Mr Michael Eizenga > Bennett Jones LLP > Toronto, Canada > Lawyer Profile

Bennett Jones LLP
3400 ONE FIRST CANADIAN PLACE
PO BOX 130
TORONTO, ONTARIO
Canada

Work Department

Class Actions

Position

Partner, Head of Class Actions

Career

A fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and chair of the firm’s class actions practice, Michael Eizenga is recognized as one of Canada’s leading class action litigators. Michael advises and represents clients on all issues relating to class proceedings, including product liability, securities, competition and other commercial matters. Since its inaugural 2006 edition, Michael has been named annually in Best Lawyers in Canada. He is also named annually in The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory, and in 2015 is ranked as Most Frequently Recommended in the areas of Litigation – Class Actions and Product Liability. Michael has been recognized as one of the preeminent litigation practitioners in the province in Ontario by Benchmark Canada, and named as a litigation star. As well, he is named annually in the Lexpert/American Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada as a leading class action litigation and product liability lawyer, and is ranked by Chambers and Partners for his expertise in Dispute Resolution: Class Actions. Michael is an adjunct professor at the University of Toronto, Faculty of Law, and previously taught in the Faculty of Law and Departments of Philosophy and Political Science at the University of Western Ontario. He has also taught at Osgoode Hall’s Intensive Trial Advocacy Workshop; and the Law Society’s Bar Admission Course. A frequent lecturer and author regarding class action litigation, Michael has presented domestically and internationally to organizations such as the International Bar Association, the Canadian Bar Association, the Canadian Institute and the Advocates’ Society. Michael is co-author of Class Actions Law and Practice and co-editor of Readings in the Philosophy of Constitutional Law and Class Actions in Canada. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute Foundation, War Child Canada, and has been a member of numerous other community, professional and academic organizations. He is a past member of the Board of Directors of Pro Bono Law Ontario (2008‐2011). He is also a past president of The Advocates’ Society (2007‐2008), a former member of its Board of Directors (1999‐2008), and founding co‐chair and member of its Advisory Board, Institute for Civility and Professionalism (2008‐present).

Education

University of Western Ontario, BA, 1979 | Dallas Seminary, ThM, 1983 | University of Western Ontario, MA, 1986 | University of Western Ontario, LLB, 1989

Lawyer Rankings

Canada > Dispute resolution: Ontario

The Ontario team at Bennett Jones LLP is known for its handling of cross-border restructuring, fraud, class actions, insolvency, energy, mining, technology and M&A disputes. Practice head Richard Swan specializes in complex commercial litigation and arbitration matters and has experience representing clients before all levels of the Ontario and Federal Courts. Additional key department figures include Robert Staley, who handles commercial and securities litigation, securities regulation and class actions; and commercial litigation and class proceedings specialist Michael Eizenga, who takes care of product liability and class action matters. Other key names include Cheryl Woodin and Jeffrey Leon KC.