Top Canadian Lawyers In 2020

Pascal Paradis

Executive director, Lawyers Without Borders Canada, Quebec City, Que. Back to his second time around the Top 25, Paradis is an unstoppable force and a passionate advocate for human rights, particularly for women and kids, car accident injury lawyer. As a result of Paradis' initiative, the Quebec bar joined LWBC to act as international counsel in favour of Raif Badawi, the Saudi blogger condemned to prison and flogging for his remarks criticizing the plan. 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 implement means of prevention and reconciliation for women victims of sexual violence and other individuals affected by the Malian armed battle. He also speaks at many international conferences on human rights problems. What voters had to say: He's left a very profitable position at a big federal law firm to head LWBC for a very compact paycheque since he followed his heart and his enthusiasm.

Justice David Stratas

Judge, Federal Court of Appeal, Ottawa, Ont. Stratas penned perhaps the very talked-about choice in the region of employment law this year. It'll affect federally regulated employers and workers for years 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. Prior to the decision, the consensus was the employees who are governed by the Canada Labour Code could be terminated for just cause. Many federally controlled organizations such as banks, telecommunications companies, and transportation companies see the choice that a success, because of its long-term consequences. The court needs to be a tie-breaker with this issue, composed Stratas. Because of its impact, Joseph Wilson filed for leave to appeal with the Supreme Court of Canada in late March. A choice on leave is impending. What Republicans needed to say: He is the best administrative law jurist of our age. The single one moving deep into doctrine, making sense of everything. Thoughtful, scholarly, practical, and so hard working. With respect to the past, it appears the instances that have a true impact from the Federal Court of Appeal are written by him. Plain talking decisions really hammer the important points home.

Louise Arbour

Counsel, Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, Montreal, Que. An global lawyer who has recently settled back in Canada, Arbour has earned a spot on the Canadian Lawyer's Top 25 Most Influential record again this year. She's a winner of the 2015 Simons Foundation Award, recognizing world leaders that form and create an environment for a safer and more just world. Arbour has spoken out against protracted use of solitary confinement and has been inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame. She has been a Supreme Court of Canada judge, an international war crimes prosecutor, and a law school professor. Her ability to pick things up quickly led her to various roles nationally and globally. 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 had never done: joined a law firm in Montreal where she continues to fight for human rights. What Republicans needed to say:Her magnificent contributions speak for themselves. International celebrity.

Rocco Galati

Rocco Galati Law Firm PC, Toronto, Ont. Rocco Galati is famous because of its one-man resistance to the current government, so far spending $42,000 of his own money on court challenges. He launched a case that blocked Stephen Harper's appointment of Justice Marc Nadon into the Supreme Court of Canada. His resistance to the appointment of Federal Court of Appeal Justice Robert Mainville to the Quebec Court of Appeal was not as Profitable. While he doesn't always win, Galati is dogged in his own efforts to defend the Constitution against a government he sees pushing the boundaries using a lack of respect to the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. He's now also been elected as bencher of the Law Society of Upper Canada and it'll be interesting to see what he brings to the regulation of this profession.What voters needed to say: An authentic Canadian constitutional and human rights hero.