Orlando Da Silva
President, Ontario Bar Association, Toronto, Ont. Da Silva's heartfelt public confession of a long and deep depression and attempted suicide has opened discussion on mental health within the legal community like never before. While there is a deep-rooted stigma against mental illness eased by a dominance of type A personalities, Da Silva's courageous leadership has helped create technical support programs for attorneys who struggle in silence. As if that wasn't sufficient, Da Silva has gone one step further and asked lawyers to call him if they require assistance. His supporters underline that Da Silva's efforts are critical in an industry that encourages bravado and often mistakes mental illness for an individual weakness. What Republicans needed to say: Mr. Da Silva's bravery in grounding increasingly acknowledged mental health problems in the legal profession in his own personal experience will advance these concerns among attorneys and lead to positive ends.
Louise Arbour
Counsel, Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, Montreal, Que. An global lawyer who has recently settled back in Canada, Arbour has certainly earned a place on the Canadian Lawyer's Top 25 Most Influential list again this year. She's a winner of the 2015 Simons Foundation Award, realizing world leaders that form and create an environment for a much 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's been a Supreme Court of Canada judge, an global war crimes prosecutor, and a law school professor. Her ability to pick up things quickly led her into various roles nationally and internationally. Arbour says economic disparities between and within counties is that the number-one inexcusable human rights issue right now. Constantly craving new and challenging environments, just last year she eventually did something she hadn't ever done: joined a law firm in Montreal where she proceeds to fight for individual rights. What voters had to say:Her magnificent contributions speak for themselves. International superstar.
Alice Woolley
Professor and associate dean-academic, University of Calgary Faculty of Law, Calgary, Alta. Woolley is a true changemaker in the region of law and technology as well as law regulation. She has been a valuable member of the Canadian Bar Association's integrity and professional responsibility committee. Her job with the CBA Futures job as an ethics and regulatory problems team member is really making a mark at the legal community. Woolley is responsible for sweeping educational changes as chairwoman of the committee that developed and adopted significant curricular changes in the University of Calgary's Faculty of Law, which focus on the practical elements of legal instruction and will come into effect in September. What Republicans needed to say: Leading expert on legal profession and ethics; when she speaks, people listen. Alice is a visionary. Educating law students in a means that will prepare them for a 21st century practice is of critical importance to the future of our profession.
Murray Klippenstein
Creator, Klippensteins Barristers & Solicitors, Toronto, Ont. Back to the next year on the Top 25, Klippenstein's ongoing representation of 13 members of the indigenous Mayan Q'eqchi' inhabitants from El Estor, Guatemala, continues to make waves. Three related suits are before the Ontario courts against Canadian mining firm Hudbay Minerals within the brutal killing of Adolfo Ich along with the gang rape of 11 girls from Lote Ocho. In a precedent-setting judgment in July of 2013, an Ontario court determined that lawsuits could proceed to trial in Canada over the objections of Hudbay Minerals. At home he is also taking on the big men in a situation against Encana Corp. that's hard the law and practice of hydraulic fracking in Canada. What Republicans needed to say: Kudos for standing up for, upholding Canadian values, where we function.
Justice Murray Sinclair
Chairman, Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Winnipeg, Man. An uncommon write-in candidate winner for this season 's Best 25, Sinclair was among the record last year, making headlines in June with the launch of the overview of the report of the TRC along with 94 recommendations to remedy the cultural genocide of Canada's residential school program. Over six decades, Sinclair led the TRC hearing the tales of over 7,000 survivors of sexual, physical, and mental abuse. Sinclair, who had been the first aboriginal judge in Manitoba, was initially appointed to the provincial court where he became associate leader in 1988 and then raised to the Court of Queen's Bench in 2001. He was 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 expects to complete the commission's complete report in the not too distant future, following which he will decide whether to return to retire or court and advocate for indigenous rights fulltime.
Allison Dellandrea
Crown counsel, Ministry of the Attorney General,Toronto, Ont. Dellandrea was a key player in advancing the understanding of crimes against children by law enforcement officials, fellow lawyers, and the judiciary. She had been included in a child sexual abuse case in March where Ontario's former deputy education minister Ben Levin pleaded guilty to child pornography related charges. The fees included making written child pornography, counseling a person to commit a sexual assault, and possession of child pornography. Dellandrea's role as a Crown includes function as education lead for Ontario's provincial strategy on Internet crimes against children. She's an instrumental leader in this region within the justice section. What Republicans needed to say: Allison is a tireless resource and is the penultimate legal head to get a prosecutorial position on all things related to child exploitation and sexual assault offences. For this difficult subject that inherently entails very reckless emotional and legal issues, Allison always has time to offer sound advice to additional Crowns prosecuting these very difficult and sensitive offences. Her efforts have made a tangible difference in making our society safer.
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