Canadian Lawyer

24 A U G U S T 2 0 1 6 w w w . C A N A D I A N L a w y e r m a g . c o m Ranjan Agarwal Partner, Bennett Jones LLP Toronto Last year, Agarwal was counsel for Pro Bono Law Ontario in the Supreme Court of Canada's decision in Hinse v. Canada (Attorney General) on the issue of indemnification for legal costs in private pro bono litigation. He is presi- dent of the South Asian Bar Association of Toronto, Canada's largest minority bar association and North America's largest South Asian bar association. He encourages legal leaders, judges, and policy-makers to think about diversity as integral to access to justice. Agarwal consistently calls for a more diverse bar and judiciary, saying it is fundamentally important to increasing public con- fidence in the justice system, especially among visible minority communities. Agarwal regularly acts for diversity-seeking groups in pro bono litigation. He is a member of the Ontario Bar Association's equality committee, where he is spearheading the initiative to gather diversity statistics from all CPD present- ers with a view to making it more reflective of the bar and the community. Agarwal is also an adjunct professor at the University of Toronto's Faculty of Law and regularly speaks on class actions, commercial litigation, employment, human rights, and constitutional law. Aimée Craft Assistant professor, University of Manitoba, Robson Hall Faculty of Law Winnipeg Craft is an emerging intellectual leader working on Anishinaabe and Canadi- an aboriginal law. Her research and advocacy work is grounded in valuing and living indigenous knowledge. Craft is currently doing research for the Anishi- naabe nibi inaakonigewin project, working with Anishinaabe elders to better understand legal principles relating to water. She has worked with aboriginal organizations to organize conferences, develop strategic litigation, deliver pub- lic education, and engage in advocacy initiatives. She also developed a strong working relationship with the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs. Her ongoing work on the Federal Court Liaison Committee on the development of practice guidelines for aboriginal law matters and oral history evidence has been an important and substantive contribution to Canadian law. What voters had to say: "Is an inspiration to all, with his tireless commitment to the law, including through many pro bono cases." "Amazing advocate on raising diversity in the law and access to justice." What voters had to say: "Helping our too-often neglected aboriginal nations." Young Infl uencers

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