Canadian Lawyer’s top 25 Most Influential in the justice system and legal profession in Canada is now in its eighth year. The Top 25 is always the magazine’s most-read and most-commented-on feature. Its popularity — both in terms of the number of nominations we receive as well as the number of votes in the public poll — highlights the engagement and pride in their colleagues that lawyers, judges and others in the legal profession have.
The magazine received more than 200 nominations, which the internal panel whittled down to 168 candidates who met the criteria.
Voting was opened and nearly 10,000 — 9,552 — people voted and commented on those whom they thought made their mark over the past 18 months. The final list of 25 honourees is based on that poll with input and the last word from the Canadian Lawyer editorial panel.
We are pleased to announce that Adam Wagman was selected in the Changemaker category for his leadership as President of the Ontario Trial Lawyers Association (OTLA). Over the past year, there has been an unprecedented amount of media attention, and Law Society action, in the area of personal injury law.
- As president of OTLA, Adam was the lead advocate for changes to the rules for advertising and marketing, referral fees and contingency fees.
- He oversaw the dissemination of the new OTLA Code, the Code of Conduct for personal injury lawyers, which is intended to increase the level of professionalism for trial lawyers across the province.
- He has been a strong advocate for access to justice, including being very vocal about the need for the government to fill judicial vacancies.
- Adam has been on the forefront of advocating for change to Ontario’s auto insurance laws, improvements to the new process for resolving benefits disputes at the recently created LAT tribunal and changes to the rules around insurance examinations.
The Top 25 Most Influential is not a lifetime achievement award but recognition of lawyers who have played a significant role in the legal profession. It’s about people who have power and influence the laws, justice system, and legal profession in Canada and abroad today.
What voters had to say:
“Adam carried himself with grace through a very difficult year for plaintiff personal injury lawyers. He continuously demonstrates leadership and professionalism and is the epitome of what it means to be an advocate.”
To read the full article, visit this link.
