TORONTO – Ontario’s civil litigation bar will converge on Toronto’s Ritz-Carlton Hotel on September 27 for the Ontario Bar Association (OBA) Award of Excellence in Civil Litigation Gala honouring this year’s award recipient, Bryan Finlay, Q.C.
"We receive many worthy nominations each year from the bar and the judiciary and choosing the nominee is always difficult,” said David Sterns, Chair of the Nomination and Selection Committee. “Mr. Finlay’s skill and contributions to the profession distinguished him as an example of all that the OBA Award for Excellence in Civil Litigation annually celebrates.”
A senior trial and appellate counsel appearing before all levels of the courts and tribunals, Bryan Finlay, Q.C., has practised continuously at WeirFoulds LLP in Toronto except for two years when he acted as special litigation counsel to the Federal Department of Justice. Mr. Finlay’s legal acumen includes being recognized as: one of “the most eminent and influential litigators," by The Best Lawyers in Canada, one of the 100 Most Creative Lawyers in Canada by Lexpert, one of the Leading 100 Canada/US Cross Border Litigators by Lexpert and Thompson-Carswell and one of the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada by Lexpert and American Lawyer Media.
Chris Jaglowitz, Chair of the OBA Civil Litigation Section, said, “Mr. Finlay is a distinguished member of our bar and is recognized here and abroad as a leading advocate. His finely-honed skills, together with his remarkable dedication to his profession and his clients, have afforded him a singular, sterling reputation.”
Finlay is the first recipient of the McMurtry Medal (2004) from Pro Bono Law Ontario for outstanding contribution to the delivery of pro bono legal services. He is also the founding chair of the Dickson Circle, a group of senior litigation lawyers dedicated to acting in significant cases as counsel (pro bono) on behalf of those with disabilities.
Being named in the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory; in The Best Lawyers in Canada (in six categories, including being one of 50 Bet-the-Company litigators from across Canada); in the International Who's Who of Commercial Litigators; in the PLC Global Counsel 3000; in the Chambers Global Guide to the World's Leading Lawyers; and in the Canadian Who's Who – add to his already long list of accomplishments.
Gala distinguished guests and speakers include: The Honourable John Gerretsen, Attorney General of Ontario; The Honourable Mr. Justice Thomas M. Cromwell, Supreme Court of Canada (keynote speaker); Former Chief Justice of Ontario and Senior Counsel at Gowling Lafleur Henderson LLP, the Honourable R. Roy McMurtry, Q.C., O.C., O. Ont. In recognition of this honour, Mr. Finlay will be presented with a painting created for him by The Honourable R. Roy McMurtry.
About the OBA Award of Excellence in Civil Litigation
The OBA Award of Excellence in Civil Litigation recognizes exceptional contributions and achievements in civil litigation by members of the OBA in the following areas: outstanding advocacy skills; professionalism, integrity and civility; teaching of civil litigation and practice; the enhancement of the practice of civil litigation; and leadership in the civil litigation bar. Past award recipients include: Harvey Strosberg, Q.C. (2011), Thomas G. Heintzman, O.C., Q.C. (2008) and Sheila R. Block, LSM (2006), among other deserving advocates.
About the Ontario Bar Association
The OBA is the voice of the legal profession in Ontario. As a branch of the Canadian Bar Association, the OBA represents more than 17,000 lawyers, judges, law professors and law students throughout the province.
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