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David Neave

David T. Neave

Counsel
Co-Chair, Class Action Defence Group, Canada
About

David Neave has extensive experience in defending complex civil actions and pan-Canadian class proceedings.  He has acted in more than 45 class actions brought in a wide range of areas including, competition/restraint of trade, products liability, data breach, securities and banking.

David’s defence work includes defending class actions and individual claims including those against international pharmaceutical manufacturers of a variety of different prescription and OTC drugs; class proceeding seeking health care costs recovery related to the opioid crisis; class proceedings brought against international vehicle manufacturers related to emissions and fuel economy; class proceedings against medical products manufacturers of a variety of devices (hip and knee replacement systems, spinal screws, pacemakers, emergency call systems, introducer systems); class proceedings brought against international airlines related to cargo and passenger fees; class proceedings against international electronic manufacturers of various computer chips and other components; a class proceeding against an international postal/package service in respect to an alleged data breach; various actions brought against financial institutions pertaining to interest and credit card charges; and actions against international heavy equipment manufacturers of forestry and marine equipment. He has also represented securities brokerages and an international accounting firm on securities act matters.

David has appeared in the Supreme Court of Canada as well as in the British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario Courts.

 
Bar admissionsBritish Columbia, 1993Ontario, 2014
Languages
  • English
Education
  • LL.B., University of British Columbia, 1992
  • B.Sc., Trent University, 1974

Awards

  • Best Lawyers in Canada (Class Action Litigation), 2010–2025; (Corporate and Commercial Litigation), 2014–2025
  • Chambers Canada (Dispute Resolution: Class Action (Defence)), 2016-2025; (Litigation: Products Liability), 2017-2025; (Litigation: General Commercial), 2020-2022
  • Chambers Global (Dispute Resolution: Class Action (Defence), 2014–2017
  • The Legal 500 Canada (Dispute Resolution), 2017-2025; (Competition and Antitrust), 2019-2024; (Transport: Aviation), 2021-2023
  • Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory (Class Actions), 2015-2016, 2019-2020; (Competition Law), 2015-2021, 2023
  • LMG Life Sciences Directory, Life Sciences Star in Canada, 2019
  • Lexology Index Canada (Life Sciences), 2013–2017, 2021, 2025; (Product Liability Defence), 2013, 2016, 2021
  • Who’s Who Legal: Life Sciences (Product Liability), 2018, 2022
  • Litigation Star, Benchmark Litigation (Class Action, Competition, Product Liability and Securities), 2014-2019; (White Collar Crime), 2016-2019

Seminars

SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
  • Speaker, "Fuel Surcharge Class Action", CBABC Air & Space Law Section Meeting, November, 2015.
  • Panelist, "Recent Developments in Consumer Class Actions: The End of Waiver of Tort in Consumer Class Action Cases?", Class Actions Forum West, The Canadian Institute, May, 2015.
  • Presenter, "Class Actions in Canada - a Primer", DLA Piper (Canada) LLP, June, 2015.

Memberships And Affiliations

  • Member, Class Action, Civil Litigation and Products Liability Subsections, Canadian Bar Association

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