Sheila Block
Partner, Torys LLP, Toronto, Ont. One of the sharpest litigators in the nation, Block has served as lead counsel on a newly dismissed $5-billion class action lawsuit against CIBC and a $100-million lawsuit brought by roughly 8,000 residents of Barbados against Manulife. She was also staunch counsel for former Manitoba associate chief justice Lori Douglas from the inquiry of the judge's character in a scandal involving her deceased husband, one of his former customers, and salacious photographs of herself posted on the internet. Block also received an honorary LLD from the Law Society of Upper Canada this past year. An urge dedicated to teaching law in Canada and around the world, she's coached advocates for the United Nations War Crimes Tribunal in Rwanda and the Special Court on Sierra Leone. What Republicans needed to say: Elle demontre son interet a la fois pour l'schooling du publique et des affaires. (She has shown her fascination for the instruction of the public and company.)
Justice Ian Nordheimer
Judge, Ontario Supreme Court, Toronto, Ont. Nordheimer's name is becoming synonymous with class action suits largely due to his judgment, which overturned Justice Edward Belobaba's conclusion in a high-profile situation on carriage at the Barrick Gold class action lawsuit. Nordheimer granted the losing coalition of law firms leave to appeal Belobaba's decision at the Divisional Court. He is probably the most influential Superior Court level judge in the nation with a decade on the bench and produces perhaps the greatest number of thorough judgments every year compared to some trial level judge. He is known for his quick wit and sharp decisions. In the last year, Nordheimer has made quite a splash in the legal community by upholding a professional discipline penalty for present LSUC bencher Joe Groia and releasing information which demonstrated Rob Ford was the topic of a police investigation.What the panel had to say: He is the sort of judge who should be about the Court of Appeal... or higher. A judge of complete integrity.
Lorne Waldman
Waldman & Associates, Toronto, Ont. Waldman is a good guardian of refugees, immigrants, and human rights. He has won a number of important successes, such as healthcare for refugees in Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care v. Canada and a woman's best to wear the niqab while producing her citizenship oath at Ishaq v. Canada with his associate 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 include asylum seekers engaging in mutual aid. In addition to Peter Edelmann, he acted on behalf of the CBA from the Harkat case before the SCC in 2014. On the global 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 voters had to say: Lorne reminded us all, especially today, to preserve democracy and to preserve the rule of law, Criminal lawyer Toronto here.
Sara Cohen
Founder, Fertility Law Canada in D2Law LLP, Toronto, Ont. Cohen has devoted her career to two activities that have changed the practice of fertility legislation to the greater in Canada and outside. She has spent hundreds of hours training and teaching on the subject of fertility as an adjunct professor, at home and abroad. Her collegiality in a highly aggressive region of the law, really underlines Cohen's devotion to enhancing the practice of fertility legislation. More importantly she pushes for change she wishes to see in this burgeoning area of the law. Recent lobbying efforts are sure to pay off; one of them to obtain coverage for in vitro fertilization services through Ontario's health plan as well as modifications to the family law legislation which would clarify a sperm donor is not a parent just by virtue of being a donor. Finally, she's the very first adjunct professor in the nation to offer a course exclusively devoted to reproductive regulation in Canada, helping clear the route for future area professionals. What Republicans needed to say: Sara was instrumental in improving the law in assisted reproductive technologies. Genuinely cares about her field of expertise. This isn't simply a job for Sara, it's her passion.
Pascal Paradis
Executive director, Lawyers Without Borders Canada, Quebec City, Que. Also back to 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 act as international 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 to get a wide-range five-year job to boost justice. They plan to implement 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 has left an extremely profitable position at a large national law firm to head LWBC for a very small paycheque since he followed his heart and his enthusiasm.
