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24 www.canadianlawyermag.com TOP 25 MOST INFLUENTIAL LAWYERS 2022 the office of CBA president, has transcended legal circles. He recounts a Purolator courier who was also Indigenous, and who remarked while delivering a package to his office: "Are you Brad Regehr with the Canadian Bar Associa- tion? Because I've been reading about you, and I'm really impressed." While personal recognition is welcome, Regehr says his "priority is to implement the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action relating to the legal system." The CBA's continuing professional devel- opment program, The Path, which focuses on Indigenous and Crown history, has become the most successful program in CBA's history. "When I left the president's position in 2021, 3,600 people had signed up for it. I found out recently that the number is now up to 5,000," says Regehr. With a busy practice at Maurice Law in Winnipeg, Regehr has an Indigenous focus on administrative and aboriginal law. He is proud of how Indigenous commu- nity members have embraced his success. A member of Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation in Saskatchewan, he was "incredibly moved" when he was presented with a star blanket in a traditional ceremony soon after becoming CBA president. One of Gibson's innovations, which comes from his understanding of clients' needs, was to develop a system for independent and regular performance-oriented outreach to clients to ensure that Blakes was actively engaged in helping meet the evolving needs of clients. "It's all about taking the long view," Gibson says. "It's not just about a particular file, it's about building relationships, and providing consistency along with a prag- matic approach to meeting their needs for legal services." Gibson's influence also extends to advancing diversity and inclusion at Blakes, which has consistently been named a Best Diversity Employer under his leadership. As well, as a founding member of the 30% Club Advisory Committee, he helped persuade Canadian CEOs to commit to increasing gender representation on their boards to 30% or more. Stepping outside of the job Telling your own story, no matter how painful it is, can be influential in getting others to do the same. Erin Durant, one of the winners in the Changemakers category, worked for both Big Law and Small Town Law before setting up her own practice and has been outspoken about her mental health struggles, especially during the pandemic. The publication in January of her book It Burned Me All Down – an Amazon best- seller in categories related to the practice of law – is just one example of how Durant has impacted the profession. "I started speaking out about this during the pandemic – I saw so many people I knew and people on social media who were having a difficult time," she says. "I felt that sharing what I was going through publicly, given that I already had a bit of a profile, would be helpful to others." Durant also wants to raise awareness of the importance of legal representation, regardless of ability to pay, through her work with Pro-Bono Ontario. Her mentor is the late David W. Scott, a renowned trial and appellate lawyer and a champion of access to justice who passed away in 2019 at 83. "He was a very well known, influential lawyer. Anytime he had an opportunity to speak, he never made it about himself. He always used the opportunity to shine a light on a cause that was important to him. I try to follow in those footsteps," she says. Being a role model Regehr, the first Indigenous lawyer to hold "My goal is to remain true to myself and true to my goal of paying it forward" Kikelomo Lawal, CIBC "It's not just about a particular file, it's about building relationships, and providing consistency along with a pragmatic approach to meeting their needs for legal services" Brock Gibson, Blake Cassels & Graydon LLP SPECIAL REPORT