Class actions
The globalisation of the products and services offered by multi-national companies carries a risk of international or cross-border litigation, including class actions and collective redress. Similarly, mass disasters and human rights violations claimants may come from several different countries. Class action and collective redress are no longer just a North American phenomenon, with many European countries now adopting some form of legislation. The EU has asked practitioners for comments on a possible legislation proposal applicable to members of the EU. Canada and Australia have had an active regime for decades, and South Africa, Asia and South America are also adopting legislation.
Our international network includes many countries where such a regime is already in place, including across Canada and Australia where class actions are an established part of the litigation landscape. Our team is one of the most experienced in the world, comprising more than 70 lawyers who advise on multi-jurisdictional class actions regardless of their place of origin. Many senior team members are leaders in this field within bar associations around the world, giving us an invaluable insight into the development of policies and legislation.
We have represented a wide range of government and corporate clients, such as Archer Daniels Midland, Bell Canada International, BMO Nesbitt Burns, Canadian National Railway Company, Dow Chemical, GlaxoSmithKline, Imperial Tobacco Limited, Hudson's Bay Company, Merck Frosst Canada, Nortel Networks, Pfizer, Royal Bank of Canada, Mattel, Abbott Laboratories, Eli-Lilly, Sharp Corporation, Lan Airlines, Japan Airlines, Telstra, Bedshed, Esso, Petro-Canada, HSBC Bank and the Australian State of Victoria.
We offer clients complete solutions, whether circumstances call for a negotiated settlement early in the proceeding or a vigorous defence through to trial. Because our team includes experienced counsel in multiple jurisdictions, in Canada and Australia we offer clients a national approach to defending multi-provincial/state class actions. We develop a national strategy that accommodates the substantive and procedural differences between provinces and states and offers clients greater efficiency and cost savings. Our “one team” approach also extends to cross-border litigation. We have acted on numerous cross-border class actions working closely with internal and external US defence counsel in formulating and pursuing a coordinated global defence strategy.
We offer you
- highly-experienced class action and collective redress specialists
- a track record covering competition, employment, environmental, pension, product liability, civil liability and mass tort, professional liability, and corporate finance and securities
- a solutions-based approach