Founding Partner
Julian Falconer has been practicing law in the areas of policing, human rights, Indigenous
rights, and state accountability for over thirty years. He holds degrees from the University of
Alberta, McGill University, and the University of Toronto, in addition to an Honorary Doctorate
of Laws from the University of Guelph-Humber. He previously served as a Bencher of the
Law Society of Ontario from 2010 to 2023, spanning the maximum amount of three terms.
Julian is also an author, writing extensively on issues of race and civil liberties, and coauthoring
the book the Annotated Coroners Act (Butterworths Press). In the true tradition of a Barrister, Julian Falconer’s practice takes him to civil, administrative, and criminal courts at
both trial and appellate levels, including the Supreme Court. He is bilingual and has argued
cases in both English and French.
Julian has acted as counsel on matters related to prisoner rights, police accountability, First
Nations child welfare, and human rights, including representing Maher Arar, the family of
Ashley Smith, the family of Sammy Yatim, and Adam Nobody and the “Free Press Four.” He
has also acted as counsel in the Ipperwash Inquiry, the Goudge Inquiry, the Seven Youth
Inquest, and for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada.
More recently, Julian has served as legal counsel and lead negotiator for the Indigenous
Police Chiefs of Ontario in the fight against discriminatory funding for First Nations community
safety, and as counsel for Kimberly Murray, the Independent Special Interlocutor for Missing
Children and Unmarked Graves and Burial Sites associated with Indian Residential Schools.
Julian has acted as counsel for Nishnawbe Aski Nation (“NAN”) in various matters since 2008,
including child welfare reform since 2016 through NAN’s ongoing intervention in the Caring
Society case before the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal.
Outside of the courtroom, Julian is also a pilot and has logged over 3,000 hours in his Cessna
182, flying to and from the North to meet with First Nations clients and communities.
Video
Julian Falconer on Libel Law Reform The Agenda with Steve Paikin
Julian Falconer in the News
Lawyer Julian Falconer has built a career representing families of people killed by police or in custody Toronto Star, December 19, 2013
Julian Falconer named one of the 25 most influential lawyers in Canada Canadian Lawyer, August, 2010
Ontario’s wind farm approval process faces constitutional challenge Financial Post, November 17, 2014
Black in Canada- Profile of Julian N. Falconer
Awards and Recognition
- Honored by the Canadian Association of Black Lawyers (CABL) for his Distinguished Public Service
- University of Guelph-Humber conferred the degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, on Julian Falconer at Convocation ceremonies, in recognition of his work in social justice. June 16, 2014
- The Black Business Professionals Association (BBPA) named Julian Falconer a recipient of the Distinguished Men of Honour Award. March 27, 2012
- 2011 Community Builder Award from Tropicana Community Services at the 2011 Caribbean Ball (June 4, 2011)
- Honoured by The University of Toronto’s University Advancement division at the Black History Month Luncheon on February 25, 2011 for his accomplishments in law and human rights.
- Honoured by Planet Africa Group with the prestigious Marcus Garvey Award
Selected as one of University of Toronto’s 100 most notable graduates of the twentieth century - Pride Magazine’s African-Canadian Achievement Award
- The Vision of Justice Award (Black Law Students Association-Canada)
- Urban Alliance Race-Relations Medal
- Recognized in Who’s Who in Black Canada 2, Black Success and Black Excellence in Canada, A Contemporary Directory, D.P. Williams & Associates 2007
Publications
- Civil Liability of Police Services to Members of Public , prepared for Police Law Conference, 2010
- Civil Remedies for Internal Disputes, prepared for Police Law Conference, 2010
Annotated Coroners Act, 2008/2009, Julian N. Falconer and Peter Pliszka, Butterworths, Updated 2008. - The five W’s of litigating issues of race, prepared for Crown Liability Conference, 2008.
State Misconduct: A Continuum of Accountability, Honoring Social Justice, 2008 - The Anti-Terrorist Act and the Arar Finding-Democracy protected or Democracy Eroded, National Journal of Constitutional Law, 2006-2007
- Hufsky v. The Queen and Leave in Ladouceur: What’s Left?, The Criminal Law Quarterly, Volume 30, Number 4, September 1988, Canada Law Book
- The Alert Demand and the Right to Counsel: “The Problem With Talbourdet”, The Criminal Law Quarterly, Volume 28, Number 3, June 1986, Canada Law Book Inc.
- The Justice System: Is it Serving or Failing Minorities?, Current Readings in Race Relations, Volume 8, No. 2, Urban Alliance on Race Relations
- Litigating Race in the Criminal Courts, Boyle, Christine et al, The Law of Evidence, Fact Finding, Fairness, and Advocacy, Edmond Montgomery Publications Limited, Toronto, Canada
- The Criminal Law Quarterly, Volume 30, Number 4, September 1988, Canada Law Book, “Hufsky v. The Queen and Leave in Ladouceur: What’s Left?”
- The Criminal Law Quarterly, Volume 28, Number 3, June 1986, Canada Law Book Inc., The Alert Demand and the Right to Counsel: “The Problem With Talbourdet”
- Currents, Readings in Race Relations, Volume 8, No. 2, The Justice System: Is it Serving or Failing Minorities?, Urban Alliance on Race Relations
- Boyle, Christine et al, The Law of Evidence, Fact Finding, Fairness, and Advocacy, “Litigating Race in the Criminal Courts” Edmond Montgomery Publications Limited, Toronto, Canada
Lectures/Speaking Engagements
Julian has been invited to address a wide variety of participants in the justice system. The following are some of the organizations he has addressed:
- University of Alberta, Faculty of Law
- Dalhousie University, Faculty of Law
- University of Toronto, Faculty of Law
- University of Windsor, Faculty of Law
- York University, Osgoode Hall Law School
- Osgoode Hall Professional Development Program, LLM
- The Advocates’ Society Lecture Series
- American Bar Association
- Black Law Students’ Association
- The Canadian Institute
- Canadian Police Executive Training
- Canadian Association for Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement
- Continuing Legal Education Program (Osgoode Hall)
- Criminal Lawyers’ Association
- Federal Department of Justice – Annual Prosecution Seminar
- The Jane Finch Concerned Citizens Organization
- Law Commission of Canada
- Law Society of Upper Canada
- Ontario Bar Association
- Ontario Conference of Judges – Ontario Court of Justice
- Ontario Institute for Studies in Education
- Parkdale Community Legal Services
- The Empire Club
- The Police Association of Ontario
- Ryerson Polytenic University – Social Sciences
- Speakers Series for the Court of Appeal Law Clerks
- Society of Ontario Adjudicators and Regulators
- Toronto Police Service (Sex Crimes Unit)
- Toronto School Administrators Association
Committees (Past and Present)
- Co-chair, Equity and Aboriginal Issues Committee
- Vice-Chair, Task Force addressing Challenges Faced by Racialized Licensees.
- Legal Aid Ontario, Criminal Law Advisory Committee
- Co-Chair (with Chief Bill Blair, Toronto Police Service), Saving Lives Implementation Group
- Co-Chair, The Conference on Alternatives to the Use of Lethal Force by Police
- Co-Chair, CBAO, Constitutional and Civil Liberties Section
- Director’s Resource Committee for the Special Investigations Unit
What people are saying about Julian Falconer:
“I have known Julian for about 20 years. I have always known him to be supportive of all communities and of issues dealing with equity and fairness. He is committed and is also a fearless champion for the voiceless.”
Sandy Thomas, Former President of CABL; Counsel, Public Prosecution Service of Canada
“As a Past President of the Indigenous Bar Association and a legal practitioner for the last seventeen years, I have experienced firsthand Julian’s style of advocacy in respect of Indigenous justice issues. Julian has been at the forefront on key Aboriginal justice issues both provincially and nationally including the Iacobucci Inquiry into Justice Issues in the North and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission litigation regarding residential school survivors.”
Dianne Corbiere, Managing Partner, Nahwegahbow, Corbiere; LSUC Bencher; Past President of the Indigenous Bar Association
“Mr. Falconer is one of the country’s top constitutional and human rights lawyers. He represented the Smith family in a lawsuit into the death of Ashley Smith in custody. He worked on the Ipperwash Inquiry. He represented Maher Arar in a suit against the federal government over his rendition and torture in Syria. The list goes on. Point is, Mr. Falconer takes a special interest in holding government to account.”
Financial Post, November 17, 2014
“Colleagues and clients describe Falconer as a steadfast champion of the public interest, a voice for the powerless, a changemaker.”
Toronto Star, December 19, 2013
