Top Lawyers In Canada

Dawn Devoe

General counsel, World Vision Canada, Toronto, Ont. Devoe is World Vision's primary legal adviser for its Child for Sale advocacy campaign aimed at ending child labor and human trafficking. As lead counsel for the Canadian negotiations regarding World Vision's partnership with the United Nations World Food Programme, she has represented the organization in global partnership meetings in South Africa, Kenya, and the Philippines. This partnership accounts for more than $30 million of annual food aid programmed through World Vision Canada. With projects in almost 100 countries across the globe, Devoe oversees a busy legal division and has managed to remain nimble and flexible. What Republicans needed to say: Amazing lawyer and individual. She not only has a passion for the legislation, but also cares deeply for others and demonstrates that in her job. Outstanding legal counsel, very creative problem solver, capable to integrate legal and taxation legislation into a beneficial remedy to most parties.

Dennis Edney and Nate Whitling

Defence counsel, Edmonton, Alta. In a rare move, Edney and Whitling have been named as Top 25 honourees as a group. Both have spent more than a decade recommending for Omar Khadr, nearly universally on a pro bono basis. From Guantanamo Bay to the Supreme Court of Canada (three times), the improbable duo have fought for Khadr to have him released from prison (victory in May), have him treated as a child soldier, and continue to fight for his lawful rights at home and abroad. It's been exactly what the Globe and Mail called waging a war of legal attrition against the government, that has consistently done everything to paint Khadr as a dangerous terrorist who must be kept behind bars. Edney, a former soccer player who just started practising law in 40, has been the general public and press face of the continuing legal conflicts, even taking Khadr to his home after he had been recently released on bail. Whitling, a Harvard law grad and former SCC clerk, is a much more quiet and reserved drive behind the scenes. What voters had to say: Dennis has gone above and beyond the call of duty in his defence of Omar Khadr. The nobility of our profession is dependent on lawyers like Dennis as we are occasionally called on to defend unpopular people or entities -- but people who are no less deserving of natural justice and procedural fairness. Whitling is a intelligent and highly effective advocate who remains out of the limelight. He is a fantastic lawyer. Exceptionally smart and excellent to use.

Justice Murray Sinclair

Chairman, Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Winnipeg, Man. An uncommon write-in candidate winner for this year's Top 25, Sinclair was among the record last year, making headlines in June with the launch of the summary of the report of the TRC and 94 recommendations to remedy the cultural genocide of Canada's residential school program. Over six decades, Sinclair directed the TRC hearing the stories 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 in which he became associate leader in 1988 and then elevated to the Court of Queen's Bench in 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 expects to complete the commission's full report in the near future, following which he will decide whether to go back to retire or court and advocate for indigenous rights fulltime.

Frank Iacobucci

Senior counsel, Torys LLP, Toronto, Ont. This retired justice has set the bar for authorities treatment of the mentally ill. His 2014 milestone report outlined 84 sound methods of helping prevent shooting of mentally ill people by the Toronto Police. The execution of this report would go a long way toward avoiding disastrous confrontations between police and emotionally disturbed individuals. A few of the recommendations include the use of body-worn cameras and enhanced use of tasers. The report is a strong message that the status quo is no more okay. As a Torys counselor, Iacobucci is accustomed to advising government and company on important legal and policy issues. What voters had to say: Has anybody really done more? and Energetic, not stops.