Sandra Desjardins

Partner
Key practice areas
Litigation and Dispute Resolution, Financial Institutions and Financial Services Law, Product Liability and Consumer Protection, Extraordinary Remedies, Class Actions
Québec Bar 2011

Sandra Desjardins is a litigator known for her thorough and vigorous approach to handling a wide range of civil and commercial disputes. She is especially familiar with class actions involving consumer, banking and securities law. She has also developed expertise in shareholder disputes and directors’ and officers’ liability, and has successfully represented a number of clients in commercial contract disputes.

Sandra has extensive experience in managing large-scale, complex projects. Her diverse clientele includes financial institutions, telecom companies and insurance companies. She knows how to be creative and listen to her clients so as to find the best approach to a case and resolve disputes whenever possible. She pleads before all levels of Québec courts and in commercial arbitration. Sandra also advises businesses on ensuring their activities comply with consumer law and encourages them to adopt best risk management practices and procedures.

Sandra’s expertise has been recognized in leading legal directories. She has appeared in Lexpert, first in 2023 as a Rising Star: Canada’s Leading Lawyers Under 40, then in 2024 in the Corporate Commercial Litigation category. From 2021 to 2024, Benchmark Litigation Canada has named her a Future Star. Sandra also writes articles on key topics and regularly gives talks on class actions, consumer law and securities.

Sandra is committed to the advancement of women in private law practice. That’s why she joined the Québec Bar’s Justicia project, aimed at developing and implementing best practices, policies and programs to promote the presence of women in private practice.

Sandra has represented various clients, including:

Class actions

  • A major financial institution in a class action involving allegations of non-compliance with the Consumer Protection Act.
  • A major financial institution in a class action relating to the Bank Act and the Consumer Protection Act.
  • A private company in a class action relating to the unilateral termination of a service contract and the applicable fees.
  • A private company in a class action relating to compliance with certain applicable securities standards.

Directors’ and officers’ liability and/or shareholders’ remedies

  • A condominium syndicate and its directors in civil liability proceedings.
  • A major financial institution in an oppression remedy brought by minority shareholders.
  • A private company in an oppression remedy brought by an employee/shareholder alleging unjust and oppressive dismissal.

Commercial contracts and litigation

  • A private company sued for misrepresentations in contract negotiation.
  • A private company in a dispute involving professional and tax law.
  • A private company in proceedings for latent defect related to an alleged environmental contamination.
  • Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory – Corporate Commercial Litigation, 2024
  • Lexpert Rising Stars: Canada’s Leading Lawyers Under 40, 2023
  • Benchmark Litigation Canada – Future Star, 2021-2024
  • Québec Bar's Justicia Project, Member, since 2023

J.D., North American Common Law, Université de Montréal, 2011

LL.B., Civil Law, Université de Montréal, 2009