Karine Russell

• Working on class action defence counsel teams in defending a variety of product liability, pharmaceutical, medical device, price-fixing, competition, and privacy class proceedings

• Co-defence counsel at a certification hearing opposing certification of a national class proceeding in relation to allegations that a personal care product is related to serious injury

• Successfully obtaining interim injunctive relief requiring a defendant to comply with the terms of a services agreement, thereby allowing the client's business operations to continue unaffected during a breach of contract dispute

• Co-counsel at trial defending claims arising out of property disclosure statements in a real estate transaction

• Successfully representing corporate clients in confidential arbitration hearings

• Assisting with a successful application for interim injunctive relief to freeze funds alleged to have been received through fraudulent conduct pending the resolution of the dispute

• Defending a publicly listed company in a claim involving allegations of fraud, negligence, and conspiracy

• Representing financial institutions in prosecuting and defending claims with respect to conduct of investment advisers, regulatory oversight, and contractual relationships

• Negotiating the successful resolution of a dispute between a purchaser and a property developer involving allegations of fraud and bad faith in contractual performance

• Working on a team to advance and defend claims involving cost overruns and alleged deficiencies in a private arbitration between a contractor and owner arising out of a multi-billion dollar transmission line construction project

• Representing an international pulp producer in an action against a former director and competitor alleging improper use of confidential corporation information, breach of fiduciary duties, and loss of opportunity as a result of the defendants' conduct

• Assisting with the successful resolution of a claim against a pharmaceutical company client following the recall of a pharmaceutical drug

Karine is recognized as a leading lawyer in The Best Lawyers in Canada 2022 - Ones to Watch (Corporate and Commercial Litigation).

Karine is a member of the Canadian Bar Association British Columbia (CBABC) Branch and sits on the Executive of the CBABC’s Class Action Section.

Karine is a member of the Firm’s Professional Development Committee, Student Committee and Social Committee.

Karine acts as a mentor within the Firm and to law students enrolled at the University of British Columbia (UBC). She has been recognized as a "Mentor of the Year" for her involvement with the joint CBA/UBC Law Students Mentorship Program. Karine also provides pro bono legal advice to individuals.

• Co-author: The Supreme Court of Canada Applies General Rules of Contractual Interpretation to Releases, Overtaking a 150-year-old Rule
  Blakes Bulletin on Litigation & Dispute Resolution, July 29, 2021.
• Speaker: Climate Harm Class Action Claims
  17th National Symposium on Class Actions, Osgoode, Webcast, April 22, 2021.
• Co-author: SCC Waves Goodbye to Waiver of Tort
  Blakes Bulletin on Litigation & Dispute Resolution, July 27, 2020.

• Speaker: Climate Harm Class Action Claims
  17th National Symposium on Class Actions, Osgoode, Webcast, April 22, 2021.
• Speaker: Class Actions in 2021: Trends and Developments
  Blakes Business Class Webinar, March 9, 2021.

Admitted to the British Columbia Bar - 2009
LL.B., University of Victoria, Faculty of Law - 2008
B.A. (Hon., History), University of British Columbia - 2005