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www.canadianlawyermag.com 1 EDITOR'S DESK UPFRONT www.canadianlawyermag.com EDITORIAL Editor-in-Chief Tim Wilbur Senior Editor Elizabeth Raymer Editor Zena Olijnyk Canada News Editor Aidan Macnab Production Editor Patricia Cancilla Writers Bernise Carolino, David Kitai CONTRIBUTORS Candace Salmon, Heather Suttie ART & PRODUCTION Art Director Marla Morelos Lead, Media Production Coordinator Catherine Giles Production Coordinator Kim Kandravy Global Production Manager Alicia Chin (on leave) SALES & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT VP, Media and Client Strategy Dane Taylor Sr. Business Development Manager Steffanie Munroe Business Development Manager Lynda Fenton National Account Executive Abhiram Prabhu CORPORATE President Tim Duce Events and Conference Manager Chris Davis Chief Information Officer Colin Chan Human Resources Manager Julia Bookallil Global CEO Mike Shipley Global COO George Walmsley EDITORIAL INQUIRIES tim.wilbur@keymedia.com SUBSCRIPTIONS Keith Fulford tel: 416 644 8740 ext 329 keith.fulford@keymedia.com ADVERTISING INQUIRIES legaladvertise@keymedia.com T he Top 25 Most Influential Lawyers is Canadian Lawyer's most popular feature of the year. However, this was clearly no ordinary year. Just as the seriousness of the COVID-19 pandemic hit Canada in March, we launched our call for nominations. At that time, lawyers were scrambling to shift their workplace away from the office. The economy — and the legal system — had ground to a halt. Most Canadians were focused on whether our health-care system was prepared for an influx of patients such as what Italy and China had experienced. While many nominations came in, we also received questions about this list: Will it proceed? Is it really an "essential service"? While we did extend the deadline and provided some flexibility in the format of nominations, we decided to proceed as we have for the past 10 years. After we received hundreds of nominations in April, we pared them back to 174 candidates that met our criteria. As the panic of the spring became the new pandemic reality in the summer, we presented the list to our readers to vote. It was not until the voting closed that we fully realized the heightened importance this survey took on during the pandemic. As lawyers were managing crises large and small, they were also isolated from their peers, with no events or office spaces in which to congregate. Highlighting the achievements of lawyers across the country took on a whole new meaning by creating community in isolation. The numbers back that up. With more than 19,000 votes, the Canadian legal community had spoken volumes about the importance of celebrating achieve- ments in a crisis. From collaboration between criminal lawyers and Crowns to keep justice moving during the pandemic to making spaces for a diversity of voices and perspectives as Black Lives Matters demonstrators filled the streets, winners emerged who represented the best of the profession. While awards and recognition are not the main motivators for these lawyers, lists such as the Top 25 allow their peers to cheer them on. During the pandemic, lawyers stepped up and connected with each from afar. In 2020, it became apparent just what an essential service this is. Tim Wilbur, Editor-in-Chief Why celebrating legal achievements is essential ISSUE 44.07 | SEPTEMBER 2020 Canadian Lawyer is published 10 times a year by HAB Press Limited. KEY MEDIA and the KEY MEDIA logo are trademarks of Key Media IP Limited, and used under license by HAB Press Limited. CANADIAN LAWYER is a trademark of HAB Press Limited. All rights reserved. Contents may not be reprinted without written permission. The opinions expressed in articles are not necessarily those of the publisher. Information presented is compiled from sources believed to be accurate, however, the publisher assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions. Canadian Lawyer disclaims any warranty as to the accuracy, completeness or currency of the contents of this publication and disclaims all liability in respect of the results of any action taken or not taken in reliance upon information in this publication. Publications Mail Agreement #41261516 ISSN 0703-2129 ©2020 GST/HST Registration #703184911RT001 RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESS TO: CIRCULATION DEPARTMENT 20 Duncan St., 3rd Floor, Toronto, ON, M5H 3G8 RETOURNER TOUTE CORRESPONDANCE NE POUVANT ÉTRE LIVREÉ AU CANADA AU SERVICE DES PUBLICATIONS 20 Duncan St., 3rd Floor, Toronto, ON, M5H 3G8 HAB Press Limited 20 Duncan St., 3rd Floor Toronto, Ontario M5H 3G8 tel: +1 416 644 8740 www.keymedia.com It was not until the voting closed that we fully realized the heightened importance this survey took on during the pandemic.