TLA Gala ‘an auspicious celebration for the Toronto legal community’

By Tony Poland, LegalMatters Staff • The Toronto Lawyers Association (TLA) honoured three outstanding legal professionals at its Annual Awards Gala on a night that brought senior lawyers together with those new to the law.

“We had an outstanding evening with plenty of great food and drinks in a spectacular venue,” said executive director/library director Joan Rataic-Lang, whose team once again organized an event that received rave reviews from the sold-out crowd at Ricarda’s. “This is the highlight of our social calendar and people seemed to really appreciate the chance to get together to relax and mingle. The TLA thanks all our sponsors and volunteers who continue to make the Gala an annual success.”

Association president Aitan Lerner said the gala has become “an auspicious celebration for the Toronto legal community.”

An opportunity to look back and project forward

“Most importantly, tonight provides an opportunity for the Toronto Lawyers Association to recognize the remarkable individuals who have positively contributed to our profession and community in their own unique ways,” he told the gathering. “We also take the opportunity to look back over the past year at our accomplishments and project forward with new initiatives our members have expressed they would like to see the TLA bring to fruition.”

Jessica Brant was the recipient of TLA’s Emerging Excellence Award, presented to a Toronto lawyer in practise for 10 years or less or a Toronto organization in existence for 10 years or less who/that exemplifies leadership or innovation in advancing the association’s three pillars of knowledge, advocacy and community. 

An Indigenous family lawyer with the Benmor Family Law Group in Toronto, Brant has a hybrid schedule that also allows her to practise from her home on the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory.

Lerner said she was honoured for her “commitment to her family and practice, her courage and determination to bring equality and opportunity to all people with legal challenges before them.” 

‘We shall bring our minds together as one’

Brant began her acceptance speech with a traditional ceremonial opening called Ohen:ton Karihwatehkwen, which, translated, means “we shall bring our minds together as one, to give thanks and appreciation for all that was before us – including our ancestors, all that is with us today and all that will continue on after us.”

“I would like to express my gratitude to my family who have been my unwavering support throughout my journey. Their love, encouragement and sacrifices have enabled me to pursue my passion and achieve success,” she said. “I would also like to thank and acknowledge my mentors and teachers who have shaped me into the person I am today. Their guidance wisdom and expertise have been invaluable in shaping my career and personal growth.

Brant also acknowledged Benmor Family Law Group founder Steve Benmor.

“I remember starting with Mr. Benmor when I was only 21 years old. It seems like such a short time, but that was over 21 years ago” she said. “I truly am so grateful for his guidance and support. He is not just a mentor but a good friend.

“To my colleagues and collaborators, thank you for working with me through some very difficult and some not-so-difficult cases.”

Rebecca Durcan, co-managing partner at Steinecke Maciura LeBlanc, received the Honsberger Award, presented to a Toronto lawyer in recognition of a single unique accomplishment or ongoing contributions to the legal community and the community at large.

Reputation for going above and beyond

Her reputation “for going above and beyond for her clients and colleagues” made her a deserving recipient, according to the TLA.

“The respect and admiration Rebecca earns from her peers and clients confirms her legal skills and selfless commitment to serving others in working to ensure fair outcomes and the clear passage of justice,” Lerner said.

During her acceptance speech, Durcan, who serves as general counsel, prosecution counsel and independent legal counsel to numerous Ontario regulators, praised the lawyers and staff at Steinecke Maciura LeBlanc “for creating and continuing the culture of kindness and integrity.”

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“I query if lawyers should expressly and intentionally incorporate kindness into their practice. Clearly, we are all expected to act civilly. Our rules state this explicitly,” she said. “But as noted in TLA’s Report on Civility and Professionalism, this is not happening.  

“I encourage all of you to think of the successful lawyers in your lives. If you are like me, they were not the yellers, the screamers or the ones that utilized intimidation,” Durcan added. “They were the lawyers that treated everyone with respect. They were kind. They were exceptionally prepared and as a result, usually prevailed. But when they did not, they did not blame others. They reached across the lane and congratulated opposing counsel. And then commenced appeal materials or prepared for the next case.”

She said she wondered if encouraging civility “is too amorphous for many lawyers.”

‘Perhaps we should encourage kindness’

“Perhaps we should encourage kindness,” Durcan suggested. “Our profession is clearly and intentionally adversarial. However, this does not require that we treat each other as adversaries. “We should consider that acting with kindness in no way derogates from our duty to our clients but rather can assist our clients in achieving their desired outcomes. Unnecessary animosity results in additional costs, stress and delay. Whereas collegiality can ideally result in expedited results and happier clients. And a happier profession.”

The Honourable Gloria J. Epstein received the TLA Award of Distinction, given to a Toronto lawyer who has a demonstrated record of excellence and has made an extraordinary contribution to the integrity and worth of the law and the legal profession.

She said her career journey has been “one that is focused on people, on relationships.”

Epstein received an Honours Bachelor of Commerce from Queens University in 1972 and headed north to Temagami, where she and a partner operated a fishing camp.

When her partner decided to follow another path, she turned to her “Uncle Bob,” a lawyer and her late sister’s husband who assisted her in concluding her time as a fishing camp owner.

“On the way back from Temagami to Toronto on the bus, I stopped in North Bay and took my LSATs,” she said. “The reason I wrote my LSATs was because I am so grateful to Uncle Bob for helping me that I thought maybe, just maybe I could help other people.”

Epstein was called to the bar in 1979, and practised litigation in two large Toronto law firms before starting a firm of her own, which was one of the first Toronto-based firms led and owned by a woman.

Appointed to Court of Appeal in 2007

In 1993, she was appointed to the Ontario Superior Court of Justice before moving on to the Ontario Court of Appeal in 2007. 

“Receiving this award has not only caused me to reflect on the role so many people have played in my life but also caused me to ponder about where we are in our profession,” Epstein said in her acceptance speech.

She said technology has made legal work easier but it also comes with a price.  

“The price I am thinking … is the impact on our relationships,” Epstein explained. The practice of law as I see it is all about people. Good relationships are central to the practice of law. They enhance the quality of service, to clients, can affect the outcome of legal proceedings and contribute to your professional growth and satisfaction.”

The internet has “blurred the lines between our work and personal lives” with emails that demand an immediate answer, she said.

“Your challenge, you who are looking ahead rather than those like me who are looking in the rear-view mirror, is to consider what steps you need to take to maintain or perhaps restore at least some of the personal touch in the practice of law and address some of the other aspects of our work that are being affected by the internet. Aspects that may, actually, when you think of them, be important,” Epstein advised. “I know that you in this room care about interpersonal relationships, care about connecting. If you didn’t you wouldn’t be here tonight. Hopefully, you care enough to …. influence the very people in the profession your kids and your grandkids may be a part of.”

For more on the Gala, click here.