Top Lawyers In Canada In 2020

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 contributed more than 25 presentations to lawyers, law students, professors, librarians, law firm personnel, and regulators in 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 middle of several important discussions on topics crucial to the profession. He continues to direct the Futures steering committee because it now turns its recommendations into actions. Headon is an essential part of the discussion on the future of the profession and he had been the first in-house counsel to eventually become the president of this CBA. What voters had to say: Brings energy and decency and the smarts to what he does.

Frank Iacobucci

Senior counsel, Torys LLP, Toronto, Ont. This heated justice has set the bar for authorities treatment of the mentally ill. His 2014 landmark report outlined 84 sound ways of helping to prevent shooting of mentally ill people by the Toronto Police. The implementation of this report would go a long way toward preventing catastrophic confrontations between police and emotionally disturbed individuals. A few of the recommendations include using body-worn cameras and optimized use of tasers. The report is a strong message that the status quo is no more okay. As a Torys counselor, Iacobucci is accustomed to advising government and business on important legal and policy issues. What voters had to say: Has anybody actually done more? and Energetic, not ceases.

Orlando Da Silva

President, Ontario Bar Association, Toronto, Ont. Da Silva's heartfelt public confession of a long and profound depression and attempted suicide has opened discussion on mental health over the legal community such as never before. While there's a deep-rooted stigma against mental illness facilitated by a dominance of type A personalities, Da Silva's brave leadership has helped create technical support programs for lawyers who battle in silence. As if that wasn't enough, Da Silva has gone one step further and asked lawyers to call him if they require assistance. His fans emphasise that Da Silva's efforts are critical in a business that encourages bravado and frequently mistakes mental illness for an individual weakness. What voters had to say: Mr. Da Silva's bravery in grounding increasingly acknowledged mental health problems in the legal profession within their personal experience will advance these issues among attorneys and lead to positive ends, immigration agency near me.

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 native Mayan Q'eqchi' inhabitants from El Estor, Guatemala, continues to make waves. Three associated lawsuits are before the Ontario courts against Canadian mining company Hudbay Minerals within the brutal killing of Adolfo Ich along with the gang rape of 11 women from Lote Ocho. In a precedent-setting ruling in July of 2013, an Ontario court decided that lawsuits can proceed to trial in Canada over the objections of Hudbay Minerals. At home he's also taking on the big guys in a situation against Encana Corp. that's challenging the law and practice of hydraulic fracking at Canada. What Republicans needed to say: Kudos for standing up for, upholding Canadian values, wherever we operate.