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CORPORATE-COMMERCIAL LAW Justice Paul Perell Judge, Ontario Superior Court, Toronto Justice Paul Perell manages many of the most prominent class action files in the country and is shaping the field through his judgments, including a number of controversial decisions such as his recent order that a defendant must file a defence before the certification of a class action. His decisions have caused significant controversy among the class action bar but they are setting out guidelines that will affect the future of practice in this area in Canada for years to come and thus will also have a huge impact on the Canadian public and its ability to get relief through the Class Proceedings Act. What the panel had to say: "Whether you agree with his decisions or not, and many don't, Justice Perell is making big waves in the area of class action litigation." CHANGEMAKERS Laurie Pawlitza Partner, Torkin Manes LLP, and former treasurer, Law Society of Upper Canada, Toronto A family law lawyer, Laurie Pawlitza wrapped up her two-year stint as treasurer of the Law Society of Upper Canada in June — only the third woman to hold the position in the LSUC's 214-year history. She has been a bencher since 2003, and was a director of legal insurer LawPRO for five years. Her knowledge of the issues facing the legal profession runs deep and she has been instrumental in finally addressing the articling crisis in Ontario with the first meaningful step of putting together a task force and really starting a dialogue within the profession on how to fix the issue. As co-chairwoman of the law society's retention of women in private prac- tice project, she has also played a key role in launching the Justicia pro- gram and creating a variety of other support systems for women lawyers at firms of all sizes in order to help them continue their careers in private practice. What voters had to say: "She has been a breath of fresh air and has truly reinvigorated a moribund organization dominated for too long by staid, privileged white males." www.CANADIAN Lawyermag.com A U GUST 2012 29 paWlitza: saNDra straNgeMore INFLUENTIAL MOST 25 TOP THE