims of sexual violence and other individuals affected by the Malian armed conflict. He also speaks at several international conferences on human rights issues. What Republicans needed to say: He has left an extremely profitable position at a large national law firm to head LWBC for quite a compact paycheque since he followed his heart and his enthusiasm.

Mark Tamminga

Partner, Gowling Lafleur Henderson LLP, Hamilton, Ont. Tamminga has devoted his career to automating lawful practices. His information technologies focus began in 1986 while he was a law student and was given the job of systemizing the production environment for mortgage files. Ever since that time, Tamminga's aptitude for legal technology has only grown with Gowlings LLP. Three years back, he had been called Gowlings' Innovation Initiatives leader. He's in charge of automating the Gowlings recovery solutions clinic. He's designed and built lots of further training systems in the fields of debt collection, loan positioning, and civil litigation. His role has demanded re-thinking the thornier aspects of large firm operations: managing cultural change, inducing client-side believing, and building the reimbursement mechanisms, which induce new behaviour. Exactly what the panel had to say: Tamminga has shown actual vision in tackling tough issues that many law firms aren't quite prepared to take on.