Ethan Schiff has a complex commercial litigation practice with significant experience in multi-jurisdictional class actions alleging product liability, systemic negligence and competition offences. Ethan has worked on cases alleging defects and/or conspiracies with respect to motor vehicles and their components, medical devices, pharmaceuticals, airfare, household appliances and consumer products. Among other experience, Ethan acted at the Ontario Court of Appeal in successfully upholding the dismissal of a $1.85-billion proposed class action alleging negligent inspection of a building at the certification stage.
Ethan's practice also engages a full range of commercial disputes and claims in breach of contract and fraud. Ethan assists clients with appeals, freedom of information requests and judicial review of administrative decisions. Ethan has acted before all levels of court in Ontario and is counsel in matters before courts in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Nova Scotia.
In addition to his practice, Ethan sits on the Ontario Bar Association Class Actions Executive and is the CPD Liaison, having previously served as the Newsletter Editor. He is also co-editor of the Bennett Jones Quick Takes Class Actions Blog. Ethan is ranked by Chambers and Partners as an Associate to Watch in the category of Litigation: Product Liability and has also been recognized as a Lexology Legal Influencer for his thought leadership in the area of Dispute Resolution.
Ethan brings diverse experience to his practice. While articling, he was seconded to the Bank of Montreal’s Wealth Management team and he previously worked as a provincial prosecutor and legal researcher for the City of Toronto.
Ethan is a member of the Toronto Lawyers’ Association and is a licensed notary public. In law school at the University of Toronto, Ethan was heavily involved in the mooting program, including winning first place in the Gale Cup and the Commonwealth Moot in Glasgow, Scotland.