Gowling WLG has been recognized once again as one of Canada's leading law firms by Legal 500. In the 2026 edition, the firm is ranked in 29 practice areas, highlighted by a Tier 1 ranking in Intellectual Property for the ninth consecutive year. The firm also received a Tier 1 ranking in IP Litigation, a category making its debut in the guide, and is ranked in the inaugural categories for Life Sciences and Sports Law.


Alongside the firm rankings, a total of 43 Gowling WLG lawyers were recognized for excellence in their respective practices. Among the firm's lawyers named in the guide, 25 were distinguished as “Leading Partners,” five were selected into the “Hall of Fame,” eight as “Next Generation Partners,” and six were named “Leading Associates.”

Firm rankings

Gowling WLG was recognized in the following practice areas:

  • Banking and Finance
  • Banking and Finance: Transactional matters
  • Business Immigration
  • Cannabis
  • Construction
  • Dispute Resolution: Alberta
  • Dispute Resolution: British Columbia
  • Dispute Resolution: Ontario
  • Dispute Resolution: Québec
  • Energy and Natural Resources: Mining
  • Energy and Natural Resources: Oil and gas
  • Energy and Natural Resources: Power
  • Environment
  • Indigenous Law
  • Infrastructure Projects
  • Insurance
  • Intellectual Property*
  • International Trade
  • IP Litigation*
  • Labour and employment
  • Life Sciences
  • Media and Entertainment
  • Public Procurement
  • Real Estate
  • Restructuring and Insolvency
  • Sports Law
  • Tax
  • Technology
  • Transport: Aviation
*Ranked as a top-tier firm

Individual rankings

The following lawyers across the firm's Canadian offices earned rankings:

Hall of Fame

 

Susan Abramovitch – Media and Entertainment

Shelagh Carnegie – Intellectual Property

Laurent Massam – Intellectual Property

Martha Savoy – Intellectual Property

Christopher Van Barr – Intellectual Property

Leading Partners

 

Ahab Abdel-Aziz – Energy and Natural Resources: Power

Christopher Alam – Banking and Finance

Belinda Bain - Insurance

Sandra Barton – Dispute Resolution: Ontario

Ted Betts – Construction

David Bishop – Dispute Resolution, Alberta

Murray Braaten – Real Estate

Maxwell Brunette - Labour and Employment

Paula Clancy – Intellectual Property

Michael Crichton – Intellectual Property

Warren Foley – Dispute Resolution: Alberta

Paulina Kam – Real Estate

Bill MacGregor – Business Immigration

Ian Mondrow – Energy and Natural Resources: Power

Rodney Northey – Environment

Martin Palleson – Dispute Resolution: British Columbia

Mark Platteel – Infrastructure Projects
Natalie Rizkalla-Kamel – Intellectual Property

Krista Schofer – Business Immigration

Paul Seaman – Indigenous Law

Peter Simeon – Cannabis

Thomas Timmins – Energy and Natural Resources: Power

Christopher Van Barr – Life Sciences

Wendy Wagner – International Trade, and Technology (ranked in two practice areas)

Jay Zakaïb – Intellectual Property

Next Generation Partners

 

Jordan Crone - Construction

Nelson Godfrey – Intellectual Property

Ricki Johnston – Dispute Resolution: Alberta

Charlotte McDonald – Intellectual Property

Natasha Rana – Infrastructure Projects

Sahil Shoor – Construction, and Dispute Resolution: Ontario (ranked in two practice areas)

Ryan Steeves – Sports Law

Joey Suri – Infrastructure Projects

Leading Associates

Jasleen Chahal – Intellectual Property

Magdalena Hanebach – Energy and Natural Resources: Power

Madison MacColl – Media and Entertainment

Tristan Neill - Construction

Kevin Pedersen – Dispute Resolution: Alberta

 Kate Yurkovich – Restructuring and Insolvency


About Legal 500
The Legal 500 rankings highlight the legal teams in over 150 jurisdictions that provide "the most cutting-edge and innovative solutions" to corporate counsel. Research is based on feedback from 300,000 clients worldwide, submissions from law firms and interviews with leading private practice lawyers.

About Gowling WLG
Gowling WLG is an international law firm built on the belief that the best way to serve you is to be in tune with your world, aligned with your opportunity and ambitious for your success. With more than 1,500 legal professionals in offices across Canada, the UK, Europe, the Middle East and Asia, we provide our clients with in-depth knowledge in key global sectors and a suite of legal services at home and abroad. We see the world through our clients' eyes, and collaborate across countries, offices, service areas and sectors to help them succeed, no matter how challenging the circumstances.