Vera Toppings practices commercial and civil litigation, with a focus on class actions and complex business and contractual disputes.
Vera has particular experience with class action litigation. She has represented Canadian and international clients in significant class proceedings addressing noteworthy and emerging issues in the field. Her experience includes multi-jurisdictional cases involving allegations of price-fixing and other competition issues; product liability; breaches of contract and consumer protection law; and securities misrepresentation.
Vera represents Canadian, American, European and Asian clients doing business across a range of industries including electronics, mining, aerospace, automotive, healthcare, software, banking, investments, telecommunications, consumer and industrial goods, real property and professional services.
She has appeared on behalf of clients before trial and appellate courts in Ontario and British Columbia, before the Supreme Court of Canada, as well as in domestic and international arbitrations. She also regularly advocates for clients in complex settlements and multi-party mediations.
Vera is Chair of the Canadian Bar Association national Competition Litigation Committee, and a Member of The Advocates’ Society national Class Actions Practice Group.
She has been an adjunct professor at Osgoode Hall Law School, as part of the teaching team for the “Lawyer As Negotiator” course. She is also one of the founders of the Osgoode Mediation Clinic and the law school’s Mediation Intensive Clinical Program.
As a member of the Fasken Student Development Committee, Vera is involved in the recruitment and professional development of the firm’s summer and articling students.
Vera was named a Rising Star by Lexpert in 2020, and recognized as a Leading Lawyer to Watch in Corporate Commercial Litigation in the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory. She is also ranked as a Future Star in Litigation by Benchmark Litigation (2020, 2019, 2018) and recognized on the Benchmark Litigation 40 & Under Hot List (2020, 2019, 2018).
