Margaret Waddell

Partner / Class Actions, Commercial Litigation

416-477-6979
marg@waddellphillips.ca

Margaret L. Waddell brings to her clients three decades of experience in successfully prosecuting and resolving Class Actions and Complex Civil Disputes. She is called to the Bar in both Ontario and Alberta. Margaret is recognized as a leading lawyer in the field of class actions, and has acted as class counsel on a number of prominent cases in this field. She is regularly sought out to lead on class actions, or to partner with other firms. She has broad experience in solving all manner of commercial conflicts. Margaret is also recognized for her particularly strong advocacy before the Court of Appeal. In addition, Margaret is a skilled mediator, who can help litigants reach sensible solutions to their disputes.

Margaret has acted as Class Counsel in a variety of consumer protection class actions including criminal interest cases, products liability, and securities fraud. She has also acted as defence counsel in securities class actions, price fixing/Competition Act claims, and professional negligence.

Margaret has broad experience in acting for parties to acrimonious shareholder disputes and in shareholder oppression cases.

Margaret has acted for employers and employees in departing employee breach of covenant injunction cases.

Margaret acts for all nature of business people to assist them in resolving their contract disputes of any nature.

Margaret is often sought out to assist in resolving insurance coverage disputes.

Education

  • Osgoode Law School, LL.M, 2002
  • Queen’s University, LL.B, 1987

Bar Admissions

  • Ontario, 1989
  • Alberta, 1991

Professional Affiliations

  • Ontario Bar Association, Class Action Law Section – Past Chair (2016 – 2017)
  • The Advocates’ Society – Current Member
    Chair, Class Action Practice Group (2018 – 2019)
    Former Board Member (2003 – 2006)
    Chair of the Subcommittee on Practice and Procedure, (2005 – 2006)
  • Toronto Lawyers’ Association – President, 2019 – 2020
  • CBA National Task Force on Multijurisdictional Class Actions (2016-2018)
  • Working Group on Single Judge Case Management Pilot Project (2018)
  • Fellow of the American Bar Foundation
  • “What is the Duty of Good Faith in the Franchise Class Action Context?”, OBA 16th Annual Franchise Law Conference, November 2016
  • “Cross-border Securities Class Actions – Where are we after Kaynes v. BP?” Class Action Journal, Vol. X, No. 4, Federated Press.
  • “Ontario’s Courts Trending Toward Limiting International Class Actions”, Lexpert 2014 Guide to the Leading Cross-border Litigation Lawyers, p. 30 – 33.
  • “Interventions at the Court of Appeal”, Civil Appeals: Issues, Strategies and Best Practices, June 2014
  • “Is a Class Arbitration Do-able?”, OBA Class Action News, June 2014
  • “Anatomy of a Failed Settlement”, OBA Class Action News, March 2014
  • “Indirect Purchasers Given Green Light”, OBA Class Action News, November 2013
  • “The Fallout from Timminco”, OBA Class Action News, May 2013
  • Waddell, Margaret L. and Leclerc J. “Defence before Certification”, OBA Class Action News, November 2011
  • “The Limits to Recovery: Economic Loss Claims from the Defendant’s Perspective”, Thunder Bay Fall CLE (Civil Program) – Damages Issue, Oct 2011
  • “Understanding Claims of Privilege and How Privilege Can be Lost”, Evidence for Litigators – Effective Court Room Management of Your Case, Sept 2010
  • Lexpert® Most Frequently Recommended: Class Actions and Guide to Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada
  • Best Lawyers in Canada: Class Action Litigation and Corporate Commercial Litigation
  • Chambers Global, Dispute Resolution: Class Action (Plaintiff)
  • Benchmark – Top 50 Women in Litigation and Litigation Star — Class Actions
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