Canadian Lawyer

w w w . C A N A D I A N L a w y e r m a g . c o m A U G U S T 2 0 1 8 31 THE TOP 25 MOST INFLUENTIAL HUMAN RIGHTS, ADVOCACY AND CRIMINAL Rosalie Abella Supreme Court of Canada Ottawa Rosalie Abella co-wrote the decision affirming that law societies are authorized to deny accreditation to Trinity Western University's proposed law school. The longest-serving and first Jewish woman appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada, Abella coined the term "employment equity" and has been fighting for equal- ity throughout her career. Earlier this year, she was elected to the American Philosophical Society, founded in 1743 by Benjamin Franklin, putting Abella in the company of Thomas Jefferson, Charles Darwin and Albert Einstein. She was the recipient of the Scotiabank Ethical Leadership award and is the recipient of the 2018 Lifetime Achievement Award by WILL. Abella received an honorary degree from Thompson Rivers University for expertise in human rights law and employment equity and was awarded the Calgary Peace Prize in 2017. Notable decisions that Abella wrote or co-wrote are R. v. Magoon (unlawful confinement, 2018), R. v. Jordan (court delays, 2017), Google Inc. v. Equustek Solutions Inc. (technology company bringing action against distributor for unlawful use and sale of its intellectual property through internet, 2017) and Teva Canada Ltd. v. TD Canada Trust (bank's defence against fraudulent cheque conversion, 2017). Esi Codjoe Vice chairwoman, Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario Toronto Esi Codjoe has adjudicated many human rights matters and has written important decisions, including: TST-59122- 15 (Re), in which a landlord was found to have harassed an elderly tenant; O'Brien v. Toronto Transit Commission, which involved access to health records; Szego v. Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation, in which a man's claim of having being fired for being heterosexual and thus contrary to human rights law was dismissed; and TSL-70014-16 (Re), where a disruptive tenant was evicted. She has an impressive track record coupled with extensive involvement within the legal community, including the promotion of racialized and black lawyers. Codjoe has also been quietly mentoring women of colour, and she has forged relationships with an impressive network of women who work in- house and in government agencies. Codjoe has been one of the voices and organizing forces of the Canadian Asso- ciation of Black Lawyers. She is instrumental in shaping and organizing CABL events and professional development sessions and bridges the gap within the black legal community. Codjoe is also a tireless and dedicated mentor and thoroughly involved in the Ontario Bar Association. WHAT VOTERS HAD TO SAY: "Esi Codjoe is an outstanding lawyer, mentor and tribunal member that is having a significant and positive impact on human rights in Canada." WHAT VOTERS HAD TO SAY: "Outstanding mind, lawyer and person." WHAT VOTERS HAD TO SAY: "There is no denying the massive influence of Rosie Abella on the Canadian legal system. Her vision of and thinking on administrative law and equality rights have profoundly shaped those areas of the law." "Consistently leads in the field of equity." Brian Greenspan Partner, Greenspan Humphrey Weinstein Toronto Brian Greenspan continues to play a significant role in Canadian criminal law as lead counsel on some of the country's most complex and controversial cases, including as: counsel to Patricia Sorbara in the precedent- setting Elections Act case in Sudbury, Ont., which resulted in a directed verdict of acquittal; lead counsel to Dan Potter in the "Knowledge House Prosecution," a complex stock manipulation case in Nova Scotia; counsel to Dr. Anthony Galea in discipline proceedings before the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario; and leading the independent investigation into the murders of Honey and Barry Sherman. Greenspan is defence counsel to Thunder Bay Mayor Keith Hobbs, who is charged with extortion, and Jeremy Diamond in his pro- fessional misconduct case with the Law Society of Ontario. In 2017, he represented Galea, the sports doctor of Tiger Woods, Alex Rodiguez and other sports stars, charged with providing them with banned drugs. Galea did not lose his medical licence, only receiving a nine-month suspension.

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