Robert is a partner in Osler’s National Disputes Department, advising clients in high-stakes class action and corporate litigation. He frequently represents financial institutions, auditors, mining companies, pharmaceutical manufacturers, technology businesses and utilities.
With a strong track record of early decisive wins in significant lawsuits across Canada, Robert develops strategies to address disputes at their early stages. He has appeared before the Supreme Court of Canada and various appellate courts across the country. Robert also proactively advises businesses on potential litigation risks and mitigation strategies.
Robert writes and speaks extensively on class action defense, particularly in the areas of securities, privacy, product liability and consumer law.
Representative Work
Securities class actions
- Kinross Gold Corporation in defending a proposed securities class proceeding on behalf of Kinross shareholders alleging misrepresentations in Kinross’s disclosure concerning its Tasiast mine
- Americas Gold & Silver in defending a proposed securities class proceeding on behalf of shareholders alleging misrepresentations in disclosure concerning its Relief Canyon mine
- American International Group, Inc. (AIG) in defending a proposed securities class proceeding on behalf of AIG shareholders alleging misrepresentations in the financial statements and other public disclosures of AIG
Privacy class actions
- Facebook, Inc. in defending proposed privacy class actions in Ontario, Saskatchewan and British Columbia, including the successful dismissal of motions for certification in cases arising from the Cambridge Analytica issues
Pharmaceutical/product liability class actions
- Teva Canada Limited in defending proposed product liability class actions and other litigation across Canada
- Mylan Pharmaceuticals ULC in defending proposed product liability class actions and other litigation across Canada
Competition class actions
- Royal Bank of Canada in defending a proposed class action alleging conspiracy to fix foreign exchange rates
Consumer class actions
- Hydro One in defending a proposed class proceeding relating to the implementation of a new billing system
- Groupon Inc. in defending a proposed class proceeding in which it is alleged that expiry dates on Groupon vouchers are not compliant with consumer protection legislation
Restructuring
- Target in connection with the wind-down of its Canadian operations under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act
Latest Insights
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Blog March 31, 2025
Court of Appeal takes a purposive approach in affirming certification of a securities class action against a crypto asset trading platform
A recent decision provides insight into the approach Ontario courts are taking to securities class actions involving cryptocurrencies.
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Report December 5, 2024
Product liability: tipping the scales against industry
Product liability in Canada is evolving, with increasing government intervention likely in 2025 and beyond.
Read more -
Blog November 11, 2024
Lack of commonality defeats investor class action alleging breach of fiduciary duty
An Ontario decision highlights the individual inquiries that often exist in proposed class actions involving investors and investment decisions.
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Report November 5, 2024
Osler Privacy Jurisprudence Review – Third Edition – Fall 2024
Comprised of case summaries accompanied by expert commentary, the Privacy Jurisprudence Review will help readers identify and understand emerging...
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Awards and Recognition
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Recognized in Dispute Resolution: Class Action (Defence); Litigation: Securities
—Chambers Canada -
Litigation Star: Class Action, Commercial, Competition/Antitrust, Securities
—Benchmark Litigation Canada -
“Stand-out Lawyer”
—Thomson Reuters
Media Mentions
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Media Mentions February 2, 2022
Privacy class actions 2021: More misuse-of-information claims, certification used as screening tool – Canadian Lawyer
Osler litigation partner Robert Carson spoke to Canadian Lawyer about the “gatekeeping function of certification” and other trends in privacy...
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Osler News December 4, 2020
Osler advises on three of Lexpert’s Top 10 Cases of 2019-2020
Osler is pleased to announce it has been recognized in three of Lexpert’s Top 10 Cases of 2019–2020 and has also received an honorable mention.
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Osler News July 31, 2020
Osler lawyers recognized in Benchmark Litigation’s ‘Under 40 Hotlist’ 2020
Osler congratulates partners Mary Paterson, Pooja Mihailovich, Robert Carson and Alexandre Fallon on being recognized in Benchmark Litigation’s...
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Osler News January 27, 2020
29 Osler lawyers recognized in Benchmark Litigation 2020
Osler is proud to announce that 29 of our litigation lawyers appear in Benchmark Litigation’s 2020 issue of Benchmark Canada, their annual...
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Speaking and Writing
Speaking Engagements
27th Annual Course on Written Advocacy by Osgoode & The Advocates Society
Moderator, November 2023
14th Annual Class Actions Colloquium by the Ontario Bar Association
Panelist, “Evidence at Certification”, December 2022
26th Annual Course on Written Advocacy by Osgoode & The Advocates Society
Moderator, November 2022
25th Annual Course on Written Advocacy by Osgoode & The Advocates Society
Moderator, November 2021
Published Work
- “Palmer v. Teva: Ontario Courts Confirm Need for Actual Damage in Recall Class Action,” Class Action Defence Quarterly, LexisNexis Canada, Volume 19, No. 1, September 2024 (with Lauren Harper)
- “Badesha v. Cronos: A (Delayed) Day of Reckoning in Cross-Border Securities Litigation,” Class Action Defence Quarterly, LexisNexis Canada, Volume 18, No. 3, March 2024 (with Allan Coleman and Lipi Mishra)
Credentials
Education
- Osgoode Hall, LL.B.
- Queen’s University, B.Comm.
Languages
- English
Professional Affiliations
- Canadian Bar Association
- Ontario Bar Association
- Law Society of Ontario
