Canadian Law Awards 2022
CELEBRATING EXCELLENCE IN THE LEGAL PROFESSION
The Canadian Law Awards returns for its second year to recognize the nation’s leading law firms, in-house legal teams, individuals, deals and cases. It’s a true reflection of excellence in the legal profession over the past year.
The Canadian Law Awards is brought to you by Key Media, organizers of a variety of awards ceremonies across Canada, where hundreds gather annually, in person or virtually, to acknowledge the best professionals across the nation.
Nomination closes on 7 February 2022
Open to firms that have offices only in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, PEI and/or Newfoundland, and offer a wide range of legal services.
Judged on the quantity, quality, importance and innovativeness of legal work performed during calendar year 2021.
Open to all Canada-based law departments in banking or financial institutions (including banks, credit unions, lenders, insurance companies, pension funds and brokerage firms).
Judged on the quantity, quality, importance and innovativeness of legal work performed during calendar year 2021.
The winner of this category will automatically progress to become a finalist in Canadian Law Department of the Year.
Open to all Canada-based law departments.
Judged on the quantity, quality, importance and innovativeness of legal work performed during calendar year 2021.
Winners of the three sector-specific law department awards will automatically progress to become finalists for this category; thus only law departments that do not fall within those three sector-specific categories need to be nominated.
Open to all capital markets deals that reached completion within 2021 for which the majority of the legal work was Canada-based. Each organization may nominate a maximum of three deals.
Judged on the legal work performed by Canadian organizations according to four criteria – size, complexity, breadth and innovation
Open to a commercial case rendered or settled in Canada's courts in 2021, including class actions
Judged on a single case's size and complexity and the extent to which it set new standards of excellence in the delivery of legal services by the team
Open to all Canada-based law departments in energy and resources (including mining) organizations.
Judged on the quantity, quality, importance and innovativeness of legal work performed during calendar year 2021.
The winner of this category will automatically progress to become a finalist in Canadian Law Department of the Year.
Open to all infrastructure and projects deals that reached completion within 2021 for which the majority of the legal work was Canada-based. “Completion” refers to the closing of financing, not construction.
Each organization may nominate a maximum of three deals.
Judged on the legal work performed by Canadian organizations according to four criteria – size, complexity, breadth and innovation
Open to all insolvency and restructuring deals that reached completion within 2020 for which the majority of the legal work was Canada-based. Each organization may nominate a maximum of three deals.
Judged on the legal work performed by Canadian organizations according to four criteria – size, complexity, breadth and innovation
Open to all Canada-based law firms that derived at least 50% of their 2021 revenue from IP matters.
Judged on the quantity, quality, importance and innovativeness of legal work performed during calendar year 2021.
Open to all projects or initiatives executed by Canada-based law departments in 2021.
Judged on the significance, innovativeness and impact of the project or initiative.
Open to all Canada-based general counsels, chief legal officers, heads of legal etc in in-house positions.
Judged on transactions and other initiatives spearheaded and leadership qualities demonstrated through 2021.
Open to all Canada-based law firms that derived at least 50% of their 2021 revenue from litigation and dispute resolution.
Judged on the quantity, quality, importance and innovativeness of legal work performed during calendar year 2021.
Open to all Canada-based litigators
Judged on the quantity, quality, importance and innovativeness of litigation work performed during calendar year 2021.
Open to all M&A deals, including those that fall within the private equity sector, that reached completion within 2021 for which the majority of the legal work was Canada-based. Each organization may nominate a maximum of three deals.
Judged on the legal work performed by Canadian organizations according to four criteria – size, complexity, breadth and innovation
Open to all managing partners, CEOs or similar of Canada-based law firms.
Judged on achievements, leadership and performance through 2021.
Open to all deals with a value of CAD50-500m that reached completion within 2021 for which the majority of the legal work was Canada-based. Each organization may nominate a maximum of three deals.
Judged on the legal work performed by Canadian organizations according to four criteria – size, complexity, breadth and innovation
Open to firms that have offices only in Ontario, and offer a wide range of legal services.
Judged on the quantity, quality, importance and innovativeness of legal work performed during calendar year 2021.
Open to firms that have offices only in Saskatchewan and/or Manitoba, and offer a wide range of legal services.
Judged on the quantity, quality, importance and innovativeness of legal work performed during calendar year 2021.
Open to any single pro bono or not-for-profit initiative executed by a Canada-based law firm or law department in 2021.
Judged on the impact of the initiative and its contribution to society and the community.
Open to firms that have offices only in the province of Quebec (extending across the river to include Ottawa), and offer a wide range of legal services.
Judged on the quantity, quality, importance and innovativeness of legal work performed during calendar year 2021.
Open to all Canada-based law firms and law departments.
Judged on the concrete steps the law firm or law department took during 2021 to promote diversity and inclusion in the legal profession.
Open to all Canada-based women lawyers.
Judged on professional accomplishments, leadership, community involvement, and the extent to which the individual has either passively or actively contributed to gender equality in the legal profession in 2021.
Open to all Canada-based law firms.
Judged on the extent to which firms have pushed through technological innovation and implemented fresh approaches in creating and delivering legal products, including utilizing technology and new business models, through 2021.
Judged on the concrete steps taken by the law firm during 2021 to demonstrate a commitment to any or all of the following; EDI as a core organizational value, to strengthen access to justice for underrepresented communities, to advance legal services through innovation, and to invest in legal education through mentorship and beyond.
Open to all Canada-based law departments in construction, infrastructure or transportation organizations.
Judged on the quantity, quality, importance and innovativeness of legal work performed during calendar year 2021.
The winner of this category will automatically progress to become a finalist in Canadian Law Department of the Year.
Open to firms that have offices only in British Columbia, Alberta, Yukon and the Northwest Territories, and offer a wide range of legal services.
Judged on the quantity, quality, importance and innovativeness of legal work performed during calendar year 2021.