Erin VanderVeer

Senior Associate

Toronto
[email protected]
416.367.6440

Erin maintains a diverse practice that includes product liability, insurance coverage and defence, municipal and police liability, and class actions.

Whether defending or advising manufacturers and retailers, Erin brings an insightful and business-centric approach to her products practice. With experience in automotive, telecommunications infrastructure, medical devices, and consumer products, Erin has done a deep dive into the regulatory and commercial environments across various sectors. Always prepared to negotiate or litigate, Erin facilitates a resolution that is timely, reflective of client objectives in the broader context, and with regard to reputational risk.

Erin’s litigation practice focuses on defence side advocacy on behalf of telecommunications companies, insurance companies, municipalities, police services, and other institutions.  With respect to insurance, she provides coverage opinions and advice on policy interpretation related to general liability, property claims, and professional liability.  She is also regularly retained by insurers to defend third party liability property and casualty claims.  Her municipal law practice centres on police liability, as well as personal injury defence, and infrastructure maintenance.  Her class actions experience spans privacy breaches, product liability, and historical abuse claims.

Erin has appeared before the Superior Court of Justice, the Financial Services Commission of Ontario, and the Licence Appeal Tribunal.  Erin enjoys volunteering with Pro Bono Ontario and serving on the board of Cardus.

Experience

Erin's litigation experience includes:

  • Defending municipal police services from tort and Charter claims
  • Defending municipalities from tort, maintenance, and infrastructure claims
  • Defending telecommunications providers
  • Defending manufacturers and distributors in product liability claims
  • Class actions
  • Insurance defence in the motor vehicle context, including accident benefits 
  • Drew v. Walmart Canada Inc., 2016 ONSC 8067
  • 16-003190 v. The Personal Insurance Company, 2017 CanLII 39672

Beyond our Walls

Professional Involvement

  • Member, The Advocates' Society
  • Member, Canadian Defence Lawyers
  • Member, Toronto Lawyers Association
  • Past member, Executive Committee, OBA Class Actions Section

Community Involvement

  • Member of the Board of Directors, Borden Scholarship
  • Board of Directors, Cardus

Bar Admission & Education

  • Ontario, 2015
  • Juris Doctor (cum laude), University of Ottawa, 2014
  • Bachelor of Arts (Honours), Great Distinction, Major in Psychology, Trinity Western University
  • Certificate in Leadership and Applied Public Affairs, Laurentian Leadership Centre