Deborah is a partner in the Disputes department and practices nationally — defending and strategically advising on the avoidance of complex business critical multi-jurisdictional class actions and other large aggregate claims, particularly corporate, commercial and banking disputes, product liability and negligence claims.
Deborah’s experience includes acting as national coordinating counsel for a major consumer product company which requires strategic oversight and coordination of litigation internationally. Over the past 20 years, she has acted on cases which have produced ground-breaking decisions dealing with procedural and evidentiary aspects of certification, acted as coordinating counsel in cross border cases and provided advice and assistance to corporations seeking to implement measures to avoid class action litigation. Deborah is a results driven, innovative and disruptive legal thinker focused on providing business solutions.
She is a Frequent speaker and author on cross-border, complex and multi-jurisdictional class actions and risk management topics; developed and taught advocacy and training programs; and Co-Chair of the ABA’s international subcommittee on class actions. In 2014, 2015, and 2016, Deborah was selected by Benchmark Canada to the inaugural Top 25 Women in Canadian Litigation list.
Areas of Expertise
Representative Work
- GitHub Inc. in its class proceeding concerning an alleged data breach involving the information of credit card applicants
- Imperial Tobacco in product liability class actions and health care cost recoupment actions across the country, the biggest Civil Class Action in Canadian history
- Microsoft in successfully defending the first Canadian class action to test the enforceability of online signup agreements
- Amex Bank of Canada in numerous class actions in Ontario and Quebec related to credit card agreements and other consumer banking services
- Several financial institutions in defending class actions and regulatory investigations arising out of interest calculations and credit charges
- Proctor & Gamble in the recent series of pet food class actions
- Inco in a class action for personal injury and property damage in connection with an environmental discharge
As a result of Deborah’s extensive experience in dealing with class actions and other significant aggregate claims she regularly acts as a consultant or trusted advisor to other counsel dealing with similar matters.
- Proctor & Gamble in the recent series of pet food class actions
- Inco in a class action for personal injury and property damage in connection with an environmental discharge
As a result of Deborah’s extensive experience in dealing with class actions and other significant aggregate claims she regularly acts as a consultant or trusted advisor to other counsel dealing with similar matters.
Latest Insights
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Blog Apr 19, 2021
First merits decision dismissing privacy class action in Canada
In an ever growing landscape of data theft and privacy breaches, the Superior Court of Québec recently dismissed a privacy class action on the...
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Awards and Recognition
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Chambers Canada: Canada’s Leading Lawyers for Business: Recognized in Dispute Resolution: Class Action (Defence); Litigation: Products Liability
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The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory: Recognized in Class Actions; Litigation – Product Liability
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Best Lawyers in Canada: Recognized in Class Action Litigation
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Legal 500: Recognized as a Leading Lawyer, Dispute Resolution (Ontario)
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Benchmark Litigation Canada: Recognized in Class Action; Dispute Resolution; Product Liability and Recall
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Who’s Who Legal: Recognized in Canada – Professional Negligence; International – Professional Negligence
Media Mentions
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Osler News Nov 23, 2023
23 Osler lawyers recognized in Lexpert Special Edition: Litigation 2023
23 Osler lawyers featured in the Lexpert Special Edition: Litigation 2023.
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Osler News Jun 15, 2022
28 Osler lawyers recognized by Lexpert as leaders in Technology and Health Sciences
The Lexpert Special Edition: Technology and Health Sciences 2022 recognizes 28 Osler lawyers as leaders.
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Osler News Jan 27, 2020
29 Osler lawyers recognized in Benchmark Litigation 2020
Osler is proud to announce that 29 of our litigation lawyers appear in Benchmark Litigation’s 2020 issue of Benchmark Canada, their annual...
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Osler News Apr 17, 2018
25 Osler lawyers recognized in Benchmark Litigation 2018
Osler is proud to announce that 25 of its lawyers appear in Benchmark Litigation’s 2018 issue of Benchmark Canada, their annual publication...
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Credentials
Education
- University of Ottawa, LL.B.
- University of Toronto, B.A.
Languages
- English
Professional Affiliations
- Law Society of Ontario
- Canadian Bar Association
- Metropolitan Toronto Lawyers Association
- Advocate's Society
- American Bar Association
