Torys' litigation team receives accolades at 2020 Benchmark Litigation Canada Awards

We are delighted to announce that Torys’ litigation practice has been honoured with four awards at the 2020 Benchmark Litigation Canada Awards, including Ontario Litigator of the Year and Product Liability Firm of the Year.

Chair of the firm’s Litigation and Dispute Resolution practice Linda Plumpton was named Ontario Litigator of the Year. She has been described by clients interviewed by Benchmark as “…a fierce litigator,” who can “…do can pretty much do anything, you’re seeing her everywhere now, on any type of file. She does competition, commercial, securities, you name it. She can negotiate with the best and work out solutions when called upon, but you best believe she can also go to trial.” Her recognition as Ontario Litigator of the Year is an apt and well-deserved honour.

Managing Partner of Torys Montréal Sylvie Rodrigue was named Product Liability Litigator of the Year. Sylvie has done a remarkable job in both maintaining a formidable practice as well as growing the Montréal office. Sylvie’s unrivaled advocacy skills have been recognized throughout her career, including receiving the prestigious distinction of “Ad. E.” (Advocatus Emeritus) by the Québec Bar, presented to only a few members of the Bar each year. Sylvie’s outstanding work in the area of product liability was also instrumental in Torys being named Product Liability Firm of the Year.

Finally, Sylvie and her team acted on one of the cases named a Benchmark Impact Case of Year. These awards represent the most significant cases of the year. Torys successfully represented the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, as intervener in the Supreme Court of Canada in the Impact Case of the Year, Kosoian v. Société de transport de Montréal, an important victory for all Canadians as the SCC ruled that police officers are civilly liable if they interfere with Canadians’ rights and freedoms based on a non-existent offence, in addition to confirming that Canadians can refuse to identify themselves to police officers when the request has no valid legal basis (you can read Sylvie’s analysis of the case in “Liability for unlawful arrest and right to refuse to comply.”)

The Benchmark Canada awards recognize Canada's leading litigators, law firms, in-house counsel and the best of 12 litigation practices listed in Benchmark Canada. Benchmark’s methodology employs extensive research, peer review and interviews with Canadian litigators undertaken by Benchmark Canada.

Read more information about this year’s awards on the Benchmark website.