Top Canadian Lawyers

Rocco Galati

Rocco Galati Law Firm PC, Toronto, Ont. Rocco Galati is famous because of its one-man opposition to the current government, so much spending $42,000 of his money on court challenges. He launched a situation that blocked Stephen Harper's appointment of Justice Marc Nadon to the Supreme Court of Canada. His opposition to the appointment of Federal Court of Appeal Justice Robert Mainville to the Quebec Court of Appeal was not as successful. While he doesn't win, Galati is dogged in his attempts to defend the Constitution against a government he sees as pushing the boundaries using too little respect for the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. He's now also been chosen because bencher of the Law Society of Upper Canada and it'll be interesting to see what he brings into the law of this profession.What voters needed to say: An authentic Canadian constitutional and individual rights hero.

Allison Dellandrea

Crown counsel, Ministry of the Attorney General,Toronto, Ont. Dellandrea has been a key player in advancing the understanding of crimes against children by law enforcement officials, fellow attorneys, and the judiciary. She had been involved in a child sexual abuse case in March where Ontario's former deputy education minister Ben Levin pleaded guilty to child pornography related fees. The fees included making composed child pornography, counseling a person to commit a sexual assault, and possession of child pornography. Dellandrea's role as a Crown includes being the instruction lead for Ontario's provincial strategy on Internet crimes against children. She's an instrumental leader in this region within the justice department. What Republicans needed to say: Allison is a tireless resource and is the penultimate legal mind for a prosecutorial position on all things associated with child abuse and sexual assault offences. For such a difficult subject that inherently entails quite 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.

Pascal Paradis

Executive manager, Lawyers Without Borders Canada, Quebec City, Que. Back to his second time around the Top 25, Paradis is a unstoppable force and also a fervent advocate for human rights, especially for women and kids. Thanks to 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 plan. Since January 2015, Paradis and LWBC are leading a consortium of Canadian organizations working on a wide-range five-year project to boost justice. They aim to implement means of prevention and reconciliation for women victims of sexual abuse and other individuals affected by the Malian armed conflict. He also discusses many international conferences on human rights problems. What voters had to say: He has left a very profitable position at a large national law firm to head LWBC for a very small paycheque because he followed his heart and his enthusiasm.

Louise Arbour

Counsel, Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, Montreal, Que. An international lawyer who has recently settled back in Canada, Arbour has earned a spot on the Canadian Lawyer's Top 25 Most Influential record again this season. She is a winner of the 2015 Simons Foundation Award, realizing world leaders who shape and create an environment for a 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 has 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 at the moment. Constantly craving fresh and challenging environments, only last year she finally did something she had never done: joined a law firm in Montreal where she proceeds to fight for individual rights. What Republicans needed to state:Her stunning contributions speak for themselves. International celebrity.

Marie Henein

Old partner, Henein Hutchison LLP, Toronto, Ont. Considered one of Canada's best criminal defence attorneys, Henein is known for representing high-profile customers including former CBC radio host Jian Ghomeshi -- charged with seven counts of sexual assault, of which two have been dropped -- former Ontario attorney general Michael Bryant, along with junior hockey trainer 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 lawyer for most high-profile criminal matters. She's an excellent history of wins versus losses and has been part of the team that recently was victorious in getting John Salmon's conviction in a 1970s murder . What Republicans needed to say: Most observable leader of [the] criminal defence bar.