Queen’s Marque
600-1741 Lower Water Street
Halifax, N.S.
B3J 0J2
Language(s) spoken: English
Bar Admission(s): Nova Scotia, 1981
Legal Assistant(s): Sheryl Drysdale
Providing legal services through a professional corporation.
Rob is an experienced advocate whose practice is focused on environmental, energy, corporate commercial litigation and administrative law. A fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers, Rob helps clients understand the legal matters that concern them and maps out the most effective and efficient plan or approach.
In development projects, Rob provides strategic advice throughout the project life span from early conceptual project stages to final approvals, construction disputes, commissioning, operation and decommissioning. This advice includes approaches to early government interaction, community engagement and engagement with First Nations. He has acted as counsel in a wide variety of litigation before the Nova Scotia Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, private arbitration tribunals and the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board (UARB).
His practice includes:
- Acting as project manager for Nova Scotia Environment to draft omnibus environmental legislation for the provincial Environment Act
- Litigation of major commercial disputes, including energy and construction projects.
- Administrative tribunal work and appearances before the UARB on land use planning and development matters; expropriations; water, gas and electrical utility rate hearings; and hearings respecting municipal amalgamations and annexation.
- First Nations consultation, mutual benefits agreements and litigation respecting aboriginal rights.
- Litigation regarding property disputes and environmental matters
- Arbitrations, mediations and alternative dispute resolution.
Education & Career
Education
Dalhousie University, LL.B., 1980
Oxford University, B.A. (Jurisprudence), 1979 (Rhodes Scholar, Maritimes Region, 1977)
Harvard College, A.B. (magna cum laude), 1977
Activities
Member, Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA), 2023
Member, Canadian Centre for Environmental Arbitration and Mediation, 2017-present
Director, Urban Development Institute, 2004-present
Nova Scotia Round Table on Environmental and Sustainable Prosperity, 2007-present
Chairman, Halifax Grammar School, 2009-2012
Director, Halifax City Soccer Club, 1996-2009; chair, 2005-2009
Life member, Halifax City Soccer Club
Member, Partnership Board, Stewart McKelvey, 2010-2015
Trustee, IWK Health Centre Foundation, 1996-1998
Honourary trustee, IWK Health Centre Foundation, 1998
Secretary, Rhodes Scholarship Selection Committee, Canadian Rhodes Scholars Foundation, Maritimes Region, 1989-2004
Trustee, Canadian Rhodes Scholars Foundation, 1989-2002
Member, Canadian Bar Association
Accolades
Best Lawyers 2024 Energy Regulatory Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Halifax
Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers, 2009
King’s Counsel, 1998
Best Lawyers 2021 Energy Regulatory Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Halifax
Best Lawyers 2020 Natural Resources Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Halifax
Best Lawyers 2019 Corporate and Commercial Litigation “Lawyer of the Year” in Halifax
Best Lawyers 2017 Energy Regulatory Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Halifax
Best Lawyers 2016 Bet-the-Company Litigation “Lawyer of the Year” in Halifax
Best Lawyers 2014 Natural Resources Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Halifax
Best Lawyers 2012 Energy Regulatory Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Halifax
Best Lawyers: Energy Regulatory Law, 2006, 2008-2025
Best Lawyers: Environmental Law, 2006, 2008-2025
Best Lawyers: Natural Resources Law, 2006, 2008-2025
Best Lawyers: Bet-the-Company Litigation, 2006, 2008-2025
Best Lawyers: Corporate and Commercial Litigation, 2006, 2008-2025
Member, Lexpert/American Lawyer Media’s Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers,2008, 2009 and 2012
Benchmark Canada, local litigation star (General Commercial, Energy), 2022
Benchmark Canada, local litigation star (General Commercial, Energy and Natural Resources) 2012-2014, 2017-2021
Lexpert rating: Energy (Electricity), 2010 – 2012, 2014 – 2022, 2024
Lexpert rating: Energy (Oil & Gas), 2008 – 2024
Lexpert rating: Environmental Law, 2010 – 2012, 2014 – 2017, 2020, 2024
Lexpert rating: Litigation – Commercial Insurance, 2013 – 2024
Lexpert rating: Litigation – Corporate Commercial, 2008 – 2012, 2014 – 2024
Lexpert rating: Litigation – Directors’ & Officers’ Liability, 2010 – 2008, 2012 – 2024
Lexpert rating: Property Development, 2012 – 2017
Martindale-Hubbell rating: BV Distinguished®
Chambers and Partners Canada 2022-2025 Litigation: General Commercial – Atlantic Canada, Band 1 lawyer
Chambers and Partners, Litigation: General Commercial – Atlantic Canada, Band 1 lawyer
Who’s Who Legal: Global 2021, 2023 – 2024 (Environment)
Who’s Who Legal: Canada 2012, 2014-2016 – 2021, 2023, 2024 (Environment)
Thought Leadership
Publications
Standard of Review in Practice since Dunsmuir – Panelist, Canadian Bar Association: Mid-Winter Conference, February 2014
Regulatory Issues concerning Encana’s Deep Panuke Project (2007) 30 Dal. L.J. 423
Potential for Performance-Based Regulation in the Canadian Offshore Oil and Gas Industry (with Will Moreira and David Henley) (2006) 44 Alta. L.Rev. 1
Drainage Issues in the Atlantic Canada Offshore Petroleum Industry (with Richard A. Neufeld) 2001 24 Dal. L.J. 127)
Remedies for Contaminated Property, Prepared for Interconnections & Complexities of Environmental Law, A joint presentation of the Continuing Legal Education Society of Nova Scotia and Dalhousie Law School
January 28, 2000