Alyssa Tomkins, a distinguished partner in Gowling WLG’s Ottawa office, has been recognized as one of Canadian Lawyer's Top 25 Most Influential Lawyers for 2024 in the Human Rights, Advocacy and Criminal category.

Canadian Lawyer's Top 25 list is based on an annual reader survey and highlights lawyers who have made a significant impact on the legal profession in Canada and worldwide within the last 18 months. The Human Rights, Advocacy and Criminal category recognizes legal professionals who have advocated for individuals or public interest causes through litigation or in a public forum.

Alyssa's nomination focused on her experience in handling high-profile public law cases involving Charter values and judicial review, professional discipline, parliamentary privilege, democratic rights and the constitutional matters. Until June 2023, she was chair of The Advocates Society’s regulatory and administrative law practice group, and she also teaches administrative law as an adjunct professor at Osgoode Law School.

In 2022, Alyssa argued the Law Society of Saskatchewan’s successful appeal before the Supreme Court of Canada in Law Society of Saskatchewan v. Abrametz. The landmark case, now the leading authority on delay in administrative proceedings, has quickly become one of the most significant public law decisions in recent years, with 255 citations under two years.

Alyssa also served as co-lead counsel for the City of Ottawa in the historic Public Order Emergency Commission. This commission was created to investigate the events leading up to Canada’s first federal declaration of a public order emergency, which was prompted by nationwide protests centered around the Freedom Convoy – a loosely organized collection of groups that travelled to Ottawa and occupied the city for three weeks.

“Alyssa’s recognition as one of the Top 25 Most Influential Lawyers is a testament to her unwavering commitment to advancing, protecting and upholding our constitutional and democratic rights, and to ensuring due process and the proper exercise of rights and privileges,” said Cynthia L. Elderkin, managing partner of Gowling WLG’s Ottawa office. “Her tireless advocacy and impactful legal work – for individuals, organizations, public bodies and governments - not only set a benchmark in our field, but also demonstrate her deep dedication to achieving meaningful results for her clients.”

Gowling WLG congratulates Alyssa and all the recipients of Canadian Lawyer's Top 25 Most Influential Lawyers for 2024. View the complete list here.