 Bennett Jones Education McGill University, BA, 2007 Osgoode Hall Law School at York University, JD, 2011 Bar Admissions Ontario, 2012 British Columbia, 2017 Katherine is an experienced litigator who brings a practical, results-oriented approach to complex commercial and class action litigation. Overview Versatile and tenacious, Katherine prides herself on helping clients strategically and efficiently navigate disputes and manage risk across a range of legal issues and industries. She acts for clients in product liability, negligence, consumer protection, employment, contract, procurement, privacy and fraud claims. Her clients operate in diverse industries, including retail, manufacturing, consumer products, cosmetics, technology and electronics, gig economy, energy, forestry, food and beverage, and agribusiness. Katherine is licensed to practise in British Columbia and Ontario and has appeared as counsel before all levels of court in both provinces and before the Supreme Court of Canada. Katherine regularly defends clients in multi-jurisdictional and cross-border class proceedings and has a proven track record of developing and executing litigation strategies to achieve clients’ legal and business goals. In 2023 and 2024, Katherine was recognized as a Benchmark Canada Litigation "Future Star" and on Benchmark Canada's Litigation "40 & Under" list. She is ranked in Lexology Who’s Who Legal 2023 as a Future Leader in Commercial Litigation in Canada. In the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory, Katherine is ranked as Repeatedly Recommended for Data Protection and Privacy. Katherine writes and speaks frequently about class actions and civil litigation. She is a contributing author to the 5th edition of Defending Class Actions in Canada: A Guide for Defendants published by LexisNexis, past Co-Chair and Executive Member of the Canada Bar Association British Columbia Branch Class Action Section from 2019-2023, and a past guest lecturer at Osgoode Hall Law School. Katherine was pro bono co-counsel to the Council of Canadians with Disabilities in a precedent-setting case before the Supreme Court of Canada about public interest standing and who can challenge unconstitutional laws in court. During law school, Katherine was the recipient of an Ian Scott Public Interest Fellowship and completed a legal internship at Pivot Legal Society in Vancouver. Class Action Litigation • A cosmetic products manufacturer in proposed class actions in BC and Ontario alleging personal injuries as a result of exposure to preservatives. • A pharmaceutical company in a proposed national class action alleging injuries relating to infant formulas. • An agribusiness company in proposed class actions in BC and Ontario alleging injuries relating to a pesticide product. • A manufacturer in a class action alleging price fixing of electronic components. • A software company in a proposed privacy class action arising from a ransomware attack. • A national retailer in a proposed class action alleging misrepresentations relating to a natural health product. • A cosmetics company in a proposed class action alleging personal injuries caused by hair care products. • A national food and beverage retailer in a class action alleging unpaid overtime entitlements. • A social media company in a proposed class action alleging breach of privacy. Commercial Litigation and Advisory • Employers in litigation against former employees for alleged breach of non-competition agreements and other employment obligations. • A manufacturing facility in defending appeals of an air emissions permit. • Investors in litigation regarding an alleged fraudulent investment scheme and obtaining an injunction to freeze a defendant’s assets. • A forestry company in litigation to enforce a statutory right of way over the defendant’s property. • Public health authorities in procurement disputes. • A technology company in a claim alleging negligent design and manufacture causing personal injury. • An online booking platform in litigation regarding liability for injuries allegedly suffered from the booked services. • A national retailer in a judicial review of a Human Rights Tribunal decision relating to COVID-19 masking requirements. • A software provider in arbitration relating to a services agreement. • Physicians in medical negligence claims. • A leaseholder in enforcing property access rights and obtaining injunction against a trespasser. • A cannabis company in regulatory proceedings before the Farm Industry Review Board. • A disability rights organization in pro bono litigation challenging the constitutionality of BC laws that permit forced psychiatric treatment of people with mental disabilities without an assessment of their capacity. • Multiple companies in advising on litigation and risk management in relation to consumer complaints in a variety of industries. • Multiple companies in advising on obligations under the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act, product recalls and dealings with Health Canada Cybersecurity Incident Response • A number of companies in leading the breach response to criminal ransomware attacks. • A company in advising on its response to a phishing attack and potential access to personal information. • A company in leading the breach response in relation to an unauthorized intrusion into their computer systems. • Various organizations in providing 'on-call' breach response counsel. • Numerous companies in advising on aspects of their cybersecurity incident response plans. |