Members of Canada's legal community came together to celebrate outstanding lawyers 40 and under
After being named Lexpert Rising Stars on Tuesday evening, the 2024 winners of the annual awards reflected on what the achievement means to them.
The winners – lawyers 40 and under who have made outstanding contributions to the legal profession thus far – came from some of Canada’s biggest law firms, but also smaller firms, legal departments, and organizations.
For Shelan Markus, executive director of justice education and human rights charity Level Justice, being named a Rising Star affirmed the importance of the charity’s mission.
“To win this award is just to know that the legal community really cares about these issues,” Markus says.
“As a charitable organization, we're always looking for ways to gain that type of credibility, and so winning this award means that we'll be recognized in front of other law firms whom we could potentially partner with,” Markus says. She adds, “Hopefully, that means growth for our organization and just general growth for access to justice in this country.”
Andrew Porter, who launched Porter Litigation in June after more than 11 years at litigation boutique Lenczner Slaght LLP, says the award was representative of the support he’s received from his colleagues and the bar in general as he branches out on his own.
He attributes the achievement to “a combination of working well with other people and working well even with my opponents,” which has put him in a position “where they're going to support you when you come up for recognition.”
Natasha Rana, a partner at Gowling WLG, says her award is “a testament to not only the hard work that you do as a lawyer but the work that you do beyond the borders of your billable work.
“It speaks to the fact that giving back to your community matters, the time you put into mentorship matters, and just being a well-rounded person that pays it forward pays off.”
More than 465 attendees came together on Tuesday to celebrate the award recipients at Toronto’s Liberty Grand. Many of the award recipients called attention to the mentorship and support they’ve received during their careers.
“I think having the benefit of people that have shattered ceilings before me, reaching out an arm and helping me make it forward has really made all the difference,” Rana says. “I don't think anyone that wins this award does it on their own.”
Olivia Dixon, a partner at Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP, noted “the wonderful mentorship I have received from particularly the senior women in my firm. They’ve been such a wonderful source of support.”
This year’s Rising Stars were selected by a panel of legal experts who scored nominees based on a range of criteria. Damilola “Dami” Katibi, senior counsel at Vale Canada Limited who served as one a judge for the 2024 awards, says the nominees “were all very impressive to begin with, so I had to look at something a bit more.”
In cases where nominees “had done exceptional work [both] in the office and outside of the office, that gave me an opportunity to… streamline to certain individuals.”
Lexpert magazine presented Tuesday’s awards with support from Law Times and Canadian Lawyer. Key Media extends a warm thank you to Event Partner Dye & Durham, Supporting Organization SABA Toronto, Silver Sponsors Norton Rose Fulbright LLP and Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP, and Lexpert’s advisory panel for their support.
Frank Di Liso, chief financial officer at Dye & Durham, says the company sponsored the awards “because we really take pride in the up-and-coming lawyers in Canada.
“Their contribution to society beyond their law practice is really important to us,” Di Liso adds. “As a legal tech firm in the industry, we’ll continue to work side by side with these great future stars of Canada.”
