FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
LORNE MACLEAN, KC, NAMED FELLOW OF LITIGATION COUNSEL OF AMERICA
Lorne MacLean, KC, has been selected as a Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America. MacLean is the founder of MacLean Law, one of Canada’s top-rated family law firms, and is widely recognized as one of the country’s most accomplished family lawyers. Practising since 1983, he specializes in high net worth and complex divorce and family law cases in British Columbia. A King’s Counsel appointee, he has been named one of Canada’s Top 25 Lawyers and a BC 500 Business Leader in family law. Under his leadership, MacLean Law has been recognized as a 2023 and 2024 Family Law Firm of the Year by both Canadian Lawyer magazine and Lexpert.
MacLean’s career is marked by a series of record-setting legal victories. He has obtained the highest interim and permanent spousal and child support awards in Canadian history—exceeding $100,000 and $116,000 per month respectively—and achieved the highest special costs award at $1.5 million. He has argued precedent-setting cases involving international Mareva injunctions, child custody, retroactive support, and complex property divisions. Notable wins include the landmark Devathasan case, where he secured over $20 million in property and support awards, and high-profile appellate decisions such as Li v. Rao and Lightle v. Kotar.
MacLean has also made two appearances before the Supreme Court of Canada, arguing leading cases on child custody (Young v. Young) and spousal support reviewability (Leskun v. Leskun). His other notable victories include Canada’s first frozen embryo custody case and securing retroactive spousal support for a husband following the dismissal of the wife’s substantial claim. Known for his strategic advocacy and success in high-stakes disputes, MacLean has built a legacy as a relentless defender of clients’ rights in complex family law matters.
The Litigation Counsel of America is an invitation-only trial lawyer honorary society established to reflect the new face of the American bar. Select Canadian fellows are also eligible. Membership is limited to 3,500 Fellows, representing less than one-half of one percent of American lawyers. The composition of the LCA is aggressively diverse, with recognition of excellence among American litigation and trial counsel across all segments of the bar. The purpose of the LCA is to recognize deserving, experienced, and highly qualified lawyers, to provide an outlet for scholarly authorship of legal articles on trial and litigation practice, to provide additional sources for professional development, to promote superior advocacy and ethical standards in the practice of law, to assist in community involvement by its membership, and to advance a superior judiciary, by taking relevant positions on issues or legislation affecting judicial compensation and/or benefits, as well as those affecting the American litigation processes.
Fellows are selected and invited into Fellowship after being evaluated for effectiveness and accomplishment in litigation and trial work, along with ethical reputation. The number of full Fellowships has been kept at an exclusive limit by design, allowing qualifications, diversity and inclusion to align effectively. Fellows are generally at the partner or shareholder level or are independent practitioners with twelve or more years experience. The LCA Fellowship also includes Judicial Fellows, Academic Fellows (law professors/legal scholars), Legislative Fellows and In-House Counsel Fellows. Unless their practice changes from litigation or trial work or their general ethical reputation has been diminished, Fellows may hold their status as long as they desire to be affiliated with the LCA. Fellows who hold such status for seven consecutive years may be designated Senior Fellows. Upon high recommendation by a Fellow, a limited number of Associate Fellows are selected, generally pending qualification for Fellowship. Associate Fellows may include partners or associates from the same firm in which nominating Fellows practice or with any other ethically reputable firm, governmental division or company.
The LCA’s selection process is a combination of Fellow input, internal research, nominations by Fellows, attorney opinions, evaluation of client selection of counsel, limited input from active and retired judges, and reviews of acknowledgement and recognition by other peer reviewing sources and associations. The diversity sought by the LCA relates to all demographics within law, including race, sex, age and national origin, which it believes will enrich the profession, as well as the scholarly exchange of ideas among its membership. The criteria used for selection is not based purely on the number of cases tried, or the notoriety usually associated with frequent court appearances, but also effectiveness in the area of a particular lawyer’s expertise. In using this approach, the LCA has developed its membership with a breadth of experience in litigation that makes its Fellows one of the most well rounded practice groups among any legal professional society and provides recognition and opportunities to those deserving the designation “Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America.”
Congratulations to Lorne on this well-deserved selection as a Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America. This prestigious honour recognizes his exceptional skill, integrity, and longstanding commitment to excellence in litigation. His record-setting achievements, strategic advocacy, and leadership in complex, high-stakes family law matters make him a standout in the legal profession. This fellowship is a testament to Lorne’s dedication to advancing the highest standards of trial advocacy and professional conduct in Canada and beyond.
