Canadian Lawyer

T THE THIRD ANNUAL LIST OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL LAWYERS IN CANADA HAS SOME RETURNING FACES AND A NUMBER OF NEW ONES WHO HAVE MADE THEIR MARK OVER THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF. The popular Canadian Lawyer Top 25 Most Influential in the justice system and legal profession in Canada is back for the third year. The Top 25 was one of our most-read, and most commented-on, features in both 2010 and 2011. As expected, not everyone agrees with our choices, but it is always worth- while to get our readers into a debate on such matters. This year, we used the same format as in 2011 asking for nominations from legal groups and associations representing a variety of memberships and locations; winners on last year's Top 25 list; our general readership; and our internal panel of writers and editors. We received about 75 nominations, which the internal panel then whittled down to just over 50 candidates. We then posted the list online and once again asked our readers to participate, with just under 700 people voting in the poll. The final list is based on that poll with input and the last word from the internal panel. The Top 25 Most Influential is not just about bright stars, big deals, or number of media mentions — although those may play a part. We have endeavoured to select lawyers who have been influential within the profes- sion as well as Canadian society over the last 18 months. Closing a high-worth deal, for instance, doesn't necessarily have a big impact beyond that particular business or industry. The Top 25 is about a level of respect, the ability to influence public opinion, and help shape the laws of this country; contribution to the strength and quality of legal services; and social and political influence and involvement. It can include politicians and regulators who are lawyers. areas of influence, changing them slightly from last year, and have chosen the top five in each of: corporate-commercial law; change- makers; criminal and human rights law; government, associations, and non-profits including public inquiries and officers of Par- liament; and outliers, a catch-all category for anyone who's a lawyer and has been influential over the past 18 months but doesn't fit into the other categories. Nominees were put in the category in which the individual exercised their influence in the time period. Some of last year' Once again, we split the list up into five as law professor Alan Young, criminal lawyer Joseph Arvay, the University of Ottawa' s winners are back, such Geist, Nathalie Des Rosiers of the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, as well as Privacy Commis- sioner Jennifer Stoddart and outgoing Competi- tion Commissioner Melanie Aitken. This year' s Michael list also sees new movers and shakers including Alberta Premier Alison Redford, NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair, and a group of highly respected changemakers. We were also pleased this year to get a number of nominations from the aboriginal community with Rama, Ont., lawyer Dianne Corbiere making the list for her work in advocat- ing for the cause of First Nations. So without further ado, here are the 2012 Top s 25 Most Influential. They are listed with the top vote getter in each category first, followed by the others in alphabetical order. Disagree with the choices? Did we miss someone obvious? Post your feedback online or e-mail it to clb.cleditor@thomsonreuters.com. We'll be doing it all again next year. www.CANADIAN Lawyermag.com A U GUST 2012 25 arvay: reuters/ aNDy clark reDforD: reuters/toDD korol youNg: toroNto star /steve russell Mulcair: reuters/Blair gaBle Des rosiers : oNtario MiNistry of citizeNship aND iMMigratioN

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