In 2025, the publication Canadian Lawyer together with its sister titles Australasian Lawyer and NZ Lawyer celebrated numerous lawyers and firms for exceptional work. The Global Best in Law 2025 award acknowledges those who have worked through the expanding influence of artificial intelligence, shifting statutes, and financial pressures faced by clients.
Challenges in the Justice System
Michael Spratt, a well-known criminal defence attorney, podcaster and legal analyst in Canada, points out several challenges confronting the field. “The lack of court capacity and the delays in criminal proceedings have been a major challenge. Evidence and the criminal process, unlike a fine wine, doesn’t get better with age. Witnesses’ memories fade and accountability becomes more distant,” he says.
Spratt maintains that all leading lawyers are vigilant against the risk of AI being used to generate fictitious arguments or phantom cases. “It’s easy to hold people accountable. It’s hard to hold the computer algorithm accountable, especially when we know that AI and large language model algorithms are particularly susceptible to systemic issues of discrimination, disadvantage, bias,” he explains.
Although many assume it, Spratt stresses the importance of preserving access to justice for all. Regardless of the type of case, every individual deserves that basic right. “If the public doesn’t believe the justice system is actually delivering justice, we risk losing a very important and foundational aspect of our democracy,” he adds.
The article highlights four firms, outlining their annual achievements and the programs that earned them peer accolades and client recommendations.
Legal Action Against Tech Giants
Initiating a lawsuit on behalf of Canadian school districts against Meta, TikTok and Snap concerning social-media effects on pupils’ mental wellbeing stands out as a major milestone for the practice. The counsel secured a key win that permitted the matter to move forward, establishing a novel precedent within Canadian courts.
Building on its expertise in personal injury and medical-malpractice matters, the firm is branching into mass-tort and environmental litigation to promote systemic reform and extend its reach across the country. Managing partner Greg Neinstein characterizes the battle with the social-media conglomerates as “one of the most important litigations of our time” and “the new big tobacco.”
Representing most Ontario school boards, the practice alleges that the tech firms deliberately altered their algorithms to affect youngsters. A motion was later filed arguing that the suit should be dismissed because the boards themselves are not direct users of the platforms.
“We won the motion and while we didn’t win the case, what the judge said was, ‘I want to hear about this,’” explains Neinstein.
“We’re not just a personal injury firm now. Our goal is to be the number one litigation firm in the country,” Neinstein says.
Building a Collaborative Culture
Principal partner Patrick Brown wishes he could rewind the clock. He reminisces about early days spent mingling with peers, breaking bread together, solving matters collectively, and offering mutual support. Fearing that such camaraderie is slipping away in the current remote-work climate, Brown and senior staff created a common lounge for every employee.
This type of environment supports the firm’s focus on technology and AI. Brown believes that AI serves as a tool to assist lawyers and ensure they are aware of recent developments. The firm avoids using AI to write legal documents, as the team maintains that this would not be appropriate at this stage. The firm emphasizes its commitment to continuous improvement, leveraging AI as a research tool while maintaining rigorous legal standards.
Continued investment in technology and people, along with a focus on inclusive culture, underpins the firm’s sustained success and future growth. The team is preparing for an active year in 2026, anticipating legislative changes. These efforts support engagement among staff and clients, ensuring that the firm remains a serial winner with a collection of awards already under its belt.
