Brendan O'Grady

For more than a decade, Brendan has practiced in class proceedings with a special focus on defending cross-border competition matters. With a wealth of experience, Brendan understands the unique procedural landscape and significant business pressures inherent in class actions.

Crucial to resisting competition class actions in Canada is developing a coordinated defence with counsel in all jurisdictions where the client may be facing parallel civil, criminal or regulatory proceedings. Brendan works in lockstep with Baker McKenzie's highly integrated, global anti-trust defence practice to execute cross-border legal strategies.

He has acted in major class proceedings across the country involving allegations of anti-competitive activity, securities misrepresentations, privacy breaches, product liability and breaches of employment standards and consumer protection laws.

Brendan has appeared before the Supreme Court of Canada, superior courts across Canada, the Federal Court of Canada and the Tax Court of Canada.

Brendan has also represented Fortune 500, private and state-owned companies in major international commercial arbitrations seated in Canada and around the world.

His arbitration practice is recognized in the Chambers and Partners Canada Guide (2024, 2025) and he was the sole recipient of the Lexology Client Choice Award for arbitration in Ontario (2024). Both distinctions are based on client feedback. Clients have commented:

• "He is a fantastic attorney—he is whip smart, has a very high IQ and is great in high pressure situations." (Chambers)
• "I would gladly entrust Brendan in leading an international disputes case, especially one involving the management of information across jurisdictions and the synthesis of competing bodies of law." (Chambers)
• "Working with Brendan O'Grady has enabled us to win difficult cases where the outcome was not certain." (Lexology)
• "Brendan has a remarkable and noteworthy ability to analyze complex sets of technical and commercial facts." (Lexology)

Brendan sits on the executive committee of the Advocates' Society Arbitration and Mediation Advocacy Practice Group. He has co-authored chapters published by Legal 500, Thomson Reuters Practical Law and Chambers & Partners.

• Represented a Japanese electronic components manufacturer in multijurisdictional class proceedings involving alleged price-fixing.
• Represented a global chemicals company in multijurisdictional class proceedings involving alleged price-fixing.
• Represented a generic pharmaceutical company in national class proceedings involving alleged anti-competitive activity.
• Represented a Japanese auto parts manufacturer in multijurisdictional class proceedings involving alleged price-fixing.
• Represented a global engineering firm in numerous worldwide venues facing allegations of negligence and claims for damages of nearly USD 600 million.
• Represented a global medical supplies distributor advancing allegations of pandemic profiteering in ICC arbitration seated in Singapore.
• Represented a global renewable energy firm in numerous ICC arbitrations seated in Toronto arising from major infrastructure projects.
• Represented a US railway in VanIAC arbitration concerning disputed tariff obligations.
• Represented a social media company seeking to protect the anonymity of its users.

• The Advocates' Society, Secretary of the Arbitration and Mediation Advocacy Practice Group
• Associate, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators
• Canadian Bar Association, Competition Law Section
• Ontario Bar Association, Class Actions Law Section
• Toronto Lawyers Association
• Law Society of Ontario