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26 www.canadianlawyermag.com TOP 25 MOST INFLUENTIAL LAWYERS 2024 criminal and securities litigation cases, professional regulation, and complex civil matters with criminal aspects from his Vancouver office. "My father came to Canada in 1976. He was a lawyer in Hoshiarpur, Punjab, but at the time, there was no mechanism by which to have his Indian law degree recog- nized," he says. "He eventually became one of the first Punjabi-origin notaries public in British Columbia. His office was in the Punjabi Market in South Vancouver, where he and my mother worked together." Narwal tethers his approach to law and his career to the experiences of his father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, which began in 1906 when his great-grandfather arrived in BC. Inspired by the Ghadar movement, Na r w a l 's g r e at - g ra n d f at h e r r e t u r n e d to Punjab to fight against British rule and became one of five Jathedars of the Babbar-Akali independence movement. He served six years in British jails for various political offences. His grandfather came to BC when he was 13, possibly becoming the province's first Punjabi-Sikh union delegate. In the 1950s, he led a delegation to Ottawa for high-level political meetings to advocate for the easing of racist immigration restrictions. "The narratives of resistance and resil- ience in my family history laid the founda- tions for my perspectives and, ultimately, the type of practice I have built, which involves representing individuals and enti- ties against the awe-inspiring machinery of the state and its institutions," says Narwal. One of his peers notes, "Joven does outstanding work protecting individuals' rights and freedoms. On top of this, he is one of the kindest, most compas- sionate, intelligent, and tenacious people I have known." Narwal has made significant impacts in and outside the courtroom, including: market-leading modern law firm, accom- plishing the following: • Enabling the firm to grow from 40 to 115 lawyers, expanding from a single office to six offices in Ontario and satellite offices in New York City and Buffalo, with additional acquisitions in the works for 2024 • Leading the integration of 22 lawyers and over 50 professionals from Macdonald Sager LLP and five lawyers and 10 professionals from Feige Nawrocki LLP • Receiving the Adjunct Professor of the Year award in 2023 at TMU Law School, where he teaches courses on corporate law, finance, and the innovative Busi- ness of Lawyering, which delves into law firm management, culture, law firm economics, mental health, EDI, and career management Outside his firm, Ritchie takes great pride in helping young lawyers navigate the first few critical years through the Business of Lawyering course he developed. "After teaching the class for four years, I'm seeing students who are now in their first and second years as associates within firms," he says. "The class has aged well, and they're beginning to have key insights hit home. This is my most meaningful impact within the profession, helping each cohort gain foresight and make their early law firm experience more enjoyable and rewarding." Ritchie's strategic vision, business acumen, and boundless energy stand the law firm in good stead for future pros- perity. Since taking the helm in 2017, he has brought in a top-tier professional management team that he empowers. "I've created a zone of safety for them to make little missteps and push their limits," he says. "This allows the team to be more creative, leading them to do things differently than traditional law firms, and that has attracted talent and clients because we have a different vibe and approach to the marketplace." He emphasizes that he views everyone as a potential mentor or role model. "I tend to think of myself as being situated within a community of mentors, and if you wake up every day and be helpful, genuine, and honest with these people, you end up with this self-reinforcing circle of mentor- ship and trust," he adds. Joven Narwal, KC – Most Influential Criminal Lawyer Partner at Narwal Litigation LLP A desire to realize his father's unfulfilled dream of becoming a lawyer in Canada spurred Nar wal to begin his journey, leading to his prominence as a trial and appellate lawyer. He handles high-stakes "We are in this profession together, and I believe that supporting each other strengthens us, enhances our collective integrity and our ability to serve the public" Joven Narwal, KC, Narwal Litigation LLP SPECIAL REPORT