The 2018 edition of Benchmark Litigation's "Under 40 Hot List" has identified Gowling WLG partners Jaimie Lickers, Scott Smith and Usman Sheikh among the most talented litigators in North America under the age of 40.

Lickers practice focuses on Indigenous, regulatory and construction law. She has experience working with First Nations on a variety of matters, including those related to trusts, taxation, membership litigation and regulatory matters. She also has considerable experience advising on construction matters and disputes, and provides advice regarding environmental protection and assessment.

This is the second year in a row that Lickers' has been included in Benchmark Litigation's Under 40 Hot List. In 2017, she also received a Lexpert Zenith Award, which recognized women who have demonstrated excellence and thought leadership in the legal profession.

Smith, who is also being recognized in the Under 40 Hot List for a second consecutive year, has experience advising Indigenous peoples and companies across Canada on Indigenous, environmental assessment, regulatory, and constitutional issues for major energy and natural resource projects.

Smith represents Indigenous peoples in regulatory hearings, judicial reviews and appeals of administrative decisions, multi-party civil litigation in respect of contaminated sites, and complex tort litigation. He is regularly involved in high-profile regulatory hearings and related litigation, and has negotiated precedent-setting agreements between Indigenous peoples, companies and other governments in Canada.

Sheikh is the national head of the firm's Blockchain & Smart Contracts Group, as well as the national litigation lead of the firm's Securities, Compliance & Investigations Group. His practice focuses on complex corporate and commercial litigation, with an emphasis on securities litigation, crypto-currency litigation, professional liability claims and class proceedings. He has become a global authority on blockchain and smart contracts, and blockchain litigation.

In 2016, Sheikh was recognized in Benchmark Canada's Definitive Guide to Canada's Leading Litigation Firms & Attorneys as a "Future Star" in litigation.

Now in its third year, the Under 40 Hot List bases its results on an extensive peer review and case examination process.

With more than 1,500 legal professionals in 18 cities across Canada, the UK, Europe, the Middle East and Asia, Gowling WLG delivers comprehensive, practical and strategic solutions that address a broad range of litigation matters - both in the courtroom and through negotiation and alternative dispute resolution - so that clients can achieve their desired results as quickly as possible. Learn more about our litigation and dispute resolution services in Canada.