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SPECIAL REPORT 22 www.canadianlawyermag.com YOUNG INFLUENCERS AARONDEEP (AARON) S. BAINS Toronto Associate, Aird & Berlis LLP Aaron Bains, as president of the South Asian Bar Association-Toronto, spends a good amount of time promoting diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. Bains focuses on issues impacting minorities, such as judicial diversity and discriminatory legislation and workplace practices. He regularly meets with stakeholders in the provincial and federal government and in the judiciary to discuss crucial issues affecting the justice system. With his support, the SABA has increased its presence across Canada, establishing additional chapters in Calgary and Edmonton. He assisted in forming a partnership with the Queen's University Innovation Centre, where he regularly gives lectures. He also plays an important role in the program advisory committee for Ryerson University's Faculty of Law, which seeks to approach legal education in a manner that redefines the practice of law. He is a member of the capital markets and venture finance groups of Aird & Berlis, where he works to fully understand his clients' needs so that he can help them properly structure their transactions. YOUNG INFLUENCERS ATRISHA LEWIS Toronto Senior Associate, McCarthy Tétrault LLP Atrisha Lewis is a social justice advocate who sits on the board of Central Neighbourhood House, a settlement house that has been serving Toronto communities for more than a decade. As a point person on the board's merger committee, she helped in closing the merger between Central Neighbourhood House and Neighbourhood Link. In 2019, she became one of the youngest benchers ever elected to the Law Society of Ontario. She is also vice chairperson of the law society's equity and Indigenous affairs committee. Lexpert distinguished her as one of its Rising Stars: Leading Lawyers Under 40 for 2019. In 2018, CivicAction announced Lewis as one of the year's 25 new DiverseCity Fellows. She has consistently pushed for racial and gender diversity to be recognized as an asset both within her firm and within the broader legal profession. A member of the litigation group of McCarthy Tétrault, her litigation practice spans commercial disputes, intellectual property disputes and professional liability matters. As a lawyer, she prioritizes excellence, professionalism and integrity. The top vote getter in the Human Rights, Advocacy and Criminal category, Nader Hasan, has tackled issues such as the rights of Indigenous and racialized persons. The partner with Stockwoods LLP appeared before the Court of Appeal in R. v. Sharma, a case discussing the over-incarceration of Indigenous individuals. Other category winners this year demon- strated their influence and ability to set precedent. The Federal Court of Appeal's David Stratas, who topped the Government/ Non-profits/Associations category, is seen as one of the most influential judges sitting on an intermediate appellate court. His 2017 article titled The Canadian Law of Judicial Review: A Plea for Doctrinal Coherence and Consistency, called attention to the bene- fits of employing doctrinal clarity, unity and simplicity in judicial review. In the changemaker category, Vancouver's Lorne MacLean has acted in many cases that have had an impact on family law in British Columbia. As just one example, in Wang v. Jiang et al, 2020 BCSC 145, he obtained a six-month jail sentence against the respondent husband for contempt and perjury in order to protect his client, as well as family property worth $1.2 million, winning a lump sum spousal support of $800,000, child support of $12,666 per month and special costs amounting to $410,000. While only 25 of the incredible nominees can make the final list, every single one of them has had an impact, and their accom- plishments are many and varied — not to mention many of them done behind the scenes or on a pro bono or volunteer basis. It's these lawyers and judges from across Canada and many different areas of practice that uphold the greatest ideals of the profes- sion and are worthy of recognition. In the following pages, we present the Top 25 Most Influential for 2020. They are listed with the top vote getter in each category first, followed by the others in alphabetical order by last name. Want to add your own kudos? Disagree with the choices? Did we miss someone obvious? Email it to tim.wilbur@keymedia. com. We'll be doing it all again next year. TOP 25 MOST INFLUENTIAL