Karine Russell Partner | Vancouver

• Defending national class proceedings, including product liability, pharmaceutical, medical device, consumer protection, competition/antitrust, data breach and privacy claims

• Successfully opposing a certification application in a proposed national class proceeding in relation to allegations regarding a personal care product and personal injuries

• Successfully striking the majority of a plaintiff's evidence in a proposed class proceeding as inadmissible prior to certification

• Successfully obtaining a stay of a proposed consumer class action in a case involving video games on the basis that the governing terms of service contain a mandatory arbitration clause

• Successfully obtaining leave to appeal a "sequencing" decision of a case management judge in a proposed class action regarding the hearing of pre-certification applications

• Successfully obtaining interim injunctive relief requiring a defendant to comply with the terms of a services agreement, thereby allowing the client's business operations to continue unaffected during a breach of contract dispute

• Co-counsel at trial defending claims arising out of property disclosure statements in a real estate transaction

• Successfully representing corporate clients in confidential arbitration hearings

• Defending a publicly listed company in a claim involving allegations of fraud, negligence, and conspiracy

• Representing financial institutions in prosecuting and defending claims with respect to conduct of investment advisers, regulatory oversight, and contractual relationships

• Representing a biotechnology company in the cannabis industry in defending claims by a competitor relating to breach of confidence and related claims with respect to testing methodologies

• Representing an international pulp producer in an action against a former director and competitor alleging improper use of confidential corporation information, breach of fiduciary duties, and loss of opportunity as a result of the defendants' conduct

• Assisting with the successful resolution of a claim against a pharmaceutical company client following the recall of a pharmaceutical drug

Karine is recognized as a leading lawyer in the following publications:

• Lexpert Special Edition: Litigation 2024

• Benchmark Canada's 40 & Under List 2024

• Lexpert Special Edition: Technology and Health Sciences 2024

• The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory 2024 (Leading Lawyers to Watch – Class Actions)

• Benchmark Canada: The Definitive Guide to Canada's Leading Litigation Firms and Attorneys 2023 (Future Star)

• Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in Canada 2022 (Corporate and Commercial Litigation)

Karine is a member of the Canadian Bar Association British Columbia (CBABC) Branch and is the chair of the CBABC's Class Action Section.

Karine is an executive member of the Advocates' Club, a group of Vancouver litigators who regularly meet with members of the British Columbia judiciary to discuss recent legal developments.

Karine is the vice chair of the Canadian Mental Health Association – North and West Vancouver Branch.

Karine is a member of the Firm's Associates Committee and is actively involved in the mentorship, professional development and growth of associates.

Karine acts as a mentor within the Firm and to law students. She has been recognized as a "Mentor of the Year" for her involvement with the joint CBA/UBC Law Students Mentorship Program. Karine also provides pro bono legal advice to individuals, societies, and non-profit organizations.

• Co-author : Minding Your Business: The State of Environmental Class Actions in Canada
  Key Developments in Environmental Law 2024, Thomson Reuters, December 2024.
• Co-author : The Rising Tide of Environmental Class Actions in Canada
  Five Under 5 on Environmental / Class Actions, June 11, 2024.
• Co-author : B.C. Tables Cost-Recovery Legislation to Sue Corporate “Wrongdoers” for Harms or Risk of Harms Caused by Products or Services
  Blakes Bulletin on Litigation & Dispute Resolution, March 15, 2024.
• Co-author : Appeal Courts Stay the Course on Arbitration Clauses in Consumer Contracts
  Blakes Bulletin on Litigation & Dispute Resolution, August 14, 2023.
• Co-author : The Metaverse: Litigation Challenges
  Blakes Bulletin on Litigation & Dispute Resolution, November 23, 2022.
• Co-author : The CanLII Manual to BC Civil Litigation
  Canadian Legal Information Institute, March 2022.

• Speaker : Recent Trends in Class Actions
  Advocates' Club Meeting, January 20, 2025.
• Speaker : Environmental Class Actions in Canada
  Blakes Business Class Seminar, May 16, 2024.
• Speaker : Consumer Protection Class Actions in Canada
  Blakes Business Class Seminar, February 22, 2024.
• Speaker : Business Disputes: Key Canadian Rulings of 2023
  Episode 30, Blakes Sound Business Podcast, December 20, 2023.
• Speaker : Top Class Action Cases and Trends in Canada
  Blakes Business Class Seminar, December 12, 2023.
• Speaker : Climate Change Class Actions
  CBABC, Class Action Section, Vancouver, British Columbia, November 17, 2023.
• Speaker : Proactive Litigation Management
  Blakes Business Class Seminar, September 29, 2023.
• Moderator : Litigating the Merits in Class Actions
  CBABC Class Actions Section, Vancouver, British Columbia, November 7, 2022.
• Speaker : Guide to Class Actions
  Advocates' Club Meeting, Vancouver, British Columbia, September 19, 2022.
• Speaker : Defending Consumer Protection Class Actions in Canada
  Blakes Business Class Webcast, Vancouver, British Columbia, June 7, 2022.

• Interviewed : Climate change class actions already in Canada and the number is expected to grow
  Article by Zena Olijnyk, Canadian Lawyer, August 8, 2023.

Admitted to the British Columbia Bar – 2009
LLB, University of Victoria, Faculty of Law – 2008
BA (Hon., History), University of British Columbia – 2005