Lawyer Profile
W. Grant Worden
Toronto, Ontario
Overview
Grant regularly acts as counsel in multijurisdictional class actions, individual actions and “mass tort” claims involving complex product liability claims. His practical advice distills complex issues into the key points that matter most to clients.
Grant co-chairs our national product liability practice group and acts as lead counsel in multijurisdictional class actions, individual actions and “mass tort” claims across Canada involving complex product liability claims, particularly for clients in the life sciences industry.
Grant’s litigation and advisory practice includes extensive experience defending pharmaceutical, medical device consumer product and agricultural product manufacturers in product liability actions including in class proceedings, “mass torts” and individual claims. He also advises clients on commercial and procurement disputes and acts as independent counsel to registration and discipline committees of a professional regulator. Grant acts as both trial and appellate counsel and appears regularly as counsel before the courts in British Columbia, Ontario, Saskatchewan, and Alberta, as well as the Federal Court of Canada and the Federal Court of Appeal.
Grant knows the matter details, the courts, the judges and the systems. He provides very thoughtful and strategic direction... He is a very bright and careful strategist.
Torys is acting as counsel to an international pharmaceutical company in multiple product liability class actions—including proposed actions in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and three class actions at trial in Québec and Ontario—concerning two prescription combined oral contraceptives
an international pharmaceutical company in a proposed product liability class action in British Columbia (as well as an individual action in Ontario) concerning two synthetic broad-spectrum antibacterial drugs used to treat respiratory tract infections
Grant is a member of the peer-reviewed International Association of Defence Counsel, where he serves on the executive of the Drug, Device and Biotechnology and Toxic and Hazardous Substances committees, and the Defense Research Institute. He is also a frequent speaker and skills instructor for the Ontario Bar Association and Advocates’ Society. In 2024, Grant also joins the Ontario Bar Association Class Action Bench-Bar Liaison Committee.
Grant volunteers as an advocacy adviser for Ryerson University’s Law Practice Program and as a Director on the Board of Directors of the Greater Toronto Hockey league (GTHL). He previously served on the Board of Directors of the Leaside Hockey Association for six years, including three as President.
Practice Areas
Bar Information
Called to the bar: 2000 (ON)