Of firms surveyed, 44 percent have formal pro bono targets this year
Canadian Lawyer has announced the 17 best law firms and legal departments in the country this year, chosen from among 33 nominees put forward by its editorial team and Pro Bono Ontario (PBO).
The fourth annual edition of the special report demonstrates that the 2026 winners have cemented pro bono legal work as a structural commitment rather than an occasional one.
The awardees have stood out among their peers due to their dedicated resources, leadership participation, and programs designed to last.
“The growing number of firms investing in formal pro bono structures signals strong potential for continued growth,” says Deb Templer, PBO board chair. “The challenge now is to extend these practices to more mid-size and boutique firms.”
Among the respondents to the 2026 survey, which analyzed four years of data:
- 92 percent reported that partners and C-suite executives personally engaged in pro bono legal work
- 78 percent confirmed their firms had formal mechanisms for sourcing and evaluating pro bono opportunities
- 44 percent of firms set formal pro bono targets in 2026, up from 15 percent in 2023
- 64.5 percent of firms had dedicated coordinator staff, compared with 55 percent in 2025 and 65 percent in 2023
“We consistently hear from clients, including those who were not successful in their litigation, that access to legal help reduced anxiety, clarified next steps, and helped them move forward with confidence,” says Kirsti Mathers McHenry, PBO executive director. “The human impact of being heard by a trusted lawyer cannot be overstated.”
Canadian Lawyer grouped this year’s best pro bono law firms in four categories: large, medium, and small firms, and in-house legal departments.
The editorial team and PBO reviewed the nominations. For each nominee, the team assessed the pro bono infrastructure, the participation of partners and senior lawyers, the treatment of pro bono hours within performance systems, and contributions to access-to-justice organizations.
Canadian Lawyer congratulates this year’s best pro bono law firms. See more information on the 2026 pro bono awardees. PBO proudly supported the report.
Large firms
- Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
- Borden Ladner Gervais LLP
- McCarthy Tétrault LLP
- Norton Rose Fulbright Canada
- Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP
Medium firms
- Adair Goldblatt Bieber LLP
- Hunter Litigation Chambers
- Lenczner Slaght LLP
- Paliare Roland Rosenberg Rothstein LLP
- Pink Larkin
- Russell Alexander Collaborative Family Lawyers
Small firms
- Law Office of Edward J. Kafka
- Ottawa District Injured Workers Group
- PooranLaw
Legal departments
- CIBC Legal Department
- Cisco Systems Canada Co.
- Sun Life
