Nominations open today for Canadian Law Awards celebrating nation’s best law firms, deals, lawyers

Top Canadian legal talent will be recognized across 23 categories

Nominations open today for Canadian Law Awards celebrating nation’s best law firms, deals, lawyers

Lexpert’s and Canadian Lawyer’s long-standing tradition of recognizing excellence in the legal profession continues, with the nomination process for the Canadian Law Awards launching today.

Building on the success of the three previous events (virtual and in-person) held since 2020, the annual Canadian Law Awards are returning to celebrate the nation’s outstanding law firms, in-house legal teams, individuals, deals and cases.  

The 2023 event, hosted by Lexpert, and supported by Canadian Lawyer and InHouse, will acknowledge the legal profession’s achievements over the past year and recognize those who went above and beyond in their commitment and contributions to the sector. It’s the perfect chance to acknowledge great work and look to the future. 

Nominations can be submitted for all categories on the Canadian Law Awards website until just before midnight on Feb. 3, 2023. Our external advisory panel of esteemed legal practitioners will spend many hours reading the large volume of detailed submissions and casting votes for those nominated. PwC – The official ballot accountants –will also verify the score tallies.

“The Canadian Law Awards represent the pinnacle of peer and industry recognition,” says George Cooper, KC, one of this year’s judges and Chief Executive Officer at Cox & Palmer in New Brunswick, who is. “It is an honour to participate.” 

Lorne O’Reilly, KC, lead counsel at Dow Canada says he consider it “a privilege” to review the Canadian Law Awards submissions, “which describe the exceptional legal work performed across Canada and the legal leaders who endeavour to make their organizations and their communities better.”  He adds he is “grateful to be involved in learning about and celebrating the stories of each nominee’s challenges and successes.”

Among the 23 categories are those focusing on the achievements of law firms over the past year, including:

  • Capital Markets Deal of the Year
  • Infrastructure & Projects Deal of the Year
  •  Insolvency & Restructuring Deal of the Year
  •  M&A Deal of the Year
  • Mid-Market Deal of the Year
  • Commercial Litigation Team of the Year
  • Banking & Financial Services Law Department of the Year
  • Construction, Infrastructure & Transportation Law Department of the Year
  • Canadian Law Department of the Year
  • Law Department Leader of the Year
  • Law Department Innovation Award
  • IP Boutique Law Firm
  • Litigation & Dispute Resolution Boutique Law Firm of the Year
  • The LEAP Legal Software Award for Family Law Firm of the Year
  • Boutique Law Firm of the Year
  • Best Use of Technology in a Law Firm
  • Regional Law Firm of the Year
  • Litigator of the Year
  • Managing Partner of the Year
  • Pro Bono Initiative of the Year
  • Diversity Initiative of the Year
  • Female Trailblazer of the Year (In-House Counsel/Private Practice)
  • The Lincoln Alexander School of Law Award for Shaping the Future

Finalists will be announced as Excellence Awardees in Lexpert and Canadian Lawyer in March (non-deal categories) and April (deal-related categories). Winners will be announced at the gala event in Toronto on May 11. The finalists and award winners will also receive extensive profile-raising media coverage across Lexpert, Canadian Lawyer and InHouse.

We would also like to thank confirmed 2023 awards sponsors, including event partner LEAP Legal Software (Canada); award sponsors Lexis Nexis, Lincoln Alexander School of Law at Toronto Metropolitan University and Singleton Urquhart Reynolds Vogel LLP;  and media partners the South Asian Bar Association of Toronto and Women General Counsel of Canada

“It is an honour to bestow the LEAP Legal Software Family Law Firm of the Year Award at the upcoming 2023 Canadian Law Awards,” says Malcolm Muthulingum, Chief Executive Officer at LEAP Legal Software Canada. “We are proud to partner with Key Media in supporting the 2023 Canadian Law Awards, where the best achievements in the legal profession are recognized.”

Donna Young, founding dean of the Lincoln Alexander law school says “we are delighted to celebrate excellence in the legal profession at the Canadian Law Awards and proud to present the Lincoln Alexander School of Law Award for Shaping the Future. This award recognizes a law firm that demonstrates the values of innovation, inclusion, and access to justice – values, Young says, “that our namesake staunchly upheld throughout his life, and which are deeply rooted in our law school’s vision."

And Co-Managing Partner Bruce Reynolds at Singleton Reynolds says: “As leaders in construction law, we are proud to support and celebrate outstanding in-house legal teams in construction, infrastructure and transportation.”

For sponsorship opportunities, contact [email protected]

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