Find Lawyers in Montréal, Quebec for Class Action Litigation
Practice Area Overview
In most Canadian provinces, the certification process for a proposed class action involves a similar test that uses the following criteria: (a) the statement of claim discloses a reasonable cause of action (i.e. one not plainly and obviously doomed to fail), (b) there is an identifiable class of two or more persons, (c) the claim raises common issues (the questions of law common to the class must predominate over questions affecting individual members), (d) a class proceeding is the preferable procedure for the resolution of the common issues (it supersedes other available methods to resolve the issue in dispute); and (e) the representative plaintiff will fairly and adequately represent the class.
Unlike in other Canadian provinces, Quebec’s class action screening phase is referred to as the “authorization” rather than “certification” stage. The authorization of a class action in Quebec is subject to meeting the following criteria: (a) the class members’ claims raise identical, similar or related questions of law or fact (common issues need not predominate), (b) the facts alleged seem to justify the conclusions sought, (c) it is difficult for the class members to join in the same suit or appoint a representative to act on their behalf, and (d) the representative plaintiff is in a position to adequately represent the class.
Once a class action is certified or authorized, the merits of the case will be assessed in a trial of the common issues, as in any other conventional lawsuit.
Each Canadian province provides for rights of appeal at the various stages of a class action and various regimes for the filing of evidence, preliminary motions, discoveries, and other procedural steps.
Class action lawyers must have a thorough understanding of the intricacies of class action proceedings and keep abreast of developments in this constantly changing area of the law. Clients facing a proposed class action should seek out firms and attorneys with recognized class action expertise, in addition to knowledge and experience regarding the substance of the claim.
Éric Azran is a partner in the Litigation & Dispute Resolution Group. His practice extends to all aspects of civil and commercial litigation, ranging from providing clients with legal opinions and strategic advice to representing clients in Québec courts of first instance and appeal, as well as administrative tribunals. He also chaired the Montréal office’s Pro Bono Committee from 2010 to 2012. He is currently Co-Chair of the National Diversity Committee, and a ...
Seasoned litigator Marc Beauchemin is a key player on Montréal’s municipal and legal scene. As Chair of De Grandpré Chait's Board of Directors and Executive Committee, Marc Beauchemin plays a central role within the firm. His legal practice has two foci. In his first area of practice, municipal law, he represents the private interests of his clients, particularly major property owners, in the context of real estate developments throughout Québec. He and his speciali...
Jean Bertrand focuses on commercial and corporate litigation, including class actions and arbitration, and on administrative law, with emphasis on regulated activity such as competition, transportation, international trade and energy. He has appeared frequently before Quebec and federal courts, including the Supreme Court of Canada, as well as before regulatory boards such as the Commission des transports du Québec, the Régie de l’énergie, the Competition Tribunal, ...
Laurence Bich-Carrière practises in the Litigation Group. A member of the Quebec Bar and of the Law Society of Ontario, her practice is wide-ranging, and she provides services in areas that include class actions, municipal affairs, consumer protection, construction law, administrative law, and infrastructure. She represents a variety of clients before the court, particularly in appeal cases, and also advises clients on drafting and negotiating contracts and settlements and on risk mana...
A litigator since 1992, Caroline Biron advises the firm’s clients in the resolution of high-stakes disputes in a variety of areas, ranging from commercial law, corporate law, employment law, civil litigation (including defamation issues), privacy and professional liability law. https://woods.qc.ca/en/team/caroline-biron
Joëlle Boisvert is the Managing Partner of the firm's Montréal office and a member of the firm’s national executive team. As an experienced commercial litigator, Joëlle counsels large national and international companies with regards to a variety of complex dispute matters. During her 25-year career, she has developed extensive experience in class actions and litigation pertaining to commercial and real estate law, including in the areas of franchising, as well as manuf...
Jean-Michel's practice focuses on commercial litigation, class actions, product liability, insurance law and securities litigation. He is currently involved in a number of ongoing class actions where he defends major corporations and company directors and officers. Before joining IMK, Jean-Michel served as a clerk at the Supreme Court of Canada for the Honourable Ian Binnie and practiced commercial litigation at Sullivan & Cromwell LLP in New York City. Jean-Michel is the co-author of thr...
Noah Boudreau is a member of the Litigation & Dispute Resolution group. His practice is primarily focused on class action, product liability, cybersecurity, consumer protection and transportation litigation matters. Noah acts regularly for internationally known corporations in the defence of significant private and class actions. Many of his cases have cross-border and international implications and Noah works closely with counsel in the U.S. and other jurisdictions to ensure strategic co...
Guillaume Boudreau-Simard is a partner in the Litigation & Dispute Resolution Group. Over the years, Guillaume has developed a specific expertise in class actions primarily defending manufacturers and banking institutions. His practice focuses on all aspects of litigation, including advising, drafting procedures and representing clients before the courts. Guillaume also possesses a vast experience in other various types of litigation, including matters related to commercial or contractual...
Myriam Brixi practises in civil and commercial litigation, primarily in the areas of class actions, product liability and insurance law. She has participated in complex class actions raising important legal issues, including a wide range of multi-jurisdictional class actions. The experience she has gained in these major cases has enabled her to develop a comprehensive knowledge of the procedural and strategic aspects of class actions in Canada. Me Brixi is ranked as a Future Star by Benchmark...
Mr. Caron is a founding partner of LCM and is the managing partner of the firm. He focuses his practice on litigation and commercial law. Business communities turn to him for his proven ability to find solutions to complex problems. He has been involved in a number of major class actions and has extensive experience in arbitration and alternative dispute resolution. He regularly acts on behalf of financial institutions, including securities brokers and advisors, whom he counsels on the drafti...
Marc-André Coulombe is a partner in the Litigation & Dispute Resolution Group and a member of the firm’s Partnership Board. He joined the firm as a student in 1991, and became a member of the Quebec Bar in 1993. His practice covers all facets of litigation, ranging from providing strategic advice to clients on litigious or potentially litigious issues to representing clients at trial and in appeal before the Quebec courts and the Federal Court of Canada. He has broad experien...
Vincent de l’Étoile is a partner of the litigation group and he is a member of the firm’s Board of Directors. He has specialized mainly in the fields of civil and commercial litigation, class actions, product liability, consumer law and competition law. Vincent is a creative and dedicated lawyer combining pragmatism and depth to satisfy clients’ needs. He is leading cases, advises and assists his clients in various fields. His practice is mainly characterized by the d...
Alex Dobrota is a partner at Woods LLP whose practice focuses on complex commercial cases, cross-border disputes, insolvency matters (domestic and international) and international arbitration. He has extensive experience pleading before all levels of Quebec courts and participating in commercial arbitrations with strategic and/or reputational risks for Canadian and foreign companies in the province of Quebec. He has successfully represented clients in the context of litigations arising from s...
François Fontaine has a wealth of experience as a litigator in civil, corporate and commercial litigation and penal procedure, including white collar crime and regulatory investigations, before all Quebec courts and the Supreme Court of Canada. Mr. Fontaine devotes a significant portion of his practice to representing clients before the courts and tribunals in administrative litigation (including injunctions and judicial review). Mr. Fontaine has a great deal of experience in fraud and...
Sean Griffin is a partner in the litigation group in Langlois lawyers’ Montréal office and a member of the firm’s Board of Directors. His practice focuses on complex litigation involving constitutional, administrative and commercial law issues, as well as corporate and securities matters. With recognized expertise in defending public and private corporations, financial institutions and various entities active in the financial markets, including their directors and officers,...
David takes a holistic approach to his cases in order to find efficient and practical real-world solutions for his clients. He represents clients in a diverse group of practice areas, with a focus on contractual claims and civil liability. He has particular expertise managing complex and multi-party disputes, and has pleaded before all levels of court in Canada, including the Supreme Court. David is also a director of the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights, where he works, among other p...
Paule Hamelin is a partner in the firm's Montréal office, practising primarily in civil and commercial litigation, including product liability, contractual commercial disputes (contract of services, franchises or leases) and bank litigation. Paule is also involved in the areas of regulatory and compliance law, energy, consumer protection law, marketing and advertising law and privacy law. A portion of her practice is also devoted to extraordinary recourses and class actions. She has ap...
Vincent is a member of our Litigation and Dispute Resolution Law Group. Vincent is a passionate and versatile litigator who takes great pride in defending the interests of his clients in several fields and contexts. He is particularly active in commercial and business litigation. He acts regularly in shareholder disputes, transactional litigation and corporate governance litigation. He acts for corporations and their boards of directors, as well as for minority shareholders in the context of ...
Since he started practising law, Marc-André has advised or defended companies in connection with class actions, contractual remedies (sale, manufacturing, construction and distribution) or civil liability disputes. His practice is also focused on shareholders' disputes. In addition, he was involved in extraordinary proceedings such as injunctions, judicial reviews or procedures for the approval of plans of arrangement under the Canadian Business Corporations Act or the Quebec Companies...
Bernard Larocque is a partner whose practice focuses primarily on civil litigation, including defamation law, insurance law, professional liability, and administrative disputes. He frequently appears before the courts, including the Supreme Court of Canada and the Quebec Court of Appeal. Mr. Larocque regularly speaks at conferences on various subjects such as insurance law, liability, and civil procedure. He has also been certified as an instructor by the Institut d'assurance de dommage du Qu...
Emmanuel Laurin-Légaré helps you stay ahead. Emmanuel Laurin-Légaré’s practice focuses on civil and commercial litigation. He is a seasoned litigator and represents a diverse clientele ranging from individuals to multinationals in a wide array of industries, including telecommunications, renewable energies, real estate and insurance. He is well-versed in various areas of the law, including civil liability, professional liability and class actions. His vast kn...
Stéphanie Lavallée is a litigator who specializes in major complex litigation involving commercial disputes, class actions, product liability and civil liability. As part of her practice, she regularly appears before the courts at all levels. Stéphanie specializes in large-scale litigation cases that require considerable evidence management. She acts primarily in complex cases and in class-action defence. She provides practical, innovative advice and participated in draft...
Eric Lefebvre's litigation practice involves a broad range of commercial litigation matters, including competition law, class actions, banking, consumer law, corporate disputes and commercial contracts. He has particular experience in urgent remedies such as seizures and injunctions of various kinds. He has been retained both by petitioners and respondents in many high-stakes shareholder oppression cases and has defended parties facing cartel and bid-rigging accusations before criminal courts...
Yves Martineau is a partner in the Litigation & Dispute Resolution Group. Over the years, Yves has developed a specific expertise in class actions primarily defending manufacturers, banking institutions and telecommunications companies. He also deals with every aspect of litigation, such as commercial law, product liability, banking law, professional liability, consumer law and private international law. Yves has pleaded before all civil courts of Quebec and before the Supreme Court of Ca...
Sophie Melchers practises mainly in the areas of commercial, corporate and securities litigation. She has represented clients before the Quebec courts and the Supreme Court of Canada in connection with disputed take-over bids, dissenting shareholder remedies, plans of arrangement, insider trading and market manipulation. Her broad experience in securities litigation also encompasses representation of reporting issuers and their officers in connection with investigations conducted by the AMF, ...
Doug founded IMK in 1997 with the late Colin K. Irving. In the course of his career, he has acted as lead counsel in many complex cases, participated in trials covered by the media, advised clients on delicate issues and played key roles in crisis management to avoid or settle disputes. His career and his way of intervening in cases have earned him the respect of all the courts before which he has pleaded. He has acted for the Chief Justice of Quebec and the Canadian Judicial Council and has ...
Laurent Nahmiash is a member of the board of the Montréal office and co-Chair of the Canadian Class Action Practice Group. His practice primarily consists of class action defence work, as well as commercial and insurance litigation. Laurent currently represents numerous automotive and other manufacturers and finance companies in various consumer protection and product liability class actions. As well, he is currently involved in various anti-trust, securities, auditor and D&O class...
François-David Paré practises in all areas of corporate, commercial and civil litigation. He also acts in securities matters and shareholder disputes and was seconded to the legal department of a major Canadian investment dealer on two occasions. Mr. Paré has significant experience in successfully handling class action litigation, including consumer legislation related claims, pharmaceutical, product liability and civil liability. He is co-chair of our national class acti...
Frédéric Paré is a partner in the Litigation & Dispute Resolution Group, where he acts as lead counsel for many public and private companies in large and complex cases. His practice covers the full range of commercial law, including shareholder disputes, securities, transactional litigation, product liability and special remedies such as injunctions. Frédéric also has extensive experience in defending class actions of various kinds, regularly representin...
Sophie is an accomplished litigator and is recognized for her ability to lead complex files in a wide range of commercial disputes, penal procedures and regulatory proceedings. She has an impressive record in extraordinary proceedings such as injunctions, mandamus proceedings and Anton Piller orders. She has also acted in defence in class action proceedings and in constitutional matters that have been pleaded before the Supreme Court of Canada. In addition to her litigation practice, Sophie a...
Paul Prosterman practises mainly in the areas of insurance law, class actions, pharmaceutical and consumer product liability. On the insurance front, he has considerable experience respecting insurance coverage, providing opinions and defending insurers' coverage positions; insurance defence; policy interpretation and drafting; "Canadianizing" policy wordings; professional liability insurance; technology errors and omissions; cyber liability; commercial general liability and property claims. ...
Sébastien Richemont has over 20 years of commercial litigation experience. In court, he is both formidable and passionate, and out of court he is a strategic counsellor in litigious matters and devoted partner to his colleagues and clients. As a frequent speaker and teacher, he also appreciates the academic aspects of the law. His areas of expertise include contractual disputes, class actions, manufacturer’s liability, professionals liability (lawyers, accountants, engineers), as...
Vincent Rochette is a meticulous and versatile litigator who manages major civil, commercial, administrative and constitutional disputes. His practice focuses primarily on class actions, complex commercial litigation as well as appeal proceedings, including before the Supreme Court of Canada. Practising out of our Montréal and Québec offices, Mr. Rochette represents a diversified clientele before all levels of courts and several administrative tribunals. Mr. Rochette is currentl...
Ian Rose is a partner in the Montreal office of Lavery, de Billy, where his practice is focused primarily in the fields of insurance law, civil and commercial litigation and class actions. He specializes in complex litigation involving products liability and professional liability including directors’ and officers’ liability. He is also frequently requested to provide insurance coverage opinions and advice, and to act on behalf of insurers in coverage disputes. In addition to acti...
A distinguished lawyer whose reputation stretches beyond Quebec and Canada, André Ryan is a partner in BCF’s Litigation and Governance groups. A commercial law practitioner, André advises clients on commercial litigation, corporate governance, media relations, and crisis management, as well as on the negotiation of national and international strategic agreements and partnerships. He regularly advises boards of directors of public, private, and governmental organisations. A...
As a member of the Commercial Litigation Practice Group in the BLG Montréal office, Jean draws on his experience to further enhance the strategic direction and management of class actions in which the firm is involved. He has acted in numerous matters, has successfully argued several precedent-setting cases and is known for his ability to find practical and sustainable solutions in cases that are frequently complex and involve several defendants. A highly accomplished class actions law...
Ms Sauvé practises in civil litigation, primarily in the areas of class actions and cooperative law. She has participated in many complex class actions raising important legal issues. Her work has led to thousands of members obtaining justice through both settlements and judgments. Ms Sauvé is part of the Steering Committee of the Cambridge Forum on Canadian class actions since 2022 and was a speaker on many occasions in national conferences including at the National Class Actio...
Louis is a partner of the firm. Member of the Quebec, Ontario, and New York bars, he has been practicing civil and commercial litigation and arbitration since 2004. He regularly represents clients before both trial and appellate courts, as well as before domestic and international arbitral tribunals. He has particular expertise regarding contractual disputes, corporate and shareholder litigation, manufacturers’ liability, insolvency, employment law, private international law and injunct...
Eric Simard is Co-leader of the national Litigation and Dispute Resolution group. He practices as a litigator in civil and commercial litigation. He acts primarily in complex litigation and defends clients during class actions. He also represents clients during injunction and safeguarding proceedings. Eric regularly appears in arbitration matters and before the Superior courts, including the Supreme Court of Canada. In a world of globalization, a large number of foreign manufacturers and supp...
Marc Simard has been practising for over 40 years in the areas of commercial litigation, construction law, public law, professional law and agri-food law. In construction law, he has represented owners, contractors and professionals in a wide range of matters and has acted for clients or as an arbitrator in various arbitration cases. He is an arbitrator certified by the Barreau du Québec and the Institut de médiation et d’arbitrage du Québec and is recognized as an ...
Laurence Ste-Marie, a partner at the firm, brings over ten years of experience resolution dispute in civil and commercial matters. Building on a diversified background, Laurence has consistently shown a facility to adapt her legal services to complex situations and provide tailored strategies and solution. She appears before the Quebec and federal courts, including in class actions, as well as in international arbitration. https://woods.qc.ca/en/team/laurence-ste-marie
Richard Vachon practices mainly in the fields of commercial litigation, class actions, litigation in securities, defamation, and employment law. He pleads regularly before the courts of first instance and the Court of Appeal of Quebec as well as arbitration tribunals. He also acts as strategic advisor to many of his clients. Notable representative clients, among others, include: Chrysler Canada Inc.; Quebecor Inc.; Groupe TVA Inc.; Desjardins Securities Inc.; Member of the Liaison Committee w...
James A. Woods , senior partner of the firm, practises in litigation and arbitration and pleads at all levels of federal and provincial courts in Ontario and Québec including the Supreme Court of Canada. Once again, named by Lexpert® 2017 as one of the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada – Montreal, Corporate and Commercial Litigation. Recognized by the Best Lawyers Directory since 2006 for his expertise in the fields of Bet-the-Company Litigation, Class Action Litigation, Corporat...
Mirna Kaddis practices in the Litigation and Dispute Resolution Group in the Montreal office. Mirna acts on a regular basis on behalf of internationally known corporations in the defence of significant class actions, with a particular emphasis on consumer protection, product liability, cybersecurity and privacy and competition class actions. Many of her cases have cross-border and international implications and Mirna works closely with counsel in the other jurisdictions to ensure strategic co...
Charles-Antoine Péladeau's practice covers all aspects of civil and commercial litigation, including class actions, insurance law and consumer protection law. He also practises in penal law and deals with matters relating to business ethics and anti-corruption. Since 2017, Mr. Péladeau has been an affiliate researcher at the Class Action Lab of the University of Montreal. He also taught in the civil law program at the same university.
Alexa Teofilovic is an associate in the Litigation & Dispute Resolution Group. Her practice covers all aspects of civil and commercial litigation, including matters relating to commercial law, aeronautics, intellectual property, telecommunications and defamation law. Alexa has also acquired a significant experience in the defense of class actions of various natures.
Claudette van Zyl practises in international arbitration and all areas of civil and commercial litigation, including class actions. She is also a sessional lecturer in international commercial arbitration and in appeals at the Université de Montréal. Before joining the firm as an associate, Claudette was the founding editor-in-chief of the McGill Journal of Dispute Resolution. She has completed legal internships with a prominent international arbitrator based in Montreal and at ...
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