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Issue link: https://digital.canadianlawyermag.com/i/1547060
56 www.canadianlawyermag.com TOP LITIGATION LAW BOUTIQUES 2026 Q: Peers point to your breadth across appellate, administrative, and commer- cial litigation. How do you decide which matters to take on given that range? A: We have experts in all of those practice areas, which sets us apart from boutiques that are practice area-based. We take on work that's interesting and work that we think matters, and lawyers here can build practices they really hone and develop based on their own interests. We think that's how good advocates are made; appearing before different kinds of decision-makers really does enhance one's advocacy. We also have a number of institu- tional clients, universities, professional regula- tors, unions, whose challenges generate work in a lot of areas, and then we have a thriving commercial litigation practice as well, and both streams lead to appellate advocacy. Q: Pro bono work came up repeatedly in peer feedback about your firm. How does that commitment fit into the day- to-day practice here? A: Our commitment to pro bono is across the firm, from the most senior lawyers to our students. Some of it is very flashy. We act for the Canadian Civil Liberties Association on many cases at the appellate courts and the Supreme Court of Canada, but we also act pro bono on small consumer matters, and everything in between. Providing pro bono legal services has been a guiding force since the founding of the firm. Our founding partners and their mentors before then had such a strong commitment to pro bono. We view the prac- tice of law as a privilege, and with that priv- ilege comes the responsibility to contribute to the law by serving the needs of people who need advice and guidance, regardless of ability to pay. We know that pro bono work sharpens our skills, deepens our expertise, and makes us feel good to give back to the community using those skills. WHAT MAKES A TOP LITIGATION BOUTIQUE, IN RESPONDENTS' OWN WORDS The most frequently cited attributes across nomination comments in this year's survey Reputation, strategic thinking, and breadth of practice each appeared in roughly 6% of comments, with firm culture and collegiality close behind at 5%. Pro bono commitment and associate mentorship, while less frequently mentioned overall at 3% each, appeared disproportionately often in comments about firms with the longest track records in the survey. Source: Claude's thematic analysis of respondent nomination comments from Canadan Lawyer's Top Litigation Law Boutiques 2026 survey, keyword-coded by category across 234 comments. Percentages reflect share of commants mentioning each theme; a single comment may reference more than one theme. Not a scored survey matric. 1 Excellent lawyers, skilled team 11% 2 Track record, results 11% 3 Client service, responsiveness 10% 4 Trial and courtroom advocacy 9% 5 Bench strength, depth of talent 9% 6 Practical, cost-effective approach 6% 7 Reputation 6% 8 Strategic thinking 6% 9 Breadth of practice 6% 10 Firm culture, collegiality 5% 11 Pro bono commitment 3% 12 Associate mentorship 3% administrative law, commercial litigation practices, pro bono work, creative counsel who work collegially with each other and opposing counsel," says a respondent. Emily Lawrence, managing partner at Paliare Roland Rosenberg Rothstein in Toronto, spoke with CL about what has sustained that recognition. Q: Your firm has won recognition every survey cycle since 2012. What do you think has allowed that consistency in a field where boutiques often rise and fall? A: One, we have a real steadfast commitment to exceptional client service. Our collegiality is really something that sets us apart. We work together very well as a growing team, and we're known at the bar for our civility and our ability to collaborate with opposing counsel and co-counsel, which helps with a very strong referral network. And then we have this very deep bench of talent. We started as 18 lawyers in 2001, and we've worked very hard to find talented, bright students and associates, provide them with opportunities, and bring them up into the partnership. We're celebrating 25 years this year, and we have really talented people at basically every age and stage. SPECIAL REPORT