Canadian Lawyer

26 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 Ian Binnie Member arbitrator, Arbitration Place; and counsel, Lenczner Slaght Royce Smith Griffin LLP Toronto Binnie has not slowed down since retiring from the Supreme Court of Canada — in fact, if anything, his influence across the legal and public world continues to grow. In the past year, among many other high-profile engagements, Binnie was appointed as special arbitrator in the very public and controversial Senate expens- es investigation. His findings in that matter were released in March, stating, "I impute no bad motives to any of the senators" and reducing expenses owed in 10 of the 14 cases. In mid-June, the Senate decided to have a law firm review seven of the senators' cases to decide whether to launch further legal action. Binnie also continues to serve as chairman of the United Nations Internal Justice Council, where he is responsible for advising the UN General Assembly in its implementa- tion of the new UN Dispute Tribunal and Appeals Tribunal systems. As for his role at Lenczner Slaght, Binnie shares strategic and practical advice as well as his dispute resolution expertise with colleagues and clients. Government/Non-Profi t Catherine McKenna Minister of the Environment and Climate Change, MP for Ottawa Centre Ottawa In the spring, McKenna announced Canada would be ratifying the Paris Accord. Nearly 200 nations adopted the agreement, which calls on the world to collectively cut and eventually elimi- nate greenhouse gas pollution. She is working to reach agreements with each province on reducing carbon emissions and attempting to form a national plan to reduce levels going forward. McKenna, backed by a majority government with an environmental sustainability mandate, is the first envi- ronment minister to stand a chance of effecting real change. She is active on Twitter, connecting to a new audience about Canada's environmental initiatives. Before politics, McKenna was in-house counsel, worked in private practice, and was executive director of the Banff Forum. What voters had to say: "Whether through her work with the U.N. in Timor, here at home working with CREA, or now as Minister of Climate Change and the Environment, Minister McKenna demonstrates her diversity as a lawyer in her ability to move between commercial and trade law, as well as public policy. She embodies the collective responsibility the legal community has to do good for society." What voters had to say: "Unstoppable, great man." "His commitment to continue to have impact after such an impressive career is laudable." What voters had to say: "Intense and brilliant, dedicated, independent-minded." Justice Paul Perell Ontario Superior Court of Justice Toronto Perell is considered one of the most prodigious and active judges on the bench. He has written many influential decisions relating to: physician-assisted death; civil sexual assault where the plaintiff was a male — he dismissed the case; the Indian Residential Schools class action settlement — he ordered a claimant's file be destroyed after 15 years unless they consented to publication, and that decision was upheld by the Court of Appeal; numerous decisions to advance the development and operation of class action and mass litigation jurisprudence. His decisions and opinions are balanced, well thought out, and persuasive. Supporters call him the best class action judge in Canada with a keen sense of justice. CHRIS WATTIE / REUTERS

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