After over 10,000 votes and a pool of 177 nominees, Queen’s Law alumni feature prominently in Canadian Lawyer’s list of Canada’s top 25 legal influencers.

As the magazine says, a Top 25 designation is “a level of respect, the ability to influence public opinion and to help shape the laws of this country and others; contribution to the strength and quality of legal services; involvement and impact within the justice community; and social and political influence and involvement.”

Which Queen’s Law alumni made this list?

Esi Codjoe, Law’03: Vice Chairwoman, Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario

Esi Codjoe, Law'03, with Queen's Law alumna Leah Thompson, Law'17, and student Tiye Traore, Law'19, at a 2017 event.
Esi Codjoe, Law'03, with Queen's Law alumna Leah Thompson, Law'17, and student Tiye Traore, Law'19, at a 2017 event.

Described as “an outstanding lawyer, mentor and tribunal member that is having a significant and positive impact on human rights in Canada,” Codjoe has an impressive track record of adjudication and involvement with the human rights community. Her decisions include a case in which a landlord harassed an elderly tenant, TST-59122-15 (Re); access to health records in  O’Brien v. Toronto Transit Commission; a dismissed claim on being fired due to being homosexual in Szego v. Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation. Her work includes the promotion of racialized and black lawyers, as well as a history of mentorship for women of colour and being a key force behind the the Canadian Association of Black Lawyers.

 

Frank Walwyn, Law’93: Partner, WeirFoulds

Frank Walwyn, Law'93, on top of the world -- and the WierFoulds building -- for a 2016 photoshoot in Queen's Law Reports.
Frank Walwyn, Law'93, on top of the world -- and the WierFoulds building -- for a 2016 photoshoot in Queen's Law Reports.

The first black lawyer – and partner – at WeirFoulds, and “a true and conscientious advocate who devotes an enormous amount of time to assist disenfranchised persons and racialized lawyers,” Walwyn is first in the Canadian Lawyer Corporate Commercial category in 2018. His work with WeirFoulds involves taking on challenging cases from both Canada and the Caribbean; Walwyn also devotes considerable time advocating for an increase in the number of minorities in law – a commitment he has backed as one of the key contributors to the Queen’s Law Robert Sutherland Fellowship in Law. Walwyn is also a key member of the Queen’s Law Dean’s Council, and has sat on the Judicial Appointments Advisory Committee of the Ontario Court of Justice since 2009.

The Honorable Thomas Cromwell, Law’76, LLD’10: Senior Counsel, Borden Ladner Gervais LLP

Cromwell speaks to a rapt audience of students at a visit to Queen's Law in 2017.
Justice Cromwell speaks to a rapt audience of students at a visit to Queen's Law in 2017.

 

From the Supreme Court to tireless advocacy for access to justice, Justice Cromwell’s voice is being heard across Canada at conferences, on podcasts and lectures at schools like Queen’s Law. “Tom Cromwell excels at everything he does. Having had an outstanding career as an academic and jurist, he is now leading efforts meaningfully to reform access to justice in Canada. Access to justice is something that a lot of lawyers like to talk about, but Tom is trying assiduously to make it happen,” said one voter in the Canadian Lawyer poll. A frequent visitor to Queen’s Law, Justice Cromwell generously givies his time to the school and students with extended visits. The school has previously honoured him with an award in his name for outstanding service to the public as a government lawyer, public service lawyer or member of the judiciary.

 

Congratulations to all winners!