Top Canadian Lawyers

President, Ontario Bar Association, Toronto, Ont. Da Silva's heartfelt public confession of a very long and deep depression and attempted suicide has opened discussion on mental health over the legal community such as never before. While there's a deep-rooted stigma against mental illness facilitated by a dominance of type A personalities, Da Silva's courageous leadership has helped develop technical support programs for lawyers who struggle in silence. Like that was not enough, Da Silva has gone one step further and asked lawyers to call him personally if they need support. His supporters emphasise that Da Silva's efforts are crucial in a business that promotes bravado and often mistakes mental illness to get a personal weakness. What voters had to say: Mr. Da Silva's bravery in grounding increasingly recognized mental health problems in the legal profession within their own personal expertise will crucially advance these issues among attorneys and cause positive ends.

Chairman, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, Ottawa-Gatineau Blais is not scared of criticism and is willing to go above and beyond in the name of customer rights. A recent CRTC decision will give users more freedom to choose TV stations of their liking as part of their cable and satellite subscriptions regardless of bitter opposition from Canada's cable businesses. Blais called out former Bell Media president Kevin Crull, without naming names, over reports Crull told CTV news personnel not to interview him later that choice. Crull ended up apologizing for interfering in the information gathering process and afterwards stepped down. From telemarketers to telcos, Blais consistently aims to encourage the rights and demands of consumers. What voters had to say: Achieving big change with consumer-minded focus. About time!

General counsel, World Vision Canada, Toronto, Ont. Devoe is World Vision's key legal advisor because of its No Child for Sale advocacy campaign aimed at stopping child labor and human trafficking. As lead counsel for the Canadian discussions 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 venture accounts for over $30 million of annual food aid programmed through World Vision Canada. With projects in nearly 100 nations across the world, Devoe oversees a busy legal division and has been able to remain flexible and nimble. What Republicans needed to say: Amazing lawyer and individual. She not only has a passion for the law, but also cares deeply for others and shows that in her job. Brilliant legal counsel, very inventive problem solver, capable to integrate legal and taxation laws into a beneficial remedy to most parties, canada immigration startup visa.

Creator, Fertility Law Canada at D2Law LLP, Toronto, Ont. Cohen has devoted her career to two actions that have changed the practice of fertility law for the greater in Canada and outside. She has spent countless hours training and teaching on the field of fertility as a adjunct professor, at home and abroad. Her collegiality in a highly aggressive area of the law, really underlines Cohen's dedication to improving the practice of fertility legislation. More importantly she pushes change she wishes to view in this burgeoning area of law. Current lobbying attempts are sure to repay; one of them to obtain coverage for in vitro fertilization services through Ontario's health program as well as changes to the family law legislation that would explain a sperm donor isn't a parent just by virtue of being a donor. Lastly, she's the first adjunct professor in the nation to offer a course exclusively devoted to reproductive regulation in Canada, helping clear the route for prospective area professionals. What voters had to say: Sara was instrumental in improving the legislation in assisted reproductive technology. Genuinely cares about her field of expertise. This isn't just a task for Sara, it is her passion.

Counsel, Cox & Palmer, St. John's, N.L. Myles' recent claim to fame is the $3-billion global merger of Barbados-based Columbus International Inc. with England-based Cable & Wireless Communications PLC.. His M&A expertise, combined with his dedicated client relationships, haven't only led to the greatest deal in the telecommunications firm 's history, but demonstrated that major foreign deals are being deftly handled by an Atlantic Canadian law firm. He's also acted as lead counsel and strategic advisor on numerous acquisitions, licensing, and funding of several subsea and terrestrial telecommunications businesses in the global fish processing and marketing industry. Myles also counseled on aviation issues, on many domestic and international commercial bankruptcy and restructuring jobs and on energy and transport matters. What voters had to say:[An] outstanding attorney with international vision. Massive advantage to any trade.

Rocco Galati Law Firm PC, Toronto, Ont. Rocco Galati is famed for being a one-man opposition to the current government, so much spending $42,000 of his money on court problems. He successfully launched a case that blocked Stephen Harper's appointment of Justice Marc Nadon to 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 too little respect for the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. He also 's now also been elected as bencher of the Law Society of Upper Canada and it will be interesting to see exactly what he brings to the regulation of this profession.What voters had to say: An authentic Canadian constitutional and individual rights hero.