Called to Bar: 1994
Robert has extensive experience as a strategic advisor and advocate. He practices civil litigation exclusively, focusing on class actions (both plaintiff and defence side), defamation and corporate & commercial litigation, including contract disputes, securities and shareholder disputes, civil fraud, injunctions, oil & gas litigation, and construction litigation.
He has appeared regularly before the Alberta Court of Appeal and the Court of King’s Bench, the Saskatchewan Court of King’s Bench and the Supreme Court of British Columbia. Robert is lead counsel on numerous national class actions, both for plaintiffs and defendants, and was recently successful as lead counsel in a defamation trial.
Robert has also appeared numerous times as defence counsel before the Law Society and other regulatory tribunals, including various professional disciplinary bodies, the Alberta Securities Commission and the SDAB.
After articling at the Alberta Court of Appeal, Robert continued his practice at Bennett Jones where he became a partner. Since joining JSS Barristers, Robert has served as the firm’s managing partner and chairman.
He has presented national and local seminars to lawyers on class actions and corporate shareholder litigation. In 2012 he was awarded the King’s Counsel designation. (Queen’s Counsel at the time).
Robert’s time outside the legal profession includes previous experience serving as a senior policy advisor to various federal cabinet ministers, chair of the Premier of Alberta’s 2011 transition team, chairman of the 2012 Progressive Conservative provincial election campaign, and playing both chess and poker at a professional level.
Updated April 2024
