Top Lawyers In Canada

Katrina Pacey

Executive director, Pivot Legal Society, Vancouver, B.C. Pacey was recently appointed executive director of Pivot Legal and continues the good work of her predecessors. Pivot focuses on topics associated with health, police liability, drug coverage, and homelessness, poverty, and sex workers' rights. She may be best known for her part in the Bedford situation, however, Pivot is more than that and frequently has intervener status in major Supreme Court of Canada cases, including the current one on mandatory minimums. She is also gifted at bringing on board highly respected counsel to work pro bono on many of these cases that may definitely affect the lives of a number of the town, and country's, most vulnerable citizens. What Republicans needed to say: Incredible devotion to social justice at each level with keen enthusiastic intelligence. She's helped change draconian legislation that endanger the lives of sex trade workers and restore dignity to individuals who've been marginalized, canadian immigration lawyer.

Lorne Waldman

Waldman & Associates, Toronto, Ont. Waldman is a great guardian of refugees, immigrants, and human rights. He's won a variety of significant victories, including health care for refugees in Canadian nurses for Refugee Care v. Canada along with a woman's right to wear the niqab while producing her citizenship oath in Ishaq v. Canada with his associate Naseem Mithoowani. In addition, he argued at the Supreme Court of Canada at J.P. v. Canada and G.J. v. Canada, that Canada's anti-human smuggling provisions should consist of asylum seekers participating in mutual aid. In addition to Peter Edelmann, he acted on behalf of the CBA in the Harkat case prior to the SCC in 2014. On the international stage, he represents Mohamed Fahmy (along with Amal Clooney), the Canadian journalist working for Al Jazeera. He's also been a vocal opponent of Bill C-51 and changes to Canada's citizenship legislation. What Republicans needed to say: Lorne educated us all, particularly now, to preserve democracy and to preserve the rule of law.

Pascal Paradis

Executive manager, Lawyers Without Borders Canada, Quebec City, Que. Back for his second time on the Top 25, Paradis is a unstoppable force and also a fervent advocate for human rights, particularly for women and kids. As a result of Paradis' initiative, the Quebec bar joined LWBC to behave as global counsel in favour of Raif Badawi, the Saudi blogger condemned to prison and flogging for his remarks criticizing the regime. Since January 2015, Paradis and LWBC are leading a consortium of Canadian organizations working to get a wide-range five-year project to boost justice. They plan to execute means of prevention and reconciliation for women victims of sexual violence and other individuals affected by the Malian armed battle. He also discusses many international conferences on human rights problems. What voters had to say: He's left a very profitable position in a large national law firm to go LWBC for a very compact paycheque because he followed his heart and his passion.

Louise Arbour

Counsel, Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, Montreal, Que. An global lawyer who has recently settled in Canada, Arbour has earned a spot on the Canadian Lawyer's Top 25 Most Influential list again this season. She's a winner of the 2015 Simons Foundation Award, realizing world leaders who shape and create an environment for a safer and more just world. Arbour has spoken out from prolonged use of solitary confinement and has been inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame. She has been a Supreme Court of Canada judge, an global war crimes prosecutor, and a law school professor. Her ability to pick things up quickly led her to different roles nationally and internationally. Arbour says economic disparities between and within counties is that the number-one inexcusable human rights issue at the moment. Constantly craving fresh and challenging surroundings, only last year she finally did something she hadn't ever done: joined a law firm in Montreal where she continues to struggle for human rights. What voters had to say:Her magnificent contributions speak for themselves. International superstar.