Robert Martz

Robert Martz, partner at Burnet, Duckworth & Palmer LLP, is a senior litigator with more than a decade of experience in complex commercial and corporate dispute resolution. His practice focuses on high‑stakes litigation, domestic and international arbitration, and appellate advocacy, including matters involving constitutional questions, class actions, energy and natural resources disputes, and joint venture conflicts.

Robert has extensive experience acting as counsel in international commercial arbitrations and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. He also advises clients on international anti‑corruption and bribery matters, sanctions, and tariff issues, including compliance under the Corruption of Foreign Public Officials Act and the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. His work frequently involves cross‑border elements and multinational clients.

• Ganong v Northwynd REIT et al – Counsel for the plaintiff class members. The action was successfully certified as a class proceeding in 2021. The plaintiff class, consisting of hundreds of unitholders who invested over $40 million in Northwynd REIT, alleged that at the time of the wind-up in 2017, Northwynd had about $40 million in contingent assets. Instead of distributing these assets to the unitholders, the trustees transferred them to a holding company owned by Northwynd's CEO for no consideration. A favourable settlement was reached in November 2024, with distribution of settlement proceeds to be completed in 2025.
  
  
• Historic settlement in workplace sexual misconduct class action against City of Leduc – Counsel for plaintiff class in successful settlement agreement with the City of Leduc for systemic sexual abuse, harassment, and assault against female city employees, including firefighters. The settlement includes the highest per‑person monetary compensation in a Canadian workplace misconduct class action, with non‑adversarial claims processes, non‑monetary remedies, and extended eligibility periods. Approved July 4, 2023.
  
  
• Deans Knight Income Corporation appeal to Supreme Court of Canada – Appeared at Supreme Court of Canada in this precedent‑setting tax case involving the general anti‑avoidance rule and corporate loss utilization following a recapitalization and restart transaction. Heard on November 2, 2022.
  
  
• Successful leave to appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada on behalf of Peace River Hydro Partners – Lead counsel in Peace River Hydro Partners, et al. v. Petrowest Corporation, et al., involving whether a receiver may disclaim an arbitration clause while enforcing the underlying contract.

• Arbitration
• Class action
• Commercial
• Commercial disputes
• Construction
• Dispute resolution
• Energy and construction
• Government and regulatory
• International arbitration
• Securities
• Tax
• Tax disputes

• Construction and materials
• Energy
• Financial services
• Government and public policy
• Industrials
• Natural resources
• Oil and gas

• Law Clerk, Chambers of the Honourable Marshall Rothstein, Supreme Court of Canada, 2011–2012
• Law Clerk, Saskatchewan Court of Appeal, 2010–2011, University of Saskatchewan, 2011–2012
• Juris Doctor (Great Distinction), University of Saskatchewan, 2012
• Masters in Roman Republican History, The Ohio State University, 2005
• High Honours in Ancient History and Classical Culture, University of Saskatchewan, 2001

• Law Society of Alberta
• Canadian Bar Association

• Alberta, 2012
• Saskatchewan, 2011