Dispute Resolution: Class Action (Defence)
Canada Guide 2025 : Nationwide - Canada
Band 2
Contact number
+1 416-367-6000About
Provided by Borden Ladner Gervais LLP
BLG's Class Actions Group provides sophisticated, bilingual class action advice and representation on a seamless national basis through our five offices across Canada. By combining our strengths in substantive areas of litigation and our experience with the complex procedural aspects of class actions, we bring to bear innovative approaches and considerable resources to address our clients' needs. Whether it is risk management to avoid class actions, settlements or defence of claims that is required, our Class Actions Group is able to assist with the identification and execution of strategic responses.
We are Canada’s class actions leader. We have acted in class actions for multinational corporations involved in global litigation and many of Canada’s largest institutions and corporations. We have been involved in landmark class actions cases in Canada. Our multi-disciplinary team is one of the most accomplished in the country and we provide services across multiple industries and practices.
The cases argued by BLG have developed new principles of law in the certification of class actions, the limits to recovery of pure economic loss, the denial of waiver of tort claims, the interplay of remedies under securities legislation and the common law, and the certification of mass protest cases. We have achieved dismissal of class actions before or at certification and have handled common issues trials and appeals
Chambers Review
Borden Ladner Gervais has a solid class action defence practice with national and multinational capabilities across a variety of sectors, principally operating out of its offices in Toronto, Montréal and Vancouver. The team regularly acts on behalf of prominent institutional clients and insurers on product liability litigation in the automotive, medical and pharmaceutical sectors. The firm also draws on specialised expertise across various practices in constructing defences, including banking, securities and competition, as well as consumer protection, health and employment law.
Work Highlights
- BLG represented Amazon in a proposed employment class action, brought on behalf of a national class consisting of tens of thousands of drivers who delivered packages to Amazon’s customers since 1 January 2016.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"BLG has demonstrated a superior ability to anticipate how complex factual and legal issues will be addressed by the plaintiffs and develop a sound strategy in response."
"BLG has the expertise and resources to handle the most complex of litigation matters. They were able to immediately provide resources for the file and quickly grasped the legal questions at issue."
"They showed a lot of creativity, were able to provide very sound advice and ultimately secured a good result."
"BLG has demonstrated a superior ability to anticipate how complex factual and legal issues will be addressed by the plaintiffs and develop a sound strategy in response."
"BLG has the expertise and resources to handle the most complex of litigation matters. They were able to immediately provide resources for the file and quickly grasped the legal questions at issue."
"They showed a lot of creativity, were able to provide very sound advice and ultimately secured a good result."
Notable Practitioners
Vancouver-based national co-chair Brad Dixon KC has a wealth of class action expertise covering product liability and competition cases. He has additional experience featuring in novel environmental class actions. He has acted for a number of high-profile corporates, including banks and pharmaceutical companies.
"I particularly appreciate Brad's strategic approach to litigation and his understanding of our business and our particular legal interests."
"He has delivered excellent results and has had a lot of significant successes in respect of class actions."
Glenn Zakaib has considerable product liability experience and represents both the public and private sectors. He acts as national co-chair of the group from the Toronto office.
"His advice is practical, balanced and strategic."
"Glenn Zakaib is a pragmatic thinker."
Michelle Maniago operates out of Vancouver and has notable expertise acting on major class actions in the retail and pharmaceutical sectors. She supplements this with strong capabilities in banking-related claims.
"She is a very strong lawyer who is very intelligent and capable."
Ranked Lawyers at
Borden Ladner Gervais LLP
Nationwide - Canada