The 2026 cohort of winners was revealed at Toronto’s Liberty Grand on Thursday
At the Lexpert Rising Stars Awards on Thursday evening, this year’s cohort of winners took a moment to reflect on what motivates them to do outstanding work in an already-demanding field.
Each year, the Lexpert Rising Stars Awards celebrate lawyers aged 40 and under who have already made exceptional contributions to the legal profession.
See the complete list of winners here.
For Fraser MacLean, a partner at family law firm MacLean Law, the answer is getting results for clients.
“Family law, it’s an emotional area,” MacLean said shortly after his win, which was announced at a gala at Toronto’s Liberty Grand. “Not only does it combine advocacy, but a lot of compassion as well. Clients are going through some of the toughest times of their lives in family law, so it really motivates you to go the extra mile.”
Aaron Bains, a partner at Aird & Berlis LLP and co-leader of the firm’s venture finance group, said he’s motivated by the task of problem-solving.
“I love finding ways to help my clients solve the problems that they’re meeting,” Bains said, adding that problems are not always negative. “It can just mean growth,” he said.
This year’s winners came from a range of backgrounds, spanning institutions of different sizes and various practice areas.
Claire Truesdale, a partner at JFK Law, a firm that focuses on Aboriginal and Indigenous law and boasts fewer than 60 lawyers, said being honoured this year means a great deal to her because “it reflects the impact lawyers and smaller firms can have when they are dedicated to their work and the communities they serve.
“I have learned from my clients the importance of relationships and truly showing up in service to them,” Truesdale said. “It is only because of their determination that I have the privilege of doing this meaningful work.”
Kyla Lee of Acumen Law Corporation reflected, “As a criminal lawyer… we don’t often get recognized as litigators, so it’s nice to be up here and to be representing criminal law.”
Chuck Andary, interim chief executive officer and chief legal officer of the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority, noted that this was the last year he is eligible for a Lexpert Rising Stars Award. Andary oversees design, construction, and operations and maintenance at the Gordie Howe International Bridge between Windsor and Detroit.
“Lexpert is an organization that is well respected in the legal community,” he says. “It means a lot to get it, especially in this year [that was] personally and professionally transformative for me.”
For Emily Hamovitch, a partner at Goodmans LLP whose practice focuses on M&A and securities law, the night was special for several reasons. Receiving an award was the culmination of “a lot of years of hard work and dedication,” Hamovitch said.
She noted that it was also an opportunity to celebrate with loved ones. “It’s really special to be with my family and some of my fellow partners that I’ve worked with ever since I was a summer student,” she said. “To see them here to support me, and my family who has been with me through late nights and long days at work… It’s nice.
“It’s also so nice to see so many of my friends from law school or people that I worked with on other deals, and to be with other people in the community that I respect and love.”
This year’s winners weren’t the only ones in attendance. Justin Nasseri, partner and co-founder of Ross Nasseri LLP, received a Lexpert Rising Stars Award in 2022.
At Thursday’s awards ceremony, he returned as a presenter.
“Tonight I had the privilege of presenting, including to my law partner Eric Brousseau,” a partner at Ross Nasseri LLP, Nasseri said.
“I think this is such an important event and tradition from Lexpert because we have to celebrate the superstars that are carrying our profession forward, that are constantly evolving it, improving it, making it better, improving access to justice, and improving the quality and the service we give to our clients,” Nasseri said.
“That’s what this night is about, and it was great to take part in celebrating very worthy winners.”
Canadian Lawyer and Lexpert extend a warm thank you to the sponsors of this year’s Lexpert Rising Stars Award.
These include Gold Sponsors Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP, Norton Rose Fulbright, Torkin Manes LLP, Langlois Avocats, Ross Nasseri LLP, and McMillan LLP.
The awards would also not be possible without the generous support of our Silver Sponsor, Dye & Durham; our Associate Sponsors, Bovine Wine Club and Lawson Lundell LLP; our Red Carpet Sponsor, Paybilt; our Education Partners, Osgoode Hall Law School and York University; and our Experience Sponsor, Orient Retreat.
— with files from Branislav Urosevic
