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24 www.canadianlawyermag.com TOP 25 MOST INFLUENTIAL LAWYERS 2026 Q&A with Yola Ventresca Lerners LLP, London, ON Q: What did the compensation and advance- ment structure look like before you revised it, and what specifically changed? A: Like most firms, our associate compen- sation, the base and the bonus program, was rooted firmly in traditional financial metrics: hours worked and numbers hit. I wanted to make sure the people doing the hard work of building our culture were rewarded for it, because that work isn't just a nice-to- have. It drives profitability, client attraction and retention, and associate retention and recruitment. So, the new structure allows that kind of work to be valued and rewarded alongside the traditional metrics. Q: You were retained to investigate allega- tions of sexual assault involving leadership. What does independence require in a situa- tion like that, and how do you protect it? A: I think about independence very differently depending on the mandate. As a workplace investigator, my role is to follow the evidence, not to serve the interests of the institution that provided me with the mandate. That distinction is essential. There's an impulse to want to do right by the institu- tion that retained you, and every investigator has to resist that and let the evidence lead. But the bigger challenge is independence from your own bias. The first step is recog- nizing you have it, then making sure you've been trained to set it aside and truly listen to the whole person giving evidence in front of you. Q: What resistance did you meet when you tried to formalize mentorship and revise advancement structures? A: I wouldn't call it resistance so much as principled debate, and I don't experience a different perspective as an attack on my leadership. The obvious question anywhere is what this does to the bottom line. That forced me to make the connection explicit, that culture and retention aren't a minus against SPECIAL REPORT IN PRAISE OF THE TOP 25 MOST INFLUENTIAL LAWYERS Amy Salyzyn University of Ottawa · Changemakers "A leader in the global dialogue on legal ethics and AI, and a truly great colleague to boot." Arun Krishnamurti Google Canada · In-house "Such a pleasure to work with, always available to help and provide sound, business- friendly advice." Brendon Pooran PooranLaw · Changemakers "A real champion for the challenged, an articulate advocate and an incredible human being." Christine Chen University Pension Plan Ontario · In-house "An exceptional role model in the legal industry. I feel very fortunate to be part of her team." Claudia Desjardins Bélisle Miller Thomson · Business "A force. She has accomplished more than most do over the course of their entire careers." Elizabeth Bowker Stieber Berlach LLP · Human rights, advocacy & criminal "Has set the gold standard for excellence across Canada's legal landscape." Farah Ismail SE Health · In-house "A visionary. Bringing to life a whole department is no small feat, and she did so graciously." Gideon Christian University of Calgary · Human rights, advocacy & criminal "A trailblazer in the intersection of law and artificial intelligence." Honourable Niki Sharma Deputy Premier and Attorney General of BC · Government, non-profits, associations & judiciary "A leader in equity-driven law reform." Justice Colin C.J. Feasby Alberta Court of King's Bench · Government, non-profits, associations & judiciary "Has quickly become one of Canada's most closely watched public law judges" Justice Michael Tulloch Court of Appeal for Ontario · Government, non-profits, associations & judiciary "He's a caring, balanced, wise, thoughtful person." Lorne O'Reilly, KC Dow Chemical Canada · In-house "Known for delivering tactical and innovative solutions that reduce liability while advancing business objectives." Martha Harrison McCarthy Tétrault LLP · Business "An inspiration and one of the biggest names in trade law in Canada."