Brendan O'Grady

For more than a decade, Brendan has practiced in class proceedings with a special focus on defending cross-border competition matters. He has appeared before the Supreme Court of Canada, superior courts across Canada, the Federal Court of Canada and the Tax Court of Canada. He has been recognized by Lexpert as a Lawyer to Watch in Competition Law (2026).

Crucial to resisting competition class actions in Canada is developing a coordinated across all jurisdictions in which clients face potential parallel civil, criminal or regulatory exposure. Brendan works in lockstep with Baker McKenzie's highly integrated, global antitrust defence practice to execute cross-border legal strategies.

Brendan has acted in major class proceedings across the country involving allegations of:

• Anti-competitive activity
• Securities misrepresentations
• Privacy breaches
• Product liability (medical devices)
• Breaches of consumer protection laws
• Breaches of employment standards

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

Brendan’s arbitration practice is recognized in the Chambers and Partners Canada Guide (2024, 2025, 2026, 2027) and he was the sole recipient of the Lexology Client Choice Award for Arbitration in Ontario (2024). These distinctions are based on client feedback. Clients have commented:

• "Brendan has been exceptional to work with. He’s not only legally sharp but also commercially astute, which has made his guidance incredibly valuable in navigating both legal and business risks."
• "He is a fantastic attorney—he is whip smart, has a very high IQ and is great in high pressure situations."
• "Working with him is a wonderful experience. He is incredibly smart, creative, client-focused and culturally aware."
• "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."
• "Brendan has a remarkable and noteworthy ability to analyze complex sets of technical and commercial facts."

Brendan is the Chair of the Advocates' Society Arbitration and Mediation Advocacy Practice Group. He has co-authored chapters published by Legal 500, Thomson Reuters Practical Law, Global Competition Review and Chambers & Partners. He regularly speaks on arbitration and class action matters.

• Representing a Japanese computer components manufacturer as appellant in a competition class action to be argued before the Supreme Court of Canada in October 2026.
• Representing shareholders of a public Canadian gold mining company in a corporate governance dispute and related oppression proceedings.
• Representing a multinational construction chemicals company in proposed class actions alleging collusion in the concrete admixtures industry.
• Representing a US social media company seeking to protect the anonymity of its users.
• Representing a US auto parts manufacturer in a trade dispute with a supplier.
• Representing a US financial services company in letter of credit proceedings.
• Representing a gold refiner in a Tax Court of Canada appeal relating to an alleged carousel tax scheme.
• Representing a global medical supplies distributor in a pricing dispute in ICC and SIAC arbitrations seated in Singapore.
• Representing a global renewable energy firm in three ICC arbitrations seated in Toronto alleging negligence and breach of contract against subcontractors on energy infrastructure projects.
• Representing a public Canadian financing firm in two ICC arbitrations seated in Toronto arising from a failed carbon credit development project.
• Representing a US railway in numerous ad hoc proceedings.

• The Advocates' Society, Chair 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