Lexpert magazine features articles and columns on developments in legal practice management, deals and lawsuits of interest in Canada, the law and business issues of interest to legal professionals and businesses that purchase legal services.
Issue link: https://digital.carswellmedia.com/i/1129450
26 LEXPERT MAGAZINE | Q2 2019 ally to the LGBTQ+ community, having developed a pro bono initiative with the Canadian Centre for Gender and Sexual Diversity ("CCGSD") to commission af- fidavits for people who are changing their gender markers on government issued identification. He has also coordinated the firm's provision of pro bono services for the CCGSD, in its efforts to open up Canada's first LGBTQ+ museum. He also serves as host of Diversonomics - a podcast he began in 2016 that focuses on diversity in the legal market. Diver- sonomics won a Canadian Law Blog Award (``Clawbie``) for Best Legal Culture Blog Award. Among his many community con- tributions, Aburto serves on the County of Carleton Law Association, Board of Trust- ees and on the Association's Diversity Sub- Committee, 2018-2019. In 2002, he won a Queen's Golden Jubilee medal in recogni- tion of outstanding contributions to the Commonwealth. Agarwal, Ranjan Partner > Bennett Jones LLP > TORONTO > Ranjan Agarwal "has held several leader- ship roles in the bar, each of which has al- lowed him to advance his view of diversity as an access to justice issue. He is Past Presi- dent of the South Asian Bar Association of Toronto (2016-2018) and a past Vice President, Membership of the South Asian Bar Association of North America (2017- 2018). He is currently the first South Asian officer of the Ontario Bar Association (Sec- retary, 2017-2018; Treasurer, 2018-2020). In these roles, Agarwal has advocated both for reforms to our appointment pro- cess and more minority appointments. is included advocating to bar associations, judges and policy-makers for reforms to how we appoint our judges, encouraging more transparency and accountability to try to get rid of the problem of unconscious bias, which may be the cause of an unrepre- sentative judiciary. However, Agarwal does not believe the problem is solely because of unconscious biases in the appointment process. As SABA Toronto president, he encouraged more diverse lawyers to consider a career on the bench. is meant encouraging law students and young lawyers to think about (and believe that they can have) a career on the bench. It meant creating linkages be- tween the bench and the bar so minority lawyers can access mentoring and coaching on not only applying to be a judge but also what being a judge entails. It also means educating lawyers on the skills that might make them good judge, such as writing, teaching, public speaking, and community service, and giving them the tools to im- prove those skills. At SABA Toronto, Agar- wal changed the approach to this problem from one of just advocacy to education: if SABA Toronto wanted governments to ap- point more South Asian lawyers, it must play its part in creating a pool of candidates that should be appointed. Although the connection between encouraging a law stu- dent or young lawyer to pursue a judicial career and access to justice is not obvious, Agarwal believes it is essential to ensuring confidence in our legal system. "Agarwal has devoted a significant amount of his practice to advocating for greater access to justice and a more repre- sentative legal system." Agarwal is Lexpert-ranked in Litigation – Public Law. He is a recipient of the CBA Young Lawyers Pro Bono Award, Cana- dian Bar Association, 2017; Top 25 Most Influential, Canadian Lawyer Magazine, 2016; Rising Stars: Leading Lawyers Un- der 40, Lexpert Magazine, 2015; and the Heather McArthur Memorial Young Law- yers Award, Ontario Bar Association, 2015. FEATURES ZENITH Aburto, Roberto Partner > Gowling WLG (Canada) LLP > OTTAWA > Roberto Aburto has been a strong advo- cate for diversity and inclusion at his firm, serving as the Co-Chair of Gowling WLG's National Diversity and Inclusion Council since 2009. Aburto was early to identify unconscious bias as a risk in the legal profession, and sought to encourage professionals and staff to discuss the issues and increase diversity at all levels of the practice. He was a leader in engaging in Gowling WLG's development of unconscious bias training, which has become mandatory for all staff and profes- sionals at the firm. Aburto has delivered this training to more than 100 staff and profes- sionals. And he coordinated efforts of the firm's Diversity and Inclusion Council with other functional areas of the Firm, includ- ing Human Resources, Directors of Stu- dents and Directors of Associates. Aburto has been active in engaging as an { } ZENITH WINNERS