Best Lawyers In Canada

Rocco Galati

Rocco Galati Law Firm PC, Toronto, Ont. Rocco Galati is famous because of its one-man resistance to the current authorities, so much spending $42,000 of his own money on court challenges. He launched a situation that blocked Stephen Harper's appointment of Justice Marc Nadon to the Supreme Court of Canada. His opposition to the appointment of Federal Court of Appeal Justice Robert Mainville into the Quebec Court of Appeal was not as Profitable. While he doesn't win, Galati is dogged in his attempts to defend the Constitution against a government he sees pushing the boundaries using too little respect for the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. He's now also been chosen as bencher of the Law Society of Upper Canada and it will be interesting to see what he brings to the regulation of this profession.What voters had to say: An authentic Canadian constitutional and human rights enthusiast, go to gklaw.ca.

Marie Henein

Old partner, Henein Hutchison LLP, Toronto, Ont. Considered one of Canada's best criminal defence lawyers, Henein is notorious for representing high-profile customers such as former CBC radio host Jian Ghomeshi -- charged with seven counts of sexual assault, of which two have already been dropped -- former Ontario attorney general Michael Bryant, and junior hockey trainer David Frost. Most recently Henein has taken on the event of defence counsel colleague Leora Shemesh, who had been charged with perjury and obstruction of justice by Peel Police. Henein is well known in the profession as a go-to attorney for most high-profile criminal issues. She has a superb track record of wins versus losses and has been a part of the group that recently was successful in getting John Salmon's conviction in a 1970s murder overturned. What Republicans needed to say: Most visible leader of [the] criminal defence bar.

Jean-Pierre Blais

Chairman, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, Ottawa-Gatineau Blais isn't afraid of criticism and is willing to go above and beyond in the name of customer rights. A recent CRTC decision will give users more freedom to choose TV stations of their liking as part of the cable and satellite subscriptions regardless of bitter opposition from Canada's cable businesses. Blais called out former Bell Media president Kevin Crull, without naming names, over reports Crull told CTV news personnel to not interview him later that choice. Crull ended up apologizing for interfering in the news gathering process and later resigned. From telemarketers to telcos, Blais consistently intends to encourage the rights and needs of customers. What Republicans needed to say: Reaching big shift with consumer-minded focus. About time!

Dennis Edney and Nate Whitling

Defence counsel, Edmonton, Alta. In a rare move, Edney and Whitling have been named as Best 25 honourees as a group. Both have spent more than a decade advocating for Omar Khadr, nearly universally on a pro bono basis. From Guantanamo Bay to the Supreme Court of Canada (three times), the unlikely duo have fought for Khadr to have him released from prison (victory in May), have him treated as a child soldier, and otherwise continue to battle for his legal rights at home and overseas. It's been exactly what the Globe and Mail called waging a war of legal attrition against the government, which has consistently done everything to paint Khadr as a dangerous terrorist who must be kept behind bars. Edney, a former football player who only started practising law in 40, has been the general public and press face of the continuing legal battles, even taking Khadr into his home after he was recently released on bail. Whitling, a Harvard law graduate and former SCC clerk, is a much quieter and reserved force behind the scenes. What voters had to say: Dennis has gone above and beyond the call of duty in his defence of Omar Khadr. The nobility of the profession depends on lawyers like Dennis as we're occasionally called upon to defend unpopular entities or people -- but people who are not as deserving of natural justice and procedural fairness. Whitling is an intelligent and highly effective advocate who stays out of the limelight. He is a fantastic lawyer. Exceptionally smart and excellent to use.