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OUTLIERS Douglas J. Black Vice chairman and senior counsel of Fraser Milner Casgrain LLP and chairman of the University of Calgary's board of governors, Calgary Douglas Black was elected by Albertans as one of three nominees for the Senate on April 23. His web site refers to him as "Doug Black, Senator in Waiting." An avid supporter of the arts, in his senate campaign, Black vowed to "be a voice for arts and culture" in Alberta and across Canada. His practice at FMC involves providing legal, policy, and strategic advice to governments and corporations. With a legal practice focused on corporate-commercial and energy law, Black is also president of the Energy Policy Institute of Canada, an industry body he helped found that's pushing for a national energy strategy. He has been active in conservative politics for nearly 40 years. Even though he likely won't get to sit in the Senate, Black told the Leduc Representative newspaper in April he was running because, "the Senate isn't democratic and I think changes need to be made." What the panel had to say: "His knowledge of energy policy and Canadian politics would serve Canadians well if Black ever got a chance to sit in the Senate." Chief Justice Robert Bauman Chief Justice, Supreme Court of British Columbia, Vancouver Chief Justice Robert Bauman authored the much-anticipated B.C. polygamy reference, and also took a strong stance on judicial independence when the provincial government launched its justice system modernization plan earlier this year. In a speech to the B.C. branch of the Canadian Bar Association last November, he warned that B.C.'s justice system is "threatened, if not in peril, to chronic underfunding from the government. He noted that many cases — some quite serious — are being thrown out, especially at the provincial court level, due to unreasonable delays. He also bemoaned cuts to the numbers of court clerks and other support services and called on lawyers to be ambassadors of the value of the legal system. " due What voters had to say: "His decisions have influenced the course of justice." www.CANADIAN Lawyermag.com A U GUST 2012 37 INFLUENTIAL MOST 25 TOP THE Black: BriaN harDer