Pink Larkin Named One of Canada’s Top 10 Pro Bono Law Firms
We’re proud to share that Pink Larkin has once again been recognized in Canadian Lawyer’s 5-Star Pro Bono Firms special report, which celebrates Canadian law firms demonstrating a sustained, institutional commitment to pro bono legal work.
Firms were evaluated based on their demonstrated pro bono infrastructure—such as dedicated leadership, time tracking, and charitable giving—as well as their impact and contribution to the legal community. Submissions were reviewed by Canadian Lawyer in partnership with Pro Bono Ontario and benchmarked against peer entries nationwide.
“At Pink Larkin, pro bono is more than a professional obligation—it’s a core expression of who we are,” said Ronald Pink, K.C., Managing Partner. “We are honoured to be recognized for this work, which is rooted in our values and our belief in access to justice.”
A cornerstone of our pro bono commitment is the work led by Vince Calderhead, a nationally respected social justice lawyer who joined the firm in 2017 after a distinguished career with Nova Scotia Legal Aid. Vince is a full-time lawyer dedicated exclusively to pro bono matters, focusing on cases that address systemic barriers and elevate the voices of underrepresented individuals and communities.
“We respond to social injustice and challenge the systems that allow it to persist. That’s the heart of our work,” said Vince Calderhead, lawyer.
Our pro bono work focusses on cases that address the needs of under-represented individuals who might not otherwise receive the legal support they need. And we prioritize cases with the potential for broad impact—whether by shaping future legal protections, informing legislative change, or strengthening social supports. Over the past decade, we have secured meaningful outcomes in areas such as housing, social assistance, and systemic reform.
A representative example of our work is Disability Rights Coalition v. Nova Scotia (Attorney General), 2021 NSCA 70 (CanLII) and the cases that preceded it. Vince successfully represented the Coalition before the Human Rights Commission, the Nova Scotia Supreme Court, and the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal in alleging the province systemically discriminated against persons with disabilities in the provision of supportive housing. The result was the largest general damages award for a human rights violation in Canadian history and has led to important and ongoing reform work in the fight to end the institutionalization of persons with disabilities.
We are proud to be recognized for our pro bono efforts and continue to look for ways to contribute meaningfully to access to justice, in keeping with the values that guide our firm.