About Erin D. Farrell

Erin D. Farrell is a Toronto litigator who represents professionals in civil and administrative matters and has defended Canadian and foreign companies in the pharmaceutical, medical device and manufacturing industries. As a partner in Gowling WLG's advocacy department, Erin takes on commercial disputes that include class actions, product and professional liability, and claims over environmental and municipal liability. Erin also brings wide experience in the banking sector, advising clients there on litigation that includes motions and injunctions.

Science came first. Before choosing law, Erin did genetics research at a German university and at a large pharmaceutical company in California, and holds an honours bachelor's in biochemistry and a master's in biotechnology. Law school at the University of Calgary followed, and Erin was called to the Ontario bar in 2011. Erin's published work covers class actions, insurance law and genetics, and it reaches back to research papers in journals like Genome Research and Nature Biotechnology.

Erin has appeared in every level of Ontario's courts and has represented clients in front of regulators and tribunals. In 2019, Erin and Sandra Barton were counsel for New Scientist Magazine, Peter Aldhous and Reed Business Information when the Court of Appeal for Ontario dismissed an appeal in a defamation case, and the Supreme Court of Canada refused leave to appeal the next year. Speaking to Canadian Lawyer in 2023, Erin pointed out that text messages, metadata, email and Zoom chats now give even a simple lawsuit a huge volume of relevant documents, and that litigators rely on document management systems and specialists to keep costs down for clients in small and mid-sized cases.

Erin is a past chair of Gowling WLG's pro bono program. As national chair in 2024, Erin talked about the firm's Aim for 15 campaign, which encourages every professional there to put in at least 15 pro bono hours a year. In Erin's view, total hours don't show a program's true reach; what counts is how many people get involved, how many more files open and how inventive the work becomes. Within the profession, Erin sits on The Advocates' Society's Mid-Career Advocates' Standing Committee and serves on several of its task forces.

Practice areas

Civil Litigation & Dispute Resolution

Class actions

Erin has written on class proceedings, including a 2013 bulletin piece on the Supreme Court of Canada's first fresh look at preferable procedure since Hollick.

Litigation for life sciences and manufacturers

Erin has defended companies from Canada and abroad in litigation involving pharmaceuticals, medical devices and manufacturing.

Litigation for the banking sector

For clients in banking, Erin advises on a range of litigation, much of it involving motions and injunctions.

Regulatory bodies, tribunals and courts

Erin has acted for clients in front of regulators and tribunals, and has appeared in court at every level in Ontario.

Environmental and municipal liability

Environmental law and municipal liability claims round out the practice. Erin's writing here includes a 2011 Canadian Underwriter article on bike accidents and municipal liability and a 2018 update on Ontario's climate change plan.

Our guide: Litigation and Dispute Resolution in Toronto

Education & credentials

  • LLB, University of Calgary (2010)
  • Called to the Ontario bar (2011)
  • MSc (biotechnology), Mannheim University of Applied Sciences, Germany (2004)
  • BSc, Hons. in Biochemistry, Memorial University (2002)

Notable cases

  • Health Genetic Centre Corp. (Health Genetic Center) v. New Scientist Magazine, 2019 ONCA 977

    Erin Farrell and Sandra Barton acted for the respondents, New Scientist Magazine, Peter Aldhous and Reed Business Information Ltd., who had been sued in defamation over a 2010 article; the appellants argued only that the trial judge's conduct and reasons raised a reasonable apprehension of bias. The court dismissed the appeal and denied leave to appeal costs, and in 2020 the Supreme Court of Canada dismissed an application for leave to appeal, with costs.

Decisions where Erin D. Farrell appeared as counsel, from public court records. Past cases don't predict future results.

Publications & speaking

  • Litigation and Settlement: Strategies and Case Law (Property Disputes: Strategies and Remedies 2025), Osgoode Professional Development (2025)
  • Climate change regulatory update: The "Made-in-Ontario Environment Plan": More carrots, fewer sticks and a dash of sunlight, Gowling WLG Environmental Law newsletter (2018)
  • Boyce v Co-Operators General Insurance Co: If You Want Your Limits, Check Your Limitations, Canadian Journal of Insurance Law (2014)
  • Spotlight on Gene Patents, Intellectual Asset Management (2013)
  • Bike Accidents and Municipal Liability, Canadian Underwriter (2011)
  • In Silico Pharmacogenetics: Warfarin Metabolism, Nature Biotechnology (2006)

Memberships & affiliations

In the community

  • Through Pro Bono Ontario programs, Erin gives legal advice and steps in as duty counsel for people who come to courts and tribunals without a lawyer.

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This listing was generated by AI from public sources in October 2026. It may contain errors, and we can’t guarantee it’s accurate or complete. Before you rely on anything here, verify it on their firm’s website. Confirm Erin D. Farrell’s licence and standing in the Law Society of Ontario directory ↗

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