Kirk Baert

Kirk Baert, a partner at Koskie Minsky LLP, leads the firm’s class action group with a distinguished reputation recognized by Lexpert, Chambers Canada, and Benchmark Canada. His legal acumen has seen him represent clients across Canada, including the Ontario Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Canada, on a myriad of class action litigation matters.

His notable cases include the groundbreaking Cloud v. Canada, the first certified Indian residential schools class action in Canada, resulting in a $5 billion settlement. As lead counsel, Kirk orchestrated settlement approval hearings across nine jurisdictions, achieving unanimous approval and benefiting over 90,000 class members.

In Anderson v. Canada, Kirk secured a $50 million settlement for Metis and Inuit people in Newfoundland and Labrador affected by residential school policies, marking a significant achievement in the realm of public law.

Kirk’s environmental litigation prowess was demonstrated in Pearson v. Inco Ltd., pioneering in common law environmental class action certification in Canada. His expertise further extends to financial litigation, as seen in his representation of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union Pension Trust Fund in the Nortel Networks Corp Securities Litigation, contributing to a global settlement of over $2.4 billion.

His contributions to securing substantial settlements in auditor and securities litigation, such as the $117 million settlement with Ernst & Young LLP and a $32.5 million settlement with Canadian and American banks in the Labourers Pension Fund v. Sino-Forest Corporation case, underscore his leadership in achieving historic legal outcomes.

Beyond litigation, Kirk has dedicated himself to education and pro bono work, teaching class actions at Osgoode Hall Law School and serving on the board of Pro Bono Law Ontario. His involvement in significant public law matters, including youth solitary confinement and overcrowding in detention facilities, highlights his commitment to addressing critical societal issues.

Kirk’s role as an instructor, author, and speaker on class actions and complex litigation showcases his contributions to legal education and practice. His recognition by prestigious legal directories and his active participation in professional organizations reflect his standing as a leading lawyer in class action litigation.