Sandra Forbes Installed as President of the American College of Trial Lawyers

First Canadian woman to serve as president

Sandra Forbes was recently installed as president of the American College of Trial Lawyers (ACTL) during the College’s 2026 Annual Meeting in New York.

Sandra is the third Canadian to hold the position of ACTL president since its founding in 1950, and the first Canadian woman to occupy the role. Joan Lukey (Boston, 2009–2010), Chilton Davis Varner (Atlanta, 2012–2013) and Susan Harriman (San Francisco, 2022–2023) are the women who previously served as president of the College.

The ACTL is an invitation-only organization comprised of over 5,500 of the very best trial lawyers from across the United States and Canada. Its mission is to preserve and improve trial practice, civility, professionalism and the administration of justice through an independent judiciary and by advancing the rule of law, trial by jury and access to justice.

One of Canada’s most accomplished litigators, Sandra is a past president of The Advocates’ Society, holds a Band 1 ranking in Dispute Resolution: Class Action (Defence) and Competition/Antitrust Litigator from Chambers Canada and was named Litigator of the Year at the Canadian Law Awards in 2025.

Read Sandra’s “Message from the President” on the ACTL website.