Best Lawyers In Canada In 2019

Dennis Edney and Nate Whitling

Defence counsel, Edmonton, Alta. In a rare move, Edney and Whitling are being termed as Best 25 honourees as a team. Both have spent more than a decade advocating for Omar Khadr, nearly universally on a pro bono basis. From Guantanamo Bay to the Supreme Court of Canada (three times), the unlikely duo have fought for Khadr to get him released from prison (success in May), have him treated as a child soldier, and otherwise continue to battle for his lawful rights at home and abroad. It's been exactly what the Globe and Mail called waging a war of legal attrition from the authorities, that has always done everything to paint Khadr as a dangerous terrorist who must be kept behind bars. Edney, a former soccer player who only started practising law at 40, has been the general public and press face of the continuing legal battles, even taking Khadr into his own home after he was recently released on bond. Whitling, a Harvard law graduate and former SCC clerk, is a far quieter and reserved drive behind the scenes. What voters had to say: Dennis has gone above and beyond the call of duty in his defence of Omar Khadr. The nobility of the profession depends on attorneys like Dennis as we are occasionally called on to defend unpopular people or entities -- but people who are no less deserving of natural justice and procedural fairness. Whitling is an smart and highly effective advocate who remains out of the limelight. He is a excellent lawyer. Exceptionally smart and excellent to work with, citizenship by investment canada here.

Frank Iacobucci

Senior counselor, Torys LLP, Toronto, Ont. This retired justice has set the bar for police treatment of the mentally ill. His 2014 landmark report outlined 84 sound methods of helping to prevent shooting of mentally ill people by the Toronto Police. The execution of this report would go a long way toward preventing catastrophic confrontations between police and emotionally disturbed individuals. Some of the recommendations include using body-worn cameras and enhanced use of tasers. The report is a powerful message that the status quo is no more acceptable. As a Torys counselor, Iacobucci is accustomed to advising government and company on important legal and policy issues. What voters had to say: Has anyone really done more? and Energetic, never ceases.

Alice Woolley

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

Pascal Paradis

Executive manager, Lawyers Without Borders Canada, Quebec City, Que. Also back to his second time on the Top 25, Paradis is an unstoppable force and also a passionate advocate for human rights, particularly for women and children. Thanks to Paradis' initiative, the Quebec bar joined LWBC to behave as global counsel in favour of Raif Badawi, the Saudi blogger condemned to jail and flogging for his remarks criticizing the regime. Since January 2015, Paradis and LWBC are leading a consortium of Canadian organizations working on a wide-range five-year job to foster justice. They aim to execute means of balancing and prevention for women victims of sexual abuse and other persons affected by the Malian armed conflict. He also discusses many international conferences on human rights problems. What Republicans needed to say: He's left an extremely profitable position in a big federal law firm to go LWBC for a very small paycheque since he followed his heart and his enthusiasm.

Justice David Stratas

Judge, Federal Court of Appeal, Ottawa, Ont. Stratas penned possibly the very talked-about decision in the area of employment legislation this year. It'll affect federally regulated companies and employees 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 years of legislation allowing federally regulated employers to dismiss employees without cause. Before the conclusion, the consensus was the employees who are governed by the Canada Labour Code could only be terminated for just cause. Many federally regulated organizations including banks, telecommunications companies, and transportation companies view the decision a victory, due to its long-term consequences. The court needs to be a tie-breaker with this problem, composed Stratas. Because of its effect, Joseph Wilson filed for leave to appeal with the Supreme Court of Canada in late March. A choice on leave is pending. What Republicans needed to say: He is the best administrative law jurist of the age. The only one moving deep into philosophy, making sense of it all. Thoughtful, scholarly, practical, and so hard working. Connected to the last, it appears the instances with a real effect from the Federal Court of Appeal are written by him. Plain speaking decisions actually hammer the essential points home.