Top Lawyers In Canada

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 up discussion on mental health within the legal community such as never before. While there's a deep-rooted stigma against mental illness eased by a dominance of type A personalities, Da Silva's brave leadership has helped develop specialized support programs for attorneys who struggle in silence. As if that wasn't sufficient, Da Silva has gone one step farther and asked attorneys to call him if they require assistance. His supporters underline that Da Silva's efforts are critical in a business that encourages bravado and frequently mistakes mental illness to get a personal weakness. What voters had to say: Mr. Da Silva's bravery in grounding increasingly recognized mental health issues in the legal profession in his personal experience will advance these concerns among lawyers and cause positive ends.

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 related to health, police accountability, drug coverage, and homelessness, poverty, and gender workers' rights. She might be best known for her part in the Bedford situation, however, Pivot is about more than that and often has intervener status in major Supreme Court of Canada cases, including the current one on required minimums. She is also gifted at bringing on board highly admired counsel to work pro bono on a number of these cases that can definitely affect the lives of a number of the city, and nation 's, most vulnerable citizens. What Republicans needed to say: Unbelievable devotion to social justice at each level with keen passionate intelligence. She's helped alter draconian legislation that endanger the lives of sex trade workers and restore dignity to people who have been marginalized.

Pascale Fournier

Professor & study seat, legal pluralism and comparative law, University of Ottawa Faculty of Law, Ottawa, Ont. Fournier has achieved international fame for her groundbreaking work on sex, faith, and the legislation, using fieldwork interviews with women from several countries to highlight the complex interplay between religious and secular law. She has received numerous national and global awards and nominations in 2014. Fournier became a fellow of the prestigious International Women's Forum because of her role as a leader 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 in the Governor General's Canadian Leadership Conference and was unanimously appointed by the National Assembly of Quebec into the Quebec Human Rights and Youth Rights Commission. What Republicans needed to say: Outstanding thoughts, according [to] Harvard's Prof. Kennedy.

Murray Klippenstein

Founder, Klippensteins Barristers & Solicitors, Toronto, Ont. Back for the next year on the Top 25, Klippenstein's continuing representation of 13 members of this indigenous Mayan Q'eqchi' population from El Estor, Guatemala, continues to make waves. Three associated suits are before the Ontario courts against Canadian mining firm Hudbay Minerals over the brutal killing of Adolfo Ich and the gang rape of 11 girls from Lote Ocho. In a precedent-setting ruling in July of 2013, an Ontario court determined that lawsuits can proceed to trial in Canada over the objections of Hudbay Minerals. At home he is also taking on the big guys in a case against Encana Corp. which 's challenging the law and practice of hydraulic fracking in Canada. What voters had to say: Kudos for standing up for, upholding Canadian values, wherever we operate.

Poonam Puri

Professor, Osgoode Hall Law School, Toronto, Ont. Though Puri may not be involved in the largest transactions of this year or most publicized litigation, her work indelibly contours the arguments and strategies of many attorneys. Her influence is reflected by the eagerness of the Canadian legal community to listen and respond to her perspectives and observations on the current state of the law and recommendations regarding what can be done to develop a more honest, just, and responsive legal system. She has led research programs including important company securities regulation initiatives in Canada (National Securities Regulator file) and has been appointed by the Ontario Minister of Finance Charles Sousa, as the expert adviser for the Credit Unions' legislative framework review. She is a respected and popular professor and highly recognized by professionals in the corporate-commercial bar. What voters had to say: Exceptional talent. Unassuming trendsetter. Wise beyond her years. Will be an influence for many years to come on the corporate stage in Canada. Outstanding research and practical capabilities.

Alice Woolley

Professor and associate dean-academic, University of Calgary Faculty of Law, Calgary, Alta. Woolley is a true changemaker in the area of technology and law in addition to 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 problems team member is truly making a mark in the legal community. Woolley is also 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 practical elements of legal instruction and will come into effect in September. What Republicans needed to say: top expert on legal profession and ethics; once she talks, people listen. Alice is a pragmatic visionary. Educating law students in a means that will prepare them for a 21st century clinic is of crucial importance to the future of our profession.