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18 www.canadianlawyermag.com TOP 25 MOST INFLUENTIAL LAWYERS 2021 BEING NAMED one of Canadian Lawyer's Top 25 Most Influential Lawyers high- lights the critical and considerable work jurists have done in the last 18 months. This year, that's a noteworthy timeframe, as it reflects how long the world has been deeply MAKING A MARK ON THE LEGAL PROFESSION IN TURBULENT TIMES IN PRAISE OF THE TOP MOST INFLUENTIAL: Associations. Nominees were put in the cate- gory in which the individual most recently exercised their influence, which might differ from their primary practice area. Inclusion in the Top 25 is not a recog- nition of lifetime achievement. It's all about the recent ability to influence public opinion and to help shape the laws of this country and others, contribute to the strength and quality of legal services, involvement and impact within the justice community, and social and political influ- ence and involvement. One very positive feature of this year's list, as has happened for the last several years: Canadian Lawyer did not make editorial choices to shift the composition of our winners to make the list more diverse and inclusive. It speaks to the strides the Canadian legal profession has made in this regard and that our readers cast their votes to reflect that diversity. Excelling at their practice while serving the wider community Virtually all of those named as Top 25 Most Influential this year managed to combine a tremendous workload at their "day jobs" while giving back in full force to the legal and broader community. immersed in the COVID-19 pandemic. The Top 25 is split into five areas of influence with five winners in each of the following categories: Business; In House; Changemakers; Human Rights, Advocacy and Criminal; and Government/Non-profits/ Retired Justice Rosalie Abella's work at the SCC will stand the test of time. Her commitment to our justice system will be influential and inspirational to the profession for years to come. Eva Bellissimo is an outstanding business advisor and an empathetic and compassionate counsel — an important quality that is often overlooked in business law. Karine Grand'Maison: Her tireless work to ensure Canadians have timely access to Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine was an invaluable service to the country this year. Éloïse Gratton: She provided valuable and strategic advice to our organization when we were managing a massive cyberattack last year. Joseph Hillier: Great to have smart lawyers involved in serving the community. Arleen Huggins: Always looking to make change for the better of our society. Elliot Pobjoy is a changemaker, diplomat and committed to using legal expertise to help change the world — and he lives out his values in an inspiring way! SPECIAL REPORT