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Laura Fric

Laura Fric

Partner, Litigation

Key Contact: Regulatory Investigations

Key Contact: Product Liability

Key Contact: Class Actions

Contact Information

lfric@osler.com

tel: 416.862.5899

Office

Toronto

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Areas of Expertise
Bar Admission

Ontario, 1995

Education
  • University of Toronto, LL.B.
  • University of Western Ontario, B.A.
Language(s)
English

Laura has extensive litigation experience, specializing in class action (defence), commercial and securities cases.

Laura is recognized in The Best Lawyers in Canada (Class Action Litigation), Benchmark Canada (Class Action, General Commercial, Securities) and The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory (Litigation-Securities and Class Action). Laura is the Co-Chair of the Advocates’ Society Commercial Law Practice Group.

Laura has represented many companies in major class actions, including in the areas of securities and secondary market misrepresentation claims, product liability, consumer protection and statutory claims, environmental, and employment. Her cases include one of the few large class action trials in Canada. Laura has also litigated a wide range of complex commercial matters, including oppression actions, and contract and indemnity claims. Laura has acted for many companies in some of the largest corporate transactions and arrangements in Canada. Laura has also been counsel in expedited hearings before the Ontario Securities Commission. Laura frequently advises clients involved in investigations and regulatory matters.

Laura won the Treasurer’s Medal for highest marks in the Ontario Bar admission course, and clerked for the judges of the Court of Appeal for Ontario. At the start of her career, Laura worked at a prominent criminal defence firm. Laura has spoken at a variety of conferences, and written extensively on class action and securities litigation.

    • Hydro One Inc., in a class action case claiming that it erroneously billed customers.
    • Mylan Pharmaceuticals ULC, Teva Canada, and Pharmascience in product liability class action cases, in various jurisdictions in Canada.
    • Chevron Corporation in defending a claim for recognition and enforcement of an asserted fraudulently obtained Ecuadorian judgment in the billions of dollars.
    • A number of confidential arbitration proceedings involving allegations of breaches of representations and warranties, with claims on indemnities.
    • Vale (Inco) defending a complex class action trial involving claims of environmental property damage, and successfully arguing on appeal to the Ontario Court of Appeal (leave to appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada was denied). Prior to the trial, Laura argued many pre-certification and post-certification motions.
    • General Motors of Canada Limited in certified class actions brought on behalf of former employees, in cases involving pension and post-retirement benefits.
    • BP plc defending a proposed securities class action commenced in Ontario arising from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon accident and subsequent Gulf of Mexico oil spill. In August 2014, the Ontario Court of Appeal agreed that the claims of Canadians who purchased BP securities over the New York Stock Exchange and London Stock Exchange could not proceed in Ontario.
    • Royal Trust (RBC) in a successful summary judgment motion dismissing a large claim arising from the interpretation of a purchase agreement for a business.
    • Sino-Forest Corporation. Counsel for members of the Independent Committee of the Board of Directors, in a proposed securities class-action, where the court held that the defendants did not have to deliver a statement of defence to a secondary market claim under the Ontario Securities Act.
    • Groupon Inc. in a Canadian class proceeding involving the expiry dates on Groupon vouchers, including on the settlement approval hearing.
    • TD Bank in pre-certification, certification and settlement stages of a large class action involving historic foreign exchange transactions on credit cards.
    • Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) in an appeal to the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) from a decision of the TSX involving Fibrek Inc.
    • Various companies in giving advice on possible employment-related class actions, including regarding allegations of non-payment of overtime pay and implementing redress claim processes.
    • Magna International Inc. securing court approval of the plan of arrangement for the company’s dual-class share capital reorganization, in the face of concerted opposition from some institutional shareholders. The approval granted by the Ontario Superior Court of Justice was confirmed on appeal.  Also acting in the related proceedings before the Ontario Securities Commission, initiated by Staff of the OSC and intervening institutional shareholders.
    • OMERS Realty Corporation defeating an application to commence a derivative action in the name of the company.
    • Magna Entertainment Corporation in proceedings before the OSC brought by shareholders of a company who sought a vote of minority shareholders to approve certain transactions.
    • Ventas, Inc. in its successful application for a declaration that Sunrise REIT was obligated under the purchase agreement between the parties to enforce the standstill terms of Sunrise REIT’s confidentiality agreement with a participant in its prior auction process. The decision of the Ontario Superior Court was upheld by the Court of Appeal for Ontario.
    • Glamis Gold Ltd. in defeating the attempt by a shareholder of Goldcorp Inc. to force a vote of the shareholders of Goldcorp to approve the acquisition of Glamis by Goldcorp. The decision of the Ontario Superior Court was upheld by the Ontario Divisional Court.

  • The Best Lawyers in Canada, 2014-2017, recognized in the area of Class Action Litigation.
  • The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory, 2015-2016, Repeatedly Recommended in the area of Class Actions.
  • The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory, 2014-2016, Repeatedly Recommended in the area of Litigation - Securities.
  • Benchmark Canada (recognized in Class Action, General Commercial, Securities).
  • Lexpert Rising Star (2006).

  • ABA Member, Litigation Section
  • Advocates’ Society 

In the Media

  • Ontario overtime class actions: A map for certification?
  • Stats offer glimpse of how leave requirement has played out
  • Court of Appeal denies certification in CIBC overtime class action
  • Disabled Mountie veterans win $70 million settlement
  • Pinning down a legal definition of good faith
  • Best Lawyers 2015 recognizes 139 Osler lawyers
  • Opt-outs face hurdle to opt in, court rules
  • SCC’s Sino-Forest decision shows CCAA trumps all
  • Benchmark Canada 2014 Recognizes 22 Osler Lawyers
  • New role looks to support associates’ diverse roles
  • Author of Ontario overtime class actions: A map for certification?, Canadian Employment Law Today, Mar 20, 2015.
  • Chapter “Employment Class Actions” with L. Sokolov in text “New Perspectives on Canadian Employment Law”, LexisNexis, 2014.
  • Quoted in Court of Appeal denies certification in CIBC overtime class action, Canadian Lawyer, Oct 7, 2014
  • Quoted in Disabled Mountie veterans win $70 million settlement, The Lawyers Weekly Aug 29, 2014
  • Quoted in Class action battles to shift to trial court from motions hearings, Drew Hasselback, Legal Post, Nov 28, 2012.
  • Quoted in Charity lawsuit has implications for class actions, Drew Hasselback, Financial Post, Nov 7, 2012 (with Kevin O’Brien and Karin Sachar).
  • Quoted in Osler’s take on the Look Communications ruling, Barry Critchley, Financial Post, Oct 12, 2012 (with Douglas Bryce and Karin Sachar).
  • Quoted in Confidentiality agreements can make or break a deal; Mum's the word, Derek Sankey, Financial Post, Sept 2012.
  • Quoted in Leo Strine gives confidentiality agreements a firm foundation, Drew Hasselback, Financial Post, May 2012 (with Emmanuel Pressman and Jeremy Fraiberg).
  • Quoted in Overtime Class Cases Still Maturing, Drew Hasselback, Financial Post, May 2, 2012.