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Laura Fric

Laura Fric

Partner, Litigation

Key Contact: Regulatory Investigations

Key Contact: Product Liability

Key Contact: Class Action Defence

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 specializes in complex commercial litigation and defending class actions. She is Co-Chair of Osler's Compensation Committee, and a former Co-Chair of the Canadian Advocates' Society commercial litigation group.

Laura has an enviable track record of success in her cases and appeals.

Laura is lead counsel defending major class actions for many large companies in the areas of securities claims, product liability (pharmaceutical litigation), and consumer protection. Laura has also defended credit card, overtime and employment class actions. Laura has acted as lead counsel in international arbitration disputes over acquisition and indemnity agreements, and in other complex contractual claims.

Laura was a senior member of the trial team in one of the largest class actions in Canada, and most recently in a very large and successful tax transfer pricing trial. Laura has acted for many companies in some of the largest corporate transactions and arrangements in Canada. Laura has acted in expedited hearings before the Ontario Securities Commission.

Clients appreciate Laura's practical litigation style, and her collaborative client-based approach to solving their problems.

Laura won the Treasurer's Medal for highest marks in the 1955 Ontario Bar admission course, and then clerked for the judges of the Court of Appeal for Ontario. Laura started her career as a criminal lawyer, at a prominent defence firm.

Laura is recognized for her leading expertise including by Benchmark Canada (Class Action, General Commercial, Securities), the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory (Litigation-Securities and Class Action) and in the Best Lawyers in Canada (Class Action Litigation). Laura is a frequent speaker, writer and lecturer on the class actions and commercial litigation.

    • BP plc - Lead counsel striking out the vast majority of a Canadian securities class action, on a motion and winning the appeal, in a case arising from the Deepwater Horizon explosion. The case is ongoing.
    • Hydro One - Lead outside counsel defeating a certification motion and winning the appeal, in a case claiming substantial damages for alleged overbilling to millions of Ontario customers. 
    • Pharmaceutical class actions - Lead counsel for various large public and private generic pharmaceutical companies, including in a class action proceeding launched by the B.C. government for opioid related health costs, and in an Ontario class action for Canadian residents arising from opioid use - and in a number of other national Canadian class actions involving various drugs, including arising from recalls. Cases are ongoing.
    • Cameco Corporation - Senior member of trial team in a months-long complex transfer pricing tax case, where the court dismissed allegations of sham and fraud.  Currently under appeal.
    • Chevron Corporation - Senior member of team successfully defending a claim for recognition and enforcement in Ontario of a fraudulently obtained Ecuadorian judgement for billions of dollars.
    • Royal Trust (RBC) - Lead counsel bringing a successful summary judgment motion and on appeal dismissing a claim for hundreds of millions in damages, arising from a purchase and sale agreement for a business.
    • Groupon Inc. - Lead counsel in a Canadian class proceeding involving the expiry dates on Groupon vouchers, including on the settlement approval hearing.
    • General Motors of Canada Limited - class actions brought on behalf of former employees, in cases involving pension and post-retirement and health benefits.

Lexpert

  • The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory, 2015-2019: Class Actions
  • The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory, 2014-2019: Litigation - Securities
  • The Lexpert Guide to the Leading US/Canada Cross-border Litigation Lawyers in Canada 2017: Litigation - Securities
  • Lexpert Rising Star (2006)

Benchmark

  • Benchmark Litigation Canada, 2017-2019: (Litigation Star) in the areas of Class Action, General Commercial and Securities

Best Lawyers

  • Best Lawyers in Canada: Class Action Litigation; Corporate and Commercial Litigation

Acritas Stars

  • Acritas Stars, 2018-2019: Star Lawyer

Legal 500

  • The Legal 500, 2019: Recommended Lawyer, Dispute Resolution

  • 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.