Karin Sachar

Karin Sachar

Partner, Litigation

Contact Information

ksachar@osler.com

tel: 416.862.5949

Office

Toronto

Bar Admission

Ontario, 2011

Education

  • University of Toronto, J.D.
  • Queen’s University, B.Sc. (Chemistry)
  • Queen’s University, B.A. (Hons.) (History)

Language(s)

English

Karin has a wide-ranging commercial litigation practice, with significant expertise in class actions, securities litigation, product liability matters, broker-dealer disputes, and insolvency and restructuring.

She has appeared before all levels of court in Ontario, the British Columbia Supreme Court, and the Supreme Court of Canada. Karin has both trial and arbitration experience, having completed a long, complex trial, and multiple arbitrations.

Karin is an editor of Osler’s Class Action Blog and speaks conversational Hebrew.

    • A pharmaceutical company and national retail pharmacy chain in the defence of multiple class actions commenced across the country in respect of opioid products, including a novel statutory action commenced on behalf of the provincial governments.

    • An international bank in a complex class action pertaining to allegedly improper fees being applied to customer accounts.

    • A leading medical device company in one of North America’s largest product liability disputes defending multiple concurrent product liability class actions and individual actions in several jurisdictions.

    • BP plc in defending a proposed securities class action commenced in Ontario arising from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon accident and subsequent Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

    • A leading gasoline, oil, and natural gas company in achieving the discontinuance of a product liability action involving allegations of negligence in relation to their market-leading hydraulic oil.

    • A large international mining company in respect of various claims arising from the construction of a large-scale processing facility culminating in a lengthy Ad Hoc Arbitration.

    • An international manufacturer of hair care products in its defence of a class action including allegations of various legislative and common law breaches.

    • A multinational insurance company in obtaining an early dismissal of a dispute involving alleged breaches of privacy.

    • A large construction company in a defamation matter, including a successful, precedent-setting appeal of the results of an Anti-SLAPP motion.

    • An IIROC dealer member in successfully defending an arbitration before the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC).

    • A leading international manufacturer of waste treatment equipment in a complex multi-jurisdictional product liability case involving many parties.

    • A global leader in the lighting industry in multiple matters involving claims surrounding allegedly defective products used in large-scale commercial applications.

    • A large international automobile manufacturer in a multijurisdictional class action trial and subsequent appeal arising out of an insolvency. 

    • Sears Canada in connection with its proceedings under the CCAA

    • Forever XXI in connection with its proceedings under the CCAA

    • Imperial Tobacco in connection with its proceedings under the CCAA

    • Walter Energy Canada Holdings Inc. in connection with its proceedings under the CCAA

    • Ben Moss Jewellers in connection with its proceedings under the CCAA

    • Cash Store Financial Services Inc in connection with its proceedings under the CCAA

    • RSM US LLP in the launch of RSM Canada with provision of risk management advice in the context of a merger.

    • Comark completes sale transaction and emerges from creditor protection.

  • Outside counsel assisting the United Nations Office of Staff Legal Assistance, Volunteer
  • Pro Bono Law Ontario, Law Help Centre Volunteer
  • Stephen Lewis Foundation, Committee Member for the Give a Day Campaign

  • "Push and Pull in Class Proceeding Standards North of the Border: Re-Evaluating Preferable Procedure Requirements in Canadian Class Actions", Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel (FDCC) Class Action and Multi-District Litigation Newsletter, March 2020, (with Sonia Bjorkquist and Jessica Habib)
  • “The Class of 2012:  Where Are We Now?, Class Action Developments in the Common Law Provinces 2012”, March, 2013 (with Sonia Bjorkquist and Mary Paterson), editions by Yvon Blais
  • Quoted in “Charity Lawsuit has Implications for Class Actions”, Drew Hasselback, Financial Post, November 7, 2012 (with Laura Fric and Kevin O’Brien)
  • Litigating a Cross-Border Class Action in Canada” presented at the ALM Cross-Border Litigation Forum in New York City, September 12, 2012 (with Deborah Glendinning, Sonia Bjorquist and Mary Paterson)
  • “Undertakings And The Inevitable Refusals Motion” Divine Discoveries: Building A Great Case, April 19, 2012 (with Valerie A.E. Dyer)
  • “Just Enough:  Practical Boundaries of Certification”, Colloque National sur les Recours Collectifs, Barreau du Quebec, March 2014 (with Mary Paterson and Sonia Bjorkquist)