Robert Harrison has extensive trial and appellate experience. He is ranked by Lexpert as one of Canada's leading litigators, and is also recognized for his expertise in the current surveys of Chambers Global, Best Lawyers in Canada, and martindale.com. In the current edition of Benchmark Canada, Robert is recognized as a "litigation star".
Robert is perhaps best known for his success in the lengthy trial and subsequent appeals in the case of Waxman v. Waxman. The reasons of the trial judge make it clear that the cross-examinations conducted by Robert were fundamental to his clients' success.
In 2009, Robert led Fasken Martineau's litigation team that succeeded in obtaining a rare interlocutory injunction restraining a hostile takeover bid.
Robert led Fasken Martineau's trial team on behalf of the International Air Transport Association (commonly known as IATA) in obtaining the dismissal of litigation brought by Sabre Inc. alleging the misuse of confidential data. The trial decision was recently upheld by the Ontario Court of Appeal.
Robert has litigated cases in many areas of substantive law, including in relation to securities, financial institutions, shareholders' remedies, insurance coverage, directors and officers liability, environmental litigation, intellectual property, professional negligence, injunctions, class actions, professional conflicts of interest, and insolvencies and restructurings.
Robert regularly makes presentations on trial advocacy for professional bodies such as the Advocates' Society, the Law Society of Upper Canada and Osgoode Hall Law School. He served on the Ontario Civil Rules Committee for six years.
Robert is a Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America and a Charter Member of the Trial Law Institute and the Diversity Law Institute.
Reported Cases:
- Sabre Inc. v. International Air Transport Association, 2011 ONCA 747 (Can LII)
- Sabre Inc. v. International Air Transport Association, 2011 ONSC 206 (Can LII)
- Hamilton (City) v. Metcalfe & Mansfield Capital Corporation, 2010 ONSC 7184; aff'd 2012 ONCA 156
- Gold Reserve Inc. v. Rusoro Mining Limited and Endeavour Financial International Corporation, [2009] O.J. No. 533 (S.C.J.)
- Hemosol Corp. (Re), [2007] O.J. No. 271 (C.A.)
- Hemosol Corp. (Re), [2007] O.J. No. 687 (S.C.J.)
- De Beers Canada Inc. v. Shore Gold Inc., [2006] S.J. No. 330 (C.A.)
- De Beers Canada Inc. v. Shore Gold Inc., [2006] S.J. No. 211 (Q.B.)
- Waxman v. Waxman [2004] O.J. No. 1765 (C.A.)
- Chiefs of Ontario v. Ontario (2003), 63 O.R. (3d) 335 (S.C.J.)
- Waxman v. Waxman [2002] O.J. No. 2528 (S.C.J.)
- Worthington Trucking Inc. v. Klingbeil (Litigation Guardian of) (1999), 43 O.R. (3d) 697 (Ont. Div. Ct.)
- Mutual Life Assurance Co. of Canada v. Peat Marwick (1998), 59 O.T.C. 241; [1998] O.J. No. 5119 (Ont.C.A.)
- Canadian Premier Holdings Ltd. v. Winterthur Canada Financial Corp. (1998), 59 O.T.C. 304
- Montreal Trust Co. of Canada v. Olympia & York (1998), 66 O.T.C. 45
- Reynolds v. Innopac, (1998), 37 O.R. (3d) 577 (C.A.).
- Waxman v. Waxman (1997), 150 D.L.R. (4th) 370
- Schumacher v. Toronto-Dominion Bank (1997), 147 D.L.R. (4th) 128; 153 D.L.R. (4th) 187
- Del Grande v. Toronto Dominion Bank (1995), 21 B.L.R. (2d) 220
- Toronto-Dominion Bank v. Grande Caledon Developments Inc., [1995] O.J. No. 1433
- Slough Estates Canada Ltd. v. Federal Pioneer Ltd. (1994), 20 O.R. (3d) 429
- MDS Health Group Ltd. v. King Street Medical Arts Centre Ltd., [1994] 12 B.L.R. (2d) 209; 55 C.P.R. (3d) 360
- Re Lehndorff General Partner Ltd. (1993), 9 B.L.R. (2d) 275; 17 C.B.R. (3d) 24
- Olympia & York Developments Ltd. v. Royal Trust Co., (1993), 14 O.R. (3d) 1; 103 D.L.R. (4th) 129; 64 O.A.C. 324; 9 B.L.R. (2d) 221; 19 C.B.R. (3d) 1 (Ont. C.A.)
- Re Olympia & York Developments Ltd. (1993), 12 O.R. (3d) 500; 17 C.B.R. (3d) 1
- Olympia and York Developments Ltd. v. Royal Trust Co. (1993), 8 B.L.R. (2d) 69; 17 C.B.R. (3d) 75
- Picken (Jon) Ltd. et al. v. Guardian Insurance Co. of Canada (1993) 66 O.A.C. 39 (Ont. C.A.)
- Miller Paving v. Scarborough (City), [1993] O.J. No. 2738
- Tilley v. Hails (1992) 7 O.R. (3d) 257
- Reynolds v. Innopac Inc., [1992] O.J. No. 2041
- St. Lawrence Cement Inc. v. Ontario (Minister of Transportation) (1991), 50 B.L.R. 319; 3 O.R. (3d) 30
- Upper Yonge Ltd. v. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (1990), 75 O.R. (2d) 98
- Avery v. Value Investment Corp. [1990] O.J. No. 843
- Planned Insurance Portfolios Co. v. Crown Life Insurance Co. (1989), 68 O.R. (2d) 270; 58 D.L.R. (4th) 106
- Bentham v. Rothbart, [1988] 26 C.P.C. (2d) 109
- Alexander Proudfoot Co. of Canada v. Storwal International Inc., [1985] O.J. No. 322
- Re Campeau Family Trust (1984), 44 O.R. (2d) 549; 50 O.R. (2d) 296 (Ont. C.A.)
- Ruddy v. Cameron Packaging Ltd. (1983), 41 C.P.C. 154; (1984), 41 C.P.C. 154 n (Ont. C.A.)
- Hatfield v. Globe and Mail Division of Canadian Newspapers Co. Ltd. et al. (1983), 41 O.R. (2d) 218
- Elviston Construction Ltd. v. Pinetree Development Co., [1983] O.J. No. 399
- Cameron Packaging Ltd. v. Ruddy, [1983] O.J. No. 566
- Re Uranium Canada, Limited and The Queen (1982), 30 O.R. (2d) 130
- WMI Waste Management of Canada Inc. v. Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto (1982), 34 O.R. (2d) 708
- Re Convenience Services Ltd. and City of Sault Ste. Marie et al. (1980), 30 O.R. (2d) 660
- Evans v. The Savarin Ltd. et al. (1980), 27 O.R. (2d) 705
- R. v. City of Sault Ste. Marie, [1978] 2 S.C.R. 1299
- Sas v. Solomon et al. (1978) 20 O.R. (2d) 603
- Nesbitt, Thomson Co. Ltd. v. Bonefish Investments Ltd. et al. (1978), 20 O.R. (2d) 172
- Steiner v. Lindzon et al. (1977), 14 O.R. (2d) 122
- Hamilton Harbour Commissioners v. J. P. Porter (1976), 70 D.L.R. (3d) 535; 13 O.R. (2d) 199
- Re MacDermaid (1976), 9 O.R. (2d) 170
Honours and Awards
- Named by Benchmark Litigation 2012 as an "Insurance litigation star," "Product liability litigation star," and "Securities litigation star" and as a "local litigation star" for class actions, commercial litigation, insurance, product liability and securities in Ontario
- Ranked by Chambers Global Guide 2011, 2012 for Dispute Resolution in Ontario
- Recognized by Best Lawyers in Canada 2011 as a leading practitioner in Corporate and Commercial Litigation
- Listed in Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory 2010, 2011 for Litigation - Corporate Commercial