Law Times

BY ANITA BAL AKRISHNAN Law Times YASIR Naqvi says his back- ground as a lawyer will be "in- strumental" in his new role as chief executive officer of the In- stitute for Canadian Citizenship. Naqvi was best known as Ontario's attorney general from 2016 to 2018, an experience he says shapes how he views Cana- dian citizenship. As attorney general, Naqvi made changes such as launching the Digital Justice Action Plan, which aimed to modernize the legal system and make it more accessible online. "My time as attorney general obviously gives me an incredible insight into the important role our justice system plays in pro- tecting rights of all Canadians," says Naqvi. The ICC is best known for hosting citizenship ceremonies — it hosted 71 in the 2017-2018 fiscal year, its annual report says BY ANITA BAL AKRISHNAN Law Times THE Law Society of Ontario is considering whether to alter the restrictions on real estate law- yers who get fees and other perks paid by certain title insurers. The law society received 140 submissions during its consulta- tion on the topic, which ended in October 2018, says Treasurer Malcolm Mercer. Now, the regulator's Profes- sional Regulation Committee must decide what policies to rec- ommend to Convocation. Title insurance companies are legally required to get a cer- tificate of title to the property to be insured from a lawyer, ac- cording to the LSO's Profes- sional Regulation Committee Report from June 2018. Some insurers pay lawyers for that ser- vice and other work. Law firms may also "receive payments, gifts or other incen- tives based on the volume of title insurance placed by the lawyer and lawyers of the law firm," the law society's report last year said. "Law firm staff may receive retail gift cards or ballots based on insurance policy orders for entry into contests with a chance to win prizes such as travel vouchers, or other incentives," the report said. PM #40762529 BY AIDAN MACNAB For Law Times THE Ontario Court of Ap- peal has dismissed the appeal brought by Abdullah Almalki — a Canadian who was falsely accused of terrorism, then tor- tured and imprisoned in Syria — disputing the contingency fee agreement he made with his law- yers on a settlement he received from the Canadian government for complicity in his ordeal. Almalki was one of three Ca- nadians falsely accused of hav- ing terrorist links and detained and tortured in Egypt and Syria. A 2008 federal inquiry by then Supreme Court Justice Frank Iacobucci found that actions of Canadian officials had indi- rectly contributed to the ordeal. In 2006, the three men sued the Government of Canada and re- ceived more than $31 million. In Almalki v. Canada (At- torney General), 2019 ONCA 26, heard by justices David Doherty, Bradley Miller and David Paciocco, Almalki un- successfully appealed a Superior Torture victim appeal dismissed in fee dispute Kate Mazzucco says a recent Ontario Court of Appeal ruling contains lessons for lawyers using contingency fees. LSO puts perks for real estate lawyers under the microscope Former AG takes role at citizenship charity See Title, page 2 See Naqvi, page 5 See Canadian, page 2 New federal AG Getting to know Lametti page 6 Workplace death Acquittal instructive page 4 COVERING ONTARIO'S LEGAL SCENE | JANUARY 28, 2019 | WWW.LAWTIMESNEWS.COM | VOL. 30, NO. 4 | $5.00 Mental health Progress still needed page 7 Focus on Labour & Employment Law page 8 Maurizio Romanin says that fees paid by title insurers to lawyers could be viewed as incentives to select some policies over others. Photo: Laura Pedersen www.twitter.com/lawtimes Follow & $#&!&jmmm$cYa[bbWh$Yec ntitled-4 1 12-03-20 10:44 AM Preferred Advertising Rates for Candidates Special print and online opportunities from January 14 through April 29 For more info, contact: MediaSolutions.Sales@thomsonreuters.com 416-649-8841 SAVE MORE THAN 50% OFF regular rates for all print and web bookings Untitled-1 1 2019-01-15 4:15 PM

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