Sonia Bjorkquist

Practice Areas

Sonia is Chair of Osler’s National Litigation Department and Past President of the Advocates’ Society. Sonia has extensive experience defending companies in class actions, commercial arbitration and other complex litigation, and advises clients on managing risks and cross-border issues in multi-jurisdictional cases. She defends complex product liability claims across many industry sectors. She litigates business-critical issues related to commercial agreements, construction/infrastructure contracts, directors' duties and shareholder remedies. Sonia is a key contact for Osler’s Class Action Defence Group.

Career

Sonia was selected by the Government of Canada as a delegate to the CUSMA Advisory Committee on Private Commercial Disputes in accordance with USMCA Article 31.22, and served on the predecessor NAFTA 2022 Advisory Committee. The CUSMA Advisory Committee promotes the use of arbitration, mediation and ODR for the prevention and resolution of international commercial disputes between private parties in the North American free trade area.

Prior to joining Osler as a lawyer, Sonia clerked for the Court of Appeal for Ontario.

Professional Memberships

The Advocates’ Society, Past President

International Association of Defence Counsel (IADC), Member, 2019 Trial Academy Faculty

Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel (FDCC) Member

Defence Research Institute (DRI) Member

Toronto Commercial Arbitration Society (TCAS) Member, former Executive Committee member

Member of Canadian, American and International Bar Associations

Toronto Lawyers Association Member

Publications

The Oppression Remedy, loose-leaf text

New Frontiers: The Oversight Role of Courts in Common Law Canada, Colloque National sur l’action Collective, Barreau du Quebec, 2017

Personal

Queen’s University, LL.B.