Kajal Ervin (she/her/hers)

"[Kajal] has provided me with excellent guidance and transparency throughout the entire class action process since inception,"
- Client interview, Benchmark Litigation 2021

In 2021, Kajal was recognized as a Litigation Star by Benchmark Litigation Canada. Kajal has also been recognized by Best Lawyers for her work in class actions, and by Legal 500 as a Next Generation Partner. She was also named to Benchmark Litigation Top 40 & Under Hot List from 2019 to 2021 which recognizes up-and-coming litigation lawyers in the US and Canada who are 40 or younger. 

As a partner at JSS Barristers, Kajal’s practice primarily involves large and complex file management, organization, and analysis. Kajal has experience advocating claims on behalf of individuals, corporations, and groups of litigants. In her practice she works closely with her clients including individuals, in-house counsel and business groups.

Kajal practices in most areas of civil litigation with a focus on oil and gas litigation, securities litigation, construction disputes, including builders’ liens and mass tort litigation, where she acts on behalf of groups of plaintiffs.

Experience 

Kajal Ervin joined JSS Barristers in July 2008 after having completed her articles with Alberta Justice where she had the opportunity to advocate in a number of areas of litigation, including criminal prosecutions, civil litigation and family law. However, her interests focused on civil litigation, so she joined JSS Barristers and was shortly thereafter called to the Alberta Bar in August 2008.

In 2007, Kajal obtained her Bachelor of Laws from the University of Alberta. During her time in the Faculty of Law, Kajal volunteered with Student Legal Services, with a focus on legal education for the public. She also held a position as a research assistant with the Alberta Law Reform Institute, where she participated in the Rules of Court Project. Prior to attending law school, Kajal obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science at the University of Calgary.

Kajal first became interested in the practice of law and in advocacy when she participated in a Youth Speaking Tour with the United Nations. While at the UN, Kajal had the opportunity to work with various representatives of the United Nations, where she learned the importance of strong advocacy, negotiation and mediation skills.

Kajal is actively involved with JSS Barristers’ Class Action group with a particular interest and experience in securities, privacy breach, and product liability litigation. She is currently involved in a number of JSS Barristers’ ongoing Class Action claims. In addition to advancing Class Actions, Kajal has also been involved in defending Class Action claims.

In her construction litigation practice, Kajal has experience managing litigation arising from builders’ liens, both with respect to surface and mines and mineral rights. She is familiar with the process involved in commencing and conducting litigation within the statutory framework in place for liens.

In her experience managing large and complex files, Kajal has gained expertise in e-discovery and document management. She has been involved in complex and large scale litigation matters involving the collection, review and production of millions of documents, both paper and electronically. Kajal has published and presented on the topic of e-discovery and document management in complex litigation.

Publications 

"Class Actions Arising From a Pandemic"

JSSBarristers.ca, July 28, 2020
Co-Author (with Gavin Price and Andrea MacLean)

"Sharing Document Records with the Other Side: Best Practices on Document Sharing in a Complex Litigation Matter"

LESA Seminar "Document Management in Complex Litigation Files" (2015)
Co-Author and Presenter

Speaking Engagements

Presenter
"Modernization of Technology in Legal Practice", Epiq and Global Lawyers Canada, October 28, 2021

Presenter
"Privacy Breach Class Actions", Quebec Bar Association, 2020 National Conference on Class Actions, October 22-23, 2020

Co-Presenter (along with Bryan C. Duguid QC, FCIArb), 
"No-Amendment Clauses: What's Fairness Got To Do With It?", Canadian Bar Association, Calgary South Sections - Joint Meeting: Construction and Business, Calgary, Alberta, September 10, 2018