• About
  • Offices
  • Careers
  • News
  • Students
  • Alumni
  • Payments
Background Image
Bennett Jones Logo 100 Years
  • People
  • Expertise
  • Knowledge
  • Search
  • Menu
  • Search Mobile
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
View all
Practices
Corporate Litigation Regulatory Tax View all
Industries
Capital Projects Energy Funds & Finance Mining View all
Advisory
Crisis & Risk Management Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) Governmental Affairs & Public Policy
Insights News Events
New Energy Economy Series COVID-19 Resource Centre Business Law Talks Podcast
Subscribe
Bennett Jones Centennial Menu
People
Practices
Industries
Advisory Services
About
Offices
News
Careers
Insights
Law Students
Events
Search
Alumni
Payments
Subscribe

Stay informed on the latest business and legal insights and events.

LinkedIn LinkedIn Twitter Twitter Vimeo Vimeo
 

Looking Forward: Canadian Class Actions in 2018

November 23, 2017

Download PDF

     
Download the PDF Looking Forward: Canadian Class Actions in 2018

Written by Bennett Jones Class Action Litigation Group

The past year saw another flurry of Canadian class action activity. Courts across the country rendered significant decisions that should give companies doing business in Canada cause for both concern and optimism. While the risk of facing a Canadian class action expands, new tools are emerging to deal with claims and limit exposure. The need for comprehensive yet practical strategies to avoid and defend complex Canadian class actions has never been greater.

Bennett Jones continues to be involved in some of the most significant class actions in Canada. Our practice group has earned its reputation as a nationwide leader. By coupling unsurpassed depth and breadth of experience with our unparalleled knowledge of procedure, we remain committed to helping clients defend all stages of high-stakes class proceedings and achieving results aligned with business priorities.

In the pages of this guide, we look forward to the Canadian class action landscape in 2018. We address heightened risk factors for companies that do business in Canada and abroad. Companies are more likely than ever to face global class actions brought in Canadian jurisdictions by foreign claimants.

Plaintiffs are increasingly seeking aggregate damages and finding receptive audiences in Canadian courts. Technological and political forces are fueling a rise of class actions in hot button areas of cybersecurity, workers’ rights and the environment. We anticipate these trends will continue into next year.

Still, there is good news for companies doing business in Canada. Defendants are using existing tools more effectively and pushing to develop new tools capable of blunting even aggressive plaintiffs’ counsel tactics. While third parties may still fund class claims, enhanced judicial scrutiny of funding arrangements appears likely to provide meaningful limitations on those arrangements. Increasing resort to mass tort claims create opportunities to avoid certain drawbacks of class actions. So too do direct-to-consumer settlements, which provide companies with the chance to rebuild (and even strengthen) consumer relations while avoiding or minimizing protracted class proceedings.

One thing is clear: creativity will be key as class actions march forward in 2018 and beyond. We look forward to assisting our clients meet this challenge.

Key Contacts

  • Michael A. Eizenga L.S.M. Michael A. Eizenga L.S.M., Partner
  • Cheryl M. Woodin Cheryl M. Woodin, Partner
  • Ranjan K. Agarwal Ranjan K. Agarwal, Partner

Bennett Jones Marks 100 Years of Service and Trust

Related Links

  • Insights
  • Media
  • Subscribe

Related Expertise

  • Class Action Litigation
  • Competition/Antitrust
  • Cybersecurity
  • Employment Services
  • Environmental Law
  • International Trade & Investment
  • Product Regulation
  • United States of America

Recent Posts

Announcements

Bennett Jones is IFLR's Canadian Corporate Firm of the Year

May 20, 2022
       

In the News

UN Secretary-General Calls for IP Sharing to Jump-Start Renewable Energy Transition

May 20, 2022
       

Announcements

Lorelei Graham Joins Bennett Jones

May 17, 2022
       

Announcements

Bennett Jones Student Scholarship Featured on Canadian Lawyer

May 16, 2022
       

Articles

Are Waivers of Corporate Opportunities a Good Idea?

May 16, 2022
       

Speaking Engagements

Annual Construction Case Law Update

May 16, 2022
       

Speaking Engagements

Bennett Jones Lawyers Present Module in Pension Administration Fundamentals Certificate Program

May 16, 2022
       

Articles

Product Liability Causes of Action in 2022

May 12, 2022
       

Announcements

Bennett Jones Shines in the Benchmark 2022 Awards

May 10, 2022
       
Bennett Jones Centennial Footer 100 Years
Bennett Jones Centennial Footer 100 Years
About
  • Leadership
  • Diversity
  • Community
  • Innovation
  • Security
  • History
Offices
  • Calgary
  • Edmonton
  • Ottawa
  • Toronto
  • Vancouver
  • New York
Connect
  • Insights
  • News
  • Events
  • Careers
  • Students
  • Alumni
Subscribe

Stay informed on the latest business and legal insights and events.

LinkedIn LinkedIn Twitter Twitter Vimeo Vimeo
© Bennett Jones LLP 2022. All rights reserved.
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer
  • Terms of Use
Logo Bennett Jones