Robert J. Hawkes KC

Robert J. Hawkes KC, has been lead counsel in complex class actions, corporate oppression actions, proxy fights, shareholder derivative actions and emergency injunction applications to freeze and discover assets and obtain investigation orders, asset tracing, fraudulent conveyances, and Bankruptcy Act orders which enable the victims of fraud to have their judgment survive the Defendant's bankruptcy.

Robert blogs about life, law, politics and other topics at: https://calgaryrob.wordpress.com/author/calgaryrob/

Education

Robert is a third generation Calgarian. From 1983 through 1987, Robert studied philosophy at the University of Calgary and the University of Saskatchewan. In 1987, he went to work for the Government of Canada in a variety of capacities, including senior policy advisor and political advisor to the Minister of Finance.

Robert returned to Calgary and entered law school at the University of Calgary, where he obtained his LL.B. in 1993.

At law school, Robert excelled in the debating and moot court program, winning the Blackstone Team Debates, as well as the medal for the best Individual Debater in both first and second year. In his third year of law school, Robert was picked to join the U of C's Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Team, eventually placing as the 4th best individual oralist at the National Competition in Toronto. That same year he won the Neil V. Germaine Scholarship for academic merit and leadership ability, and he and his teammate won the law school's Client Interviewing and Counseling competition, ultimately representing the U of C internationally in Portland, OR.

Following law school, Robert was invited to article with the Alberta Court of Appeal. During his Court articles, Robert learned firsthand how judges assess the cases that come before them, which has proved invaluable in his practice.

Corporate and Commercial Litigation Career

Robert completed his articles with Bennett Jones, one of Canada's leading national law firms, where he also worked as an Associate until 2002 at which time, he became a Partner in Bennett Jones’ litigation group. While practicing at Bennett Jones, Robert obtained experience in virtually all areas of corporate and commercial litigation.

In 2005, Robert joined JSS Barristers where he has continued his high-level practice in commercial litigation with a particular emphasis on securities related litigation, including broker litigation and discipline hearings, corporate restructuring disputes, shareholder oppression, derivative and class actions and on corporate fraud and recovery from employees, sub-contractors, partners and corporate officers.

Robert also has extensive experience in oil and gas litigation and arbitrations, construction litigation, contract breach cases, First Nations governance, pension litigation and defamation actions, and he has represented clients in professional disciplinary matters before the Alberta Securities Commission, APEGGA, CREB and the Professional Conduct Committee of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries. He acts for a range of clients, from large corporations, pension funds and public institutions to individuals, small businesses and partnerships.

Awards and Recognitions

Robert has been continuously recognized for his legal abilities. He was recently named Lawyer of the Year (Calgary), Defamation & Media Law, by Best Lawyers. Cambers Canada has categorized him in Band 4 of Litigation: General Commercial (AB) from 2014 to 2017 and from 2020 to 2022. Since 2012, he has been named Litigation Star by Benchmark Litigation, every year. Since 2013, he has been recognized by Best Lawyers in the following areas: Class Action Litigation, Corporate and Commercial Litigation, Defamation and Media Law, and Directors and Officers Liability. Additionally, Lexpert has named him Consistently Recommended in Class Action Litigation (2011-2021) and Repeatedly Recommended in Commercial Litigation (2015-2021). 

Personal

Robert is married, with two sons, and he enjoys spending time with his family and on politics, stand-up comedy, travel, soccer, poker, chess and hiking.

Speaking Engagements

Interviewee
"After her toaster oven caught fire, Ontario woman was told by Whirlpool to take it up with a company in China", CBC, (https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/toaster-oven-fire-damage-whirlpool-1.5492611?fbclid=IwAR18RmnYZ2qUWQM90x4VSRwak8hsI5Cw2DVZ-kjHM6mTUXjog0Vd2vH3vig), May 28, 2020

Co-Presenter 
Managing and Resolving Class Actions, JSS Client Breakfast Seminar, Calgary, Alberta – 2016

Presenter
National class issues, Osgoode Professional Development, 8th National Symposium on Class Actions – 2011

Presenter
Pension Litigation, The Canadian Institute Pension Conference, Calgary, Alberta – 2006 

Lunch Speaker
Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, regional conference on Fraud and emergent remedies, Calgary, Alberta – 2005

Presenter 
Fraud and Privacy issues, National KPMG Forensic Conference, Banff, Alberta – 2004 

Presenter
Fraud and Small Business issues, Small Business Legal Issues Conference, Calgary, Alberta – 2004 

Presenter
Directors’ and Officers' Liability, Independent Business Legal Issues Conference, Calgary, Alberta – 2002 & 2003

Presenter 
No Fault Benefits, The Canadian Institute Personal Injury Conference, Calgary, Alberta - 2002