Gowlings professionals have earned 266 rankings across 49 practice areas in the 2016 edition of The Best Lawyers in Canada.

These results represent the firm's best-ever showing in the annual guide, which is widely regarded as a leading legal directory. Inclusion in Best Lawyers is based on an exhaustive peer review survey and a comprehensive verification process.

In addition, 15 Gowlings professionals were awarded the elite "Lawyer of the Year" award - an accolade considered particularly significant, as it is given to the individual lawyer with the highest voting average in their region and practice area.

The following Gowlings professionals were named Lawyer of the Year:

  • Mark Bantey - Defamation and Media Law, Montréal
  • Brian A. Crane, Q.C. - Aboriginal Law, Ottawa
  • Anthony G. Creber - Intellectual Property Law, Ottawa
  • Domenic A. Crolla - Medical Negligence, Ottawa
  • François Dandonneau - Aboriginal Law, Montréal
  • Guy David - Securities Law, Ottawa
  • Ross F. Earnshaw - Legal Malpractice Law, Hamilton
  • Robert A. Fashler - Technology Law, Vancouver
  • Mira Gauvin - Environmental Law, Montréal
  • John Hurley - Natural Resources Law, Montréal
  • Brian G. Kingwell - Biotechnology Law, Vancouver
  • Maureen Murphy - Health Care Law, Ottawa
  • Brenda L. Pritchard - Advertising and Marketing Law, Toronto
  • Patrick Stewart Smith - Intellectual Property Law, Calgary
  • R. Ross Wells - Labour and Employment Law, Hamilton

This is the third consecutive year in which firm partner Brian Crane, Q.C., has achieved the esteemed distinction, and the second consecutive year in which partners Anthony G. Creber, Domenic A. Crolla, Ross F. Earnshaw, John Hurley, and Brian G. Kingwell have attained it.

Overall, 173 individual Gowlings professionals are included in The Best Lawyers in Canada 2016, with 60 lawyers listed in more than one area:

Aboriginal Law
Jean-Sébastien Clément
Brian A. Crane, Q.C.
François Dandonneau
John Hurley

Administrative and Public Law
Brian A. Crane, Q.C.
François Dandonneau
Laura B. Stewart
Wendy J. Wagner

Advertising and Marketing Law
Brian Fraser
Paule Hamelin
John G. Leckie
Brenda L. Pritchard
Lewis Retik
André Rivest
Joel B. Taller
E. Susan Vogt

Alternative Dispute Resolution
Luc Deshaies
James T. Eamon, Q.C.
Kenneth J. Warren, Q.C.
Michael S.F. Watson
D. Lynne Watt

Appellate Practice
Brian A. Crane, Q.C.
Louis A. Frapporti

Asset-Based Lending Practice
David B. Kierans

Banking and Finance Law
David F.W. Cohen
Guy David
David B. Kierans
Leigh Ann Sheather
William J. Walker
Derek Winnett

Bet-the-Company Litigation
Ross F. Earnshaw

Biotechnology Law
Paul Armitage
Jane Clark
Anthony G. Creber
Hélène D'Iorio
Mireille Fontaine
Brian G. Kingwell
Anita Nador
John Norman
Christopher C. Van Barr

Class Action Litigation
Sandra Barton
David C. Bishop
John E. Callaghan
James T. Eamon, Q.C.
Scott Kugler
Steven I. Sofer
Mary M. Thomson
William L. Vanveen

Commercial Leasing Law
Julie Desrochers
Stacey J. Handley
Susan D. Rosen
Laurie J. Sanderson

Construction Law
Neil S. Abbott
Ross F. Earnshaw
Louis-Pierre Grégoire
Brian G. Kapusianyk, Q.C.
Barrie Marshall, Q.C.
Kerry R. Powell

Corporate and Commercial Litigation
Sandra Barton
David C. Bishop
Joëlle Boisvert
Todd J. Burke
John E. Callaghan
Clifford I. Cole
Brian A. Crane, Q.C.
James T. Eamon, Q.C.
Ross F. Earnshaw
Louis A. Frapporti
Peter J. Lukasiewicz
Kelley McKinnon
Martin L. Palleson
James S. Peacock, Q.C.
Guy Poitras
Malcolm N. Ruby
Denis St-Onge
Shayne P. Strukoff
Kenneth J. Warren, Q.C.
Michael S.F. Watson

Corporate Law
Robert Dorion
Peter D. Fairey
Paul H. Harricks
Derek S. Keay
David R.J. Lefebvre
W. David Petras
Wayne B. Warren

Defamation and Media Law
Mark Bantey
Richard G. Dearden

Director and Officer Liability Practice
Robert L. Armstrong
David C. Bishop
Gary D. Graham
Kenneth J. Warren, Q.C.

Energy Law
Richard Gushue, Q.C.
Paul H. Harricks
John Hurley
David J. McFadden, Q.C.
James H. Smellie

Energy Regulatory Law
Paule Hamelin
Paul H. Harricks
John Hurley
Pierre Legault
Ian A. Mondrow
James H. Smellie

Environmental Law
Wally Braul
Harry Dahme
Jennifer Danahy
Mira Gauvin
Mark L. Madras
Rodney V. Northey

Equipment Finance Law
David B. Kierans

Family Law
Carol A. Crawford

Franchise Law
Joëlle Boisvert
Peter V. Snell
Debi M. Sutin

Health Care Law
Domenic A. Crolla
Donald J. Dow
Maureen Murphy
Meghan K. O'Brien
Robert Sheahan
Mary M. Thomson

Immigration Law
Bill MacGregor

Information Technology Law
Paul Armitage
Regina M. Corrigan
Stephen Cross
Robert A. Fashler
Derek S. Keay

Insolvency and Financial Restructuring Law
Patrice Benoit
Colin D. Brousson
Andrew Bury
Alex MacFarlane
John I. McLean
Clifton P. Prophet
Jennifer Stam
Denis St-Onge
Derrick Tay

Insurance Law
Mike Adlem
David C. Bishop
Brian G. Kapusianyk, Q.C.
Pasquale C. Peloso
Paul J. Stein, Q.C.

Intellectual Property Law
James Buchan
Stéphane Caron
Jane Clark
Joseph Conneely
Regina M. Corrigan
Monique M. Couture
Anthony G. Creber
Michael Crichton
Hélène D'Iorio
Robert A. Fashler
Stephen Ferance
Brian Fraser
Douglas G.H. Fyfe
A. Kelly Gill
D. Doak Horne
R. Scott Jolliffe
Brian G. Kingwell
Brian Y. Lee
James E. Longwell
Robert A. MacDonald
Frank Mulock
Christopher J. Pibus
Brenda L. Pritchard
Marc Richard
Kevin Sartorio
Patrick Stewart Smith
Giovanna Spataro
Jane B.H. Steinberg
Christopher C. Van Barr
E. Susan Vogt
Jennifer L. Wilkie

International Trade and Finance Law
Richard G. Dearden
Wendy J. Wagner

Labour and Employment Law
Hugh A. Christie
David Corry, Q.C.
Allen V. Craig
Luc Deshaies
P.A. Neena Gupta
Mark Josselyn
David K. Law
Laura L. Mensch
Pierre Pilote
Melanie Polowin
Robert E. Salisbury
Elisa Scali
R. Ross Wells

Legal Malpractice Law
Ross F. Earnshaw

Media Law
Mark Bantey

Medical Negligence
Taryn C. Burnett
Domenic A. Crolla
Donald J. Dow
Paul A. Millican
James S. Peacock, Q.C.
Tim Ryan
Mary M. Thomson

Mergers & Acquisitions Law
Robert Dorion
Brett A. Kagetsu
Cyndi D. Laval
David R.J. Lefebvre
W. Ian Palm
Kathleen M. Ritchie

Mining Law
Cyndi D. Laval

Municipal Law
John S. Doherty
Michael S. Polowin

Natural Resources Law
John Hurley
James H. Smellie
Tina M. Woodside

Oil & Gas Law
Ian A. Mondrow
James H. Smellie

Personal Injury Litigation
Domenic A. Crolla
Donald J. Dow
Brian G. Kapusianyk, Q.C.
Paul A. Millican
James S. Peacock, Q.C.
Paul J. Stein, Q.C.
Mary M. Thomson

Product Liability Law
David C. Bishop
Domenic A. Crolla
Brian G. Kapusianyk, Q.C.
James S. Peacock, Q.C.
Malcolm N. Ruby
Paul J. Stein, Q.C.
Mary M. Thomson
Alan West

Project Finance Law
Merie-Anne Beavis
Darryl J. Brown
Paul H. Harricks
Faithe H. Holder
David B. Kierans

Public Procurement Law
Phuong T.V. Ngo

Real Estate Law
Darryl J. Brown
Julie Desrochers
Stacey J. Handley
Wayne A. Kerrick
Alain Lalonde
Phillip C. Marshall
Mark A. McHughan
Andrew L. Oppenheim, Q.C.
Michael S. Polowin
Laurent Roy
Laurie J. Sanderson

Securities Law
Daniel M. Allen
Guy David
David R.J. Lefebvre
Luc Lissoir
Kelley McKinnon
Martin L. Palleson
Steven I. Sofer
Tina M. Woodside

Tax Law
Serge Gloutnay
Daniel Lacelle
Greg Lindsey
John Sorensen
David P. Stevens

Technology Law
Paul Armitage
Regina M. Corrigan
Keith Desjardins
Robert A. Fashler
Mireille Fontaine
Thomas K. Hunter
Derek S. Keay
Brian Y. Lee
W. David Petras

Transportation Law
Heather C. Devine

Trusts and Estates
Robert R. Hagerman
David P. Stevens

Workers' Compensation Law
David K. Law