Blakes | Life Sciences

Blakes understands product liability risk and the importance to our clients of managing that risk. We are problem solvers and trusted advisors to many world-class manufacturers and distributors. We are experienced and creative trial lawyers. We have successfully defended individual and product liability class action claims, and we’ve negotiated favourable resolutions for clients when that serves their strategic interests. We have a top practice recognized by the key ranking publications and the only team recognized in Band 1 for Product Liability Defence by Chambers Canada.

In an era of expanding regulatory oversight and increasing consumer activism, product liability law has evolved into a complex and ever-changing area of risk for many businesses. Managing this risk requires a deep understanding of our clients’ business objectives and risk tolerance as well as the industry and regulatory contexts in which the risk arises. Our team has advised and defended clients who manufacture and/or distribute medical devices, pharmaceutical medicines, consumer appliances and other electronic products, automobiles and parts, construction equipment, computer software, and many other products. We bring our unparalleled experience and strategic, problem-solving skills to each and every mandate.

Blakes Product Liability lawyers skilfully assess and address the legal issues and challenges that arise during a product’s lifecycle from early product assessment, labelling and warnings, claims prevention and regulatory compliance, through tailored risk and reputation management strategies, to the vigorous defence of individual and class action claims.

Our collective trial experience, combined with our national coverage, is particularly valuable in the current environment when product liability matters are more frequently certified as class actions than other types of class proceedings. We were the first Canadian firm that defended a product liability matter through a common issues trial to a defence verdict.