“Professionalism and civility are really about your values,” says Esi Codjoe, Law’03. “If you view all people, regardless of their level of education, socio-economic background, race, and alike as deserving of respect, then being civil and professional is easy.”

She and Greg Richards, Law’79, are this year’s Joel Kuchar Award winners by Ontario Bar Association. Nominated by their peers, they were selected for demonstrating an exemplary commitment to the highest ideals of professionalism and civility in the practice of law. 

Esi Codjoe, an experienced adjudicator and mediator, practises with workplace law firm Turnpenney Milne LLP and is a former Vice Chair of the Human Rights Tribunal Ontario. She is a trainer and coach of such areas as equity, diversity and inclusion, and has taught university courses in employment law and labour relations. Canadian Lawyer Magazine named her one of its Top 25 lawyers (2018), and Lexpert named her a Change Agent in Law (2019). Her volunteer activities include serving on the boards of the OBA, the Canadian Association of Black Lawyers, and CultureLink. For her alma mater, she is a mentor to members of the Black Law Students’ Association-Queen’s. 

Nominator Patricia DeGuire, an adjudicator, arbitrator and mediator, says, “Throughout Esi’s career, she has demonstrated courtesy and compassion, unimpeachable integrity, solid home-grown virtues and values, intelligence, loyalty, impeccable manners, truthfulness and dedicated teaching.” Applying these “soft skills enhances her professionalism and enables her to attain stellarly achievements.” 

Known for her strong sense of fairness, “Esi’s professionalism is evinced not only in the content of her decisions when she served as an adjudicator at the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario but also the tone, voice, and diction,” adds DeGuire.  

Greg Richards is counsel and former managing partner and chair of WeirFoulds LLP. For almost 40 years, he has successfully litigated a wide variety of cases, some of which have been precedent-setting. He has appeared before the Supreme Court of Canada numerous times, is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, a past director of The Advocates’ Society (TAS), and a past chair of the OBA’s Constitutional Law Section. TAS has recognized him for professionalism and civility (2019) and for pro bono volunteerism (2011). With Queen’s, he is a past chair of the Dean’s Council, received the 2014 H.R.S. Ryan Law Alumni Award of Distinction and was an award-winning teacher of trial advocacy. 

Frank Walwyn, Law’93, a partner with WeirFoulds, says, “Greg is one of the best lawyers, but he is also one of the finest persons I know. The mettle of the man is really observed in contentious litigation or negotiations. Greg’s ability to be firm and resolute in pressing a client’s case, while at all times being civil and composed, is without parallel.” 

What Walwyn finds “most commendable” is Richards’ “patience with young lawyers through the steps and process of problem-solving while training and mentoring them.”

One of those mentees is Richards’ nominator, Kayla Theeuwen, who has worked with him in the commercial litigation group for five years. “Greg has a solid track record of being a superb advocate and is committed to using his expertise to teach, listen to and counsel younger lawyers.” 

Richards’ advice to law students and young lawyers is “Keep an open mind, try to be a good listener, and say ‘yes’ to opportunities to get involved. Remember all the help that you received along the way and give back as best you can.”

By Lisa Graham