Justice David Stratas
Judge, Federal Court of Appeal, Ottawa, Ont. Stratas penned perhaps the most talked-about decision in the region of employment law this year. It'll affect federally regulated companies and workers for a long time to come. His February Federal Court of Appeal decision in Wilson v. Atomic Energy of Canada flies in the face of 40 decades of legislation permitting federally regulated employers to dismiss employees without cause. Prior to the conclusion, the consensus was the workers who are regulated by the Canada Labour Code could only be terminated for just cause. Many federally controlled organizations including banks, telecommunications firms, and transport companies view the choice a victory, because of its long-term effects. The court has to be a tie-breaker with this problem, composed Stratas. As a result of its effect, Joseph Wilson registered for leave to appeal with the Supreme Court of Canada in late March. A decision on leave is impending. What voters had to say: He is the best administrative law jurist of the era. The single one moving deep into philosophy, making sense of it all. Thoughtful, scholarly, practical, and so hard working. With respect to the past, it appears the cases with a real impact from the Federal Court of Appeal are written by him. Plain talking decisions really hammer the important points home, go to https://gklaw.ca.
Murray Klippenstein
Creator, Klippensteins Barristers & Solicitors, Toronto, Ont. Back to the next year on the Top 25, Klippenstein's ongoing representation of 13 members of the indigenous Mayan Q'eqchi' population from El Estor, Guatemala, continues to make waves. Three related lawsuits are before the Ontario courts against Canadian mining company Hudbay Minerals over the brutal killing of Adolfo Ich along with the gang rape of 11 women from Lote Ocho. In a precedent-setting judgment in July of 2013, an Ontario court determined that lawsuits can proceed to trial in Canada over the objections of Hudbay Minerals. At home he is also taking on the big men in a situation against Encana Corp. that's challenging the regulation and practice of hydraulic fracking at Canada. What Republicans needed to say: Kudos for standing up for, upholding Canadian values, wherever we operate.
Fred Headon
Assistant general counsel, labor and employment law, Air Canada, Montreal, Que. As chairman of the Canadian Bar Association's Futures Initiative, Headon has given over 25 presentations to attorneys, law professors, professors, librarians, law firm personnel, and labs from Toronto to Buenos Aires, Victoria to Halifax, in person and online. The Futures report has been released in August 2014 and its recommendations put Headon squarely in the midst of several important discussions on topics crucial to the profession. He continues to direct the Futures steering committee as it now turns its recommendations into action. Headon is an integral part of the discussion on the future of this profession and he had been the first in-house counsel to eventually become the president of the CBA. What voters had to say: Brings energy and decency and the smarts to what he does.
Orlando Da Silva
President, Ontario Bar Association, Toronto, Ont. Da Silva's heartfelt public confession of a very long and profound depression and attempted suicide has started discussion on mental health within the legal community like never before. While there is a deep-rooted stigma against mental illness facilitated by a dominance of type A personalities, Da Silva's courageous leadership has helped create specialized support programs for lawyers who battle in silence. As if this was not enough, Da Silva has gone one step farther and asked attorneys to call him if they require support. His supporters emphasise that Da Silva's efforts are crucial in a business that encourages bravado and often mistakes mental illness to get a personal weakness. What Republicans needed to say: Mr. Da Silva's bravery in grounding increasingly acknowledged mental health issues in the legal profession within their personal experience will crucially advance these concerns among attorneys and lead to positive ends.