Top Canadian Lawyers

Justice Ian Nordheimer

Judge, Ontario Supreme Court, Toronto, Ont. Nordheimer's name is becoming synonymous with class action suits largely because of his judgment, which overturned Justice Edward Belobaba's decision in a high-profile situation on carriage in the Barrick Gold class action lawsuit. Nordheimer given the losing coalition of law firms leave to appeal Belobaba's decision in the Divisional Court. He is likely the most influential Superior Court degree judge in the country with a decade on the bench and produces perhaps the best number of comprehensive judgments every year in comparison to some trial level judge. He's famous for his quick wit and sharp conclusions. In the last year, Nordheimer has made quite a splash in the legal community by upholding a professional field punishment for current LSUC bencher Joe Groia and releasing data that demonstrated Rob Ford was the topic of a police investigation.What that the panel had to say: He is the sort of judge that must be about the Court of Appeal... or greater. A judge of complete integrity.

Justice Murray Sinclair

Chairman, Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Winnipeg, Man. An uncommon write-in candidate winner with this year's Best 25, Sinclair was among the list this past year, making headlines again in June with the launch of the summary of the record of the TRC and 94 recommendations to remedy the cultural genocide of Canada's residential school program. Over six decades, Sinclair led the TRC hearing the stories of over 7,000 survivors of sexual, physical, and psychological abuse. Sinclair, that was the first aboriginal judge in Manitoba, was first appointed to the provincial court in which he became associate leader in 1988 and then raised to the Court of Queen's Bench at 2001. He had been co-commissioner of Manitoba's Aboriginal Justice Inquiry in 1988 and presided over a 2000 inquest into the deaths of 12 babies at Winnipeg's Health Sciences Centre. Sinclair hopes to finish the commission's complete report in the not too distant future, after which he will decide whether to go back to court or retire and advocate for indigenous rights fulltime.

Sara Cohen

Founder, Fertility Law Canada at D2Law LLP, Toronto, Ont. Cohen has devoted her career to two actions that have changed the practice of fertility legislation for the better in Canada and beyond. She has spent countless hours training and teaching on the field of fertility as a adjunct professor, at home and abroad. Her collegiality at a highly aggressive area of the law, truly underlines Cohen's dedication to enhancing the practice of fertility legislation. More importantly she pushes change she wishes to see in this burgeoning area of the law. Recent lobbying efforts are certain to pay off; among them to obtain coverage for in vitro fertilization services through Ontario's health program in addition to modifications to the family law legislation which would clarify that a sperm donor isn't a parent just by virtue of being a donor. Finally, she is the very first adjunct professor in the nation to give a course solely dedicated to reproductive regulation in Canada, helping clear the route for future area professionals. What Republicans needed to say: Sara has been instrumental in enhancing the law in assisted reproductive technology. Genuinely cares about her area of expertise. This isn't just a task for Sara, it's her passion.

Marie Henein

Senior spouse, Henein Hutchison LLP, Toronto, Ont. Considered one of Canada's best criminal defence lawyers, 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, along with junior hockey coach David Frost. Most recently Henein has taken on the event of defence counsel colleague Leora Shemesh, that was charged with perjury and obstruction of justice by Peel Police. Henein is well known in the profession as a go-to attorney for most high-profile criminal matters. She has an excellent history of wins versus losses and has been part of the team that recently was victorious in having John Salmon's certainty in a 1970s murder overturned. What voters had to say: Most observable leader of [the] criminal defence bar.

Lorne Waldman

Waldman & Associates, Toronto, Ont. Waldman is a great defender of refugees, immigrants, and human rights. He's won a number of significant victories, including healthcare for refugees in Canadian nurses for Refugee Care v. Canada along with a woman's right to wear the niqab whilst producing her citizenship oath in Ishaq v. Canada together with his partner Naseem Mithoowani. In addition, he argued at the Supreme Court of Canada in J.P. v. Canada and G.J. v. Canada, that Canada's anti-human smuggling provisions must 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 at 2014. On the global stage, he symbolizes Mohamed Fahmy (along with Amal Clooney), the Canadian journalist working for Al Jazeera. He has also been a vocal opponent of Bill C-51 and modifications to Canada's citizenship law. What Republicans needed to say: Lorne reminded us all, particularly today, to preserve democracy and to maintain the rule of law.