Best Lawyers In Canada In 2018

Pascal Paradis

Executive director, Lawyers Without Borders Canada, Quebec City, Que. Back for his second time on the Top 25, Paradis is a unstoppable force and a passionate advocate for human rights, particularly for women and kids. As a result of Paradis' initiative, the Quebec bar joined LWBC to act 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 foster justice. They aim to execute means of prevention and reconciliation for women victims of sexual violence 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 at a large federal law firm to head LWBC for quite a compact paycheque since he followed his heart and his passion.

Poonam Puri

Professor, Osgoode Hall Law School, Toronto, Ont. Though Puri might not be involved in the largest transactions of the year or most publicized lawsuit, her work indelibly contours the disagreements and strategies of several lawyers. Her influence is represented by the eagerness of the Canadian legal community to listen and respond to her perspectives and observations on the current state of regulations and recommendations concerning what can be done in order to develop a more fair, just, and responsive legal system. She has directed research plans including important corporate securities law initiatives in Canada (National Securities Regulator file) and has been recently appointed by the Ontario Minister of Finance Charles Sousa, as the expert adviser for the Credit Unions' legislative framework review. She's a popular and respected professor and highly regarded by practitioners in the corporate-commercial pub. What voters had to say: Exceptional talent. Unassuming trendsetter. Wise beyond her years. Will be an impact for several years to come on the corporate stage in Canada. Outstanding research and practical capabilities.

Lorne Waldman

Waldman & Associates, Toronto, Ont. Waldman is a great defender of refugees, immigrants, and human rights. He's won a number of important victories, including health care for refugees in Canadian nurses for Refugee Care v. Canada and a woman's right to wear the niqab whilst producing her citizenship oath in Ishaq v. Canada together with his associate Naseem Mithoowani. He also contended at the Supreme Court of Canada in 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 from the Harkat case prior to the SCC in 2014. On the global stage, he symbolizes Mohamed Fahmy (alongside 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 reminded us all, particularly today, to preserve democracy and to maintain the rule of law.

Jean-Pierre Blais

Chairman, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, Ottawa-Gatineau Blais is not scared of criticism and is willing to go above and beyond in the name of consumer rights. A new CRTC decision provides users more freedom to select TV channels of the liking as part of their satellite and cable subscriptions regardless of bitter opposition from Canada's cable companies. Blais called out former Bell Media president Kevin Crull, without naming names, over reports Crull told CTV news staff to not interview him after that decision. Crull ended up apologizing for interfering in the information gathering process and later stepped down. From telemarketers to telcos, Blais always intends to encourage the rights and demands of consumers. What Republicans needed to say: Reaching big shift with consumer-minded focus. About time!

Marie Henein

Old partner, Henein Hutchison LLP, Toronto, Ont. Considered one of Canada's greatest criminal defence attorneys, Henein is known for representing high-profile customers such as former CBC radio host Jian Ghomeshi -- charged with seven counts of sexual assault, of which two have already been dropped -- former Ontario attorney general Michael Bryant, and junior hockey coach David Frost. Most recently Henein has taken on the case of defence counsel colleague Leora Shemesh, who was charged with perjury and obstruction of justice by Peel Police. Henein is well-known in the profession as a go-to lawyer for all high-profile criminal matters. She's a superb history of wins versus losses and was a part of the group that recently was victorious in getting John Salmon's certainty in a 1970s murder overturned. What Republicans needed to say: Most visible leader of [the] criminal defence bar.

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 given more than 25 presentations to attorneys, law students, professors, librarians, law firm staff, and regulators from Toronto to Buenos Aires, Victoria to Halifax, in person and online. The Futures report was released in August 2014 and its recommendations place Headon squarely in the midst of several vital discussions on topics crucial to the profession. He continues to lead the Futures steering committee as it now turns its recommendations into actions. Headon is an essential component of the debate about the future of the profession and he was the very first in-house counselor to eventually become the president of this CBA. What voters had to say: Brings energy and decency and the smarts to what he does.