Parent Company Liability: Where Courts Are Drawing the Line

For Canadian companies operating abroad, the potential for parent company liability arising from foreign operations is an increasingly important consideration.

Join us for a practical session on how courts are approaching issues of jurisdiction and enterprise liability, and what it means for governance, structure, and litigation exposure. We will draw on recent case developments that raise core questions about when claims arising outside of Canada can be brought against a Canadian parent company.

This session is relevant for Canadian companies with operations or interests abroad, including mining, energy, manufacturing, and investors with international assets.

We will focus on:

• When a parent company can be implicated in litigation
  • Direct liability vs. separate corporate personality
• Where claims can be heard
  • Jurisdiction challenges and forum disputes
• What evidence matters
  • Governance, control, and oversight that courts look at
• Practical risk points for global operations
  • Structure, decision-making, and documentation
• Lessons from recent cases
  • Cross-border claims against parent companies arising from environmental, social and political circumstances

Key Takeaways

• Understand where liability risk is actually moving or not
• Pressure test your governance and operating model
• Identify gaps before litigation arises

Speakers: Andrew Kalamut, Vasuda Sinha, Holly Kallmeyer

For questions about this event, please contact clientevents@mccarthy.ca.

The program is eligible for up to 1 hour of accredited educational activity under the Law Society of BC's mandatory CPD.

This program is eligible for up to 1 hour of Substantive Credit under the Law Society of Ontario’s mandatory CPD Regime. It does not qualify for Professionalism credit.

Barreau du Québec Continuing Education: This program contains up to 1 hour of content. For more information regarding the declaration and recognition of educational activities, please contact the Barreau du Québec.