Best Lawyers In Canada

Justice Beverley McLachlin

Chief justice, Supreme Court of Canada, Ottawa, Ont. A frequent member of the Top 25 list and the top vote-getter in years ago, McLachlin continues to make waves, handing down two very significant conclusions on aboriginal law. The 2014 Tsilhqot'in Nation v. British Columbia decision led by McLachlin is the first of its kind in the history of British Columbia. This past year that the Supreme Court of Canada granted declaration 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) published in July 2014, she has what the Lamer court started and has left her mark in this region for decades to come. The chief justice is still a highly effective proponent of justice for all Canadians. As her incredible amount of votes once again this year show, McLachlin is greatly admired not just for her rulings but her public support in favour of free speech, diversity, and comprehensive leadership. What voters had to say: A brilliant judge that, time and time again, marries the law with common sense. Justifiably most respected legal mind in the country; outstanding integrity; reliable public servant; obviously guided by the law and also a strong ideology.

Alice Woolley

Professor and associate dean-academic, University of Calgary Faculty of Law, Calgary, Alta. Woolley is a true changemaker in the region of law and technology as well as law regulation. She has been a valuable member of the Canadian Bar Association's integrity and professional responsibility committee. Her work with the CBA Futures project as an ethics and regulatory issues team member is really making a mark in the legal community. Woolley is responsible for sweeping educational modifications as chairwoman of the committee that developed and embraced significant curricular changes at the University of Calgary's Faculty of Law, which focus on the technical elements of legal instruction and will come into effect in September. What voters had to say: top expert on legal profession and ethics; once she talks, people listen. Alice is a pragmatic visionary. Teaching law students in a means that will prepare them for a 21st century practice is of critical importance to the future of the profession.

Justice David Stratas

Judge, Federal Court of Appeal, Ottawa, Ont. Stratas penned perhaps the very talked-about decision in the region of employment legislation this year. It'll affect federally regulated companies and workers 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 permitting federally regulated employers to dismiss workers without cause. Prior to the decision, the consensus was that workers that are governed by the Canada Labour Code may only be terminated for just cause. Many federally controlled organizations such as banks, telecommunications firms, and transportation companies view the choice that a success, due to its long-term effects. The court has to be a tie-breaker with this issue, wrote Stratas. As a result 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 voters had to say: He is the best administrative law jurist of our age. The only one going deep into doctrine, making sense of everything. Thoughtful, scholarly, practical, and so hard working. Connected to the past, it appears the cases that have a real impact from the Federal Court of Appeal are composed by him. Plain speaking decisions really hammer the important points home.

Murray Klippenstein

Founder, Klippensteins Barristers & Solicitors, Toronto, Ont. Back for the second year on the Top 25, Klippenstein's ongoing representation of 13 members of the indigenous Mayan Q'eqchi' population from El Estor, Guatemala, continues to make waves. Three related suits are before the Ontario courts against Canadian mining company Hudbay Minerals within the brutal killing of Adolfo Ich and the gang rape of 11 women from Lote Ocho. In a precedent-setting ruling in July of 2013, an Ontario court determined that lawsuits could proceed to trial in Canada over the objections of Hudbay Minerals. At home he is also taking on the big guys in a situation against Encana Corp. which 's challenging the regulation and practice of hydraulic fracking at Canada. What Republicans needed to say: Kudos for standing up for, upholding Canadian values, where we function.

Orlando Da Silva

President, Ontario Bar Association, Toronto, Ont. Da Silva's heartfelt public confession of a very long and profound depression and attempted suicide has opened up discussion on mental health over 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 create specialized support programs for attorneys who battle in silence. Like this wasn't sufficient, Da Silva has gone one step farther and asked lawyers to call him personally if they require assistance. His supporters emphasise that Da Silva's efforts are critical in an industry that encourages bravado and often mistakes mental illness to get an individual weakness. What Republicans needed to say: Mr. Da Silva's bravery in grounding increasingly recognized mental health issues in the legal profession within their own personal expertise will advance these concerns among attorneys and lead to positive ends.