Derek Ronde

Partner

 | Toronto

Derek Ronde is a partner in the Litigation Group at Cassels and serves as Co-Chair of the firm’s Class Actions Group. Derek has a wide-ranging corporate-commercial litigation practice. He has significant experience in a multitude of areas including class proceedings, franchise litigation, product liability, securities litigation, employment litigation, contract disputes, regulatory investigations, injunctions and other commercial litigation practice areas. He is recognized as a leader in his field by such authorities as the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory, Best Lawyers in Canada, and Chambers Canada which notes that “clients find him ‘quite thoughtful and practical’ and ‘strong and persuasive in court.’ ”

His experience includes acting for:

  • A Canadian franchisor in the successful defence of a $100 million class action over rebates brought by franchisees
  • Corporate defendants on a variety of class proceedings
  • A minority shareholder in the successful challenge to a multi-billion-dollar plan of arrangement
  • An international consulting firm in a variety of regulatory-related matters and class proceedings
  • A Canadian manufacturing company in a variety of dealership actions and arbitrations

  • Best Lawyers in Canada (Franchise)
  • Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory (Franchise Law: Franchisor)
  • Chambers Canada (Franchising)
  • Franchise Times (Legal Eagle)
  • Lexpert Special Edition, Litigation
  • Who’s Who Legal: Canada (Franchise)
  • Who’s Who Legal: Franchise
  • “Derek is a strong speaker and an expert in his field.” – Chambers Canada (Franchising)
  • “Very strategic – a strong litigator with a strong understanding of franchising.” – Chambers Canada (Franchising)
  • “Well versed in the challenges of high-stakes franchising disputes.” – Chambers Canada (Franchising)
  • “A litigator who is well known in the franchising space.” – Chambers Canada (Franchising)
  • “Clients find him ’quite thoughtful and practical’ and ‘strong and persuasive in court.’” – Chambers Canada (Franchising)
  • LL.B., Osgoode Hall Law School, 2001
  • B.A. (Hons), University of Toronto, 1997
  • Ontario, 2002
  • American Bar Association
  • Canadian Bar Association
  • Canadian Franchise Association
  • International Bar Association
  • International Franchise Association
  • Ontario Bar Association, Chair, Franchise Law Section (2023-24), Franchise Law Executive and Former Member, Class Actions Section
  • The Advocates’ Society