CLASS ACTION
CLASS ACTION
Kirk M. Baert
Koskie Minsky LLP
Tel: (416) 595-2117
Fax: (416) 204-2889
Toronto
kbaert@kmlaw.ca
Kirk Baert is a partner at Koskie Minsky. His practice focuses on class actions. He has
been recognized by Lexpert® as a leading Canadian practitioner in class actions. He
has appeared in courts across the country, including the Supreme Court of Canada,
on matters dealing with class action litigation. Baert was counsel in Cloud v. Canada,
the first Indian residential schools class action certified in Canada. A $4-billion settlement was reached in the case in 2007. Baert was designated as lead counsel to handle the
nine settlement approval hearings. The settlement was approved by all provincial and
territorial courts involved. More than 90,000 class members have made claims. Baert is
counsel in Markson v. MBNA Canada Bank, which was certified by the Ontario Court
of Appeal. The court's decision expanded the situations where an aggregate assessment of
damages may be used. He was Canadian counsel for the plaintiff in Re Nortel Networks
Corp securities litigation. A settlement was reached totaling more than $2.4 billion.
Sonia L.
Bjorkquist
Osler, Hoskin &
Harcourt LLP
Tel: (416) 862-5876
Fax: (416) 862-6666
Toronto
sbjorkquist@osler.com
Sonia Bjorkquist specializes in complex and multi-jurisdictional class actions and
commercial arbitration, with extensive trial advocacy experience. She litigates businesscritical issues relating to director and officer liability, shareholder rights and oppression,
banking, and international fraud and Ponzi schemes. Bjorkquist defends product liability claims involving negligence and failure to warn respecting manufactured products,
food and beverages, supplements, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices. Bjorkquist has
expertise defending cases with cross-border implications and advising international
clients on strategy and risk management in multi-jurisdictional litigation. She also
represents and advises clients on privacy law issues and access to information. Called to
the Ontario Bar in 1997.
Sheila R. Block
Torys LLP
Tel: (416) 865-7319
Fax: (416) 865-7380
Toronto
sblock@torys.com
Chair of Torys' Litigation and Dispute Resolution Practice. Trial and appellate counsel
litigation practice, acting as counsel on a wide range of leading cases before all levels of
court in Canada and in international arbitrations. Chair, Touching Tiny Lives Foundation; President, Fox Education Fund; Trustee, Foundation for International Arbitration
Advocacy, Geneva; President's Council, University of Ottawa; and Advisory Board,
Ethics and the Law, University of Toronto. Ranked by Lexpert® as one of Canada's top 25
corporate litigators. Taught advocacy in North America and Europe, New Zealand, El
Salvador, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Brazil and India. Awards include: Law Society Medal;
Advocates' Society Medal; Advocacy; Toronto Lawyers' Association Award of Distinction; OBA Award for Excellence; Meritas Tabaret Award, University of Ottawa; Fellow,
ACTL, ISOB; Member, Common Law Honour Society, University of Ottawa; LLB
(Gold Medalist), 1972, University of Ottawa. Ontario Bar, 1974.
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