Glenn Zakaib  

Mr. Zakaib is the National Co-Chair of the Class Actions Group, providing strategic direction and coordination of the group across Canada. He has an extensive background in precedent-setting class actions matters, bringing astute insights forward to defend public and private sector clients against all manner of claims. Glenn's expertise extends across industry sectors. He has a strong track record of successfully defending class action proceedings and product liability claims related to medical, consumer, industrial, pharmaceutical, automotive, aviation, and electrical products, as well as life insurance, misrepresentation, and Competition Act claims.

A strong believer in helping to further advance the legal profession in support of clients, Glenn has held various positions in key industry associations, including past roles with Defense Research Institute (DRI) such as Chair, DRI International; Canadian Regional Director; Chair of the Automotive SLG; and Chair of the International SLG. Glenn continues to be actively involved with DRI's Product Liability, Drug and Medical Device, Commercial Litigation and International Committees. He is also a member of DRI's Law Institute.

Glenn has been consistently recognized by various ranking publications, including recognition as a "Litigation Star: Class Action, Commercial, Product Liability" in Benchmark Canada — The Definitive Guide to Canada's Leading Litigation Firms & Attorneys. He has also been selected by his peers as one of The Best Lawyers in Canada® for work in Class Action Litigation and Product Liability Law and is ranked at the highest level (Band 1) by both Chambers Global and Chambers Canada for Dispute Resolution: Class Action (Defence).

Working with clients across industry sectors, Glenn has defended:

• manufacturers of automotive, aviation, industrial equipment, power tools, and home appliances in a wide array of class; proceedings and product liability cases related to alleged product defects, failure to warn, and other competition law violations;
• drug and medical device manufacturers with respect to alleged off-label marketing, adverse events, and inadequate product warning and labelling;
• public and private corporations with respect to alleged Competition Act violations related to price fixing.

Specific cases include:

• Anderson v. Canada (Attorney General) — represented Moravian Union, Third Party, in a class action related to residential schools in Labrador.
• Hamilton v. Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc. — represented defendants in a class proceeding related to sudden unintended acceleration.
• Voutour v. Pfizer Canada Inc. — represented defendants in a class action alleging increased risk of adverse events relating to the use of CoxII NSAIDs.
• Goodridge v. Pfizer Canada Inc. — represented defendants in a class proceeding relating to allegations of off-label marketing and risks of adverse events.

• Co-Author,  "Where are we with the Languishing Class Action Cases?", BLG Publications, March 2019.
• Co-Author, Litigating Data Points," Canadian Underwriter.
• Co-Author, "Class and Collective Actions in Canada," Lexology Guide.
• Co-Author, "Ontario Superior Court Filters Out Proposed Medical Implant Device Class Action," BLG Publications.
• Co-Author, "In the Internet of Things, Opportunities Abound for Class Action Litigation," BLG Publications.
• Co-Author, "Discovery Challenges in Transnational Class Actions," Law360.
• Panelist, "Cross-Border Class Actions," DRI Class Actions Seminar — Latest Developments in Law and Practice Seminar.
• Panelist, "Collective Proceedings and Cost Saving," DRI Seminar — International Dispute Resolution Seminar.
• Co-Author, "A Summary of Canadian Class Action Procedure and Developments," DRI.

• Recognized in the 2019 edition (and since 2016) of Chambers Canada — Canada's Leading Lawyers for Business (Band 1, Dispute Resolution: Class Action (Defence); Band 1, Litigation: Product Liability).
• Recognized in the 2019 edition (and since 2004) of The Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory (Class Actions; Litigation: Product Liability).
• Recognized in Who's Who Legal: Canada (2018 edition) – a guide to Canada's leading business lawyers and consulting experts: Life Sciences and Product Liability Defence chapters.
• Selected by peers for inclusion in the 2019 edition (and since 2018) of The Best Lawyers in Canada® (Class Action Litigation; Product Liability Law).
•  Recognized as a leading litigator in the 2018 edition of the Lexpert®/Report on Business Litigation Special Edition.
• Recognized in the 2019 edition (and since 2008) of Lexpert®/American Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada (Product Liability).
• Recognized in the 2019 edition (and previous editions) of Benchmark Canada — The Definitive Guide to Canada's Leading Litigation Firms & Attorneys as a "Litigation Star: Class Action; Commercial; Product Liability".
• Recognized in the 2018 edition of IFLR the Best of the Best Global guide as one of the top 30 Product liability practitioners worldwide.
• Recognized in the 2017 (and since 2006) edition of Chambers Global — The World's Leading Lawyers for Business (Band 1, Dispute Resolution: Class Action (Defence)).
• Recognized in the 2016 edition (and since 2011) of the Lexpert® Guide to the Leading US/Canada Cross-Border Litigation Lawyers in Canada (Product Liability).
• Recognized in Who's Who Legal — The International Who's Who of Business Lawyers as the Life Sciences and Product Liability Defence — "Most Highly Regarded Individual" for 2015.