Background

Robert Charbonneau is a litigation partner at our Montréal office. Robert was admitted to the Québec Bar in 1975 and is a graduate of the McGill University Law School.

Areas of Practice

• Robert's practice is focused primarily on class actions, insurance law, professional liability of insurance brokers, product liability, and civil liability in aviation matters, an important part of which has cross-border implications.

Rankings and Recognitions

• Recognized in the 2011 edition of Chambers Global – The World's Leading Lawyers for Business (Dispute Resolution: Class Actions; Dispute Resolution: Québec)
• Selected by peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in Canada 2012 (Aviation Law; Bet-the-Company Litigation; Class Action Litigation; Insurance Law; Personal Injury Litigation; Product Liability Law)
• Martindale-Hubbell BV® Distinguished™ 4.4 out of 5 Peer Review Rating
• Recognized in The 2012 Lexpert®/American Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada (Class Actions)
• Recognized in the 2011 Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory (Aviation - Regulation and Liability; Litigation – Class Actions; Litigation – Commercial Insurance; Litigation – Product Liability – Commercial Litigation) 
• Recognized by The Best Lawyers in Canada® as the 2010 Montréal Product Liability Lawyer of the Year.

Professional Experience

Class Actions

• Robert has handled class actions for over 18 years, representing clients such as blood banks, retail chains, motor vehicle, pharmaceutical, electronic and computer manufacturers, insurers, chartered banks and other financial institutions. These cases involved matters ranging from contaminated blood to advertising, disclosure of credit rates and fees, latent defects, defamation, price-fixing, malicious prosecution and insurance coverage.

Insurance and Brokers

• Robert has been representing clients in insurance matters for over 30 years, acting primarily on behalf of Québec, Canadian, American, European and Japanese insurers, as well as non-insurer corporations, in files involving commercial and industrial insurance, aviation insurance, life and disability insurance as well the professional liability of insurance brokers.
• Over the course of his career, he has written articles and participated in conferences on various insurance topics, including presentations to groups of insurers, brokers and members of the Québec Bar.

Product Liability

• For over 30 years, Robert has represented and defended manufacturers of various products, either on their behalf and/or on behalf of their insurers, in cases involving, among other things, construction products, biological and pharmaceutical products, motor vehicles and household appliances.
• He has written articles and participated in conferences on the topic before manufacturers, industry groups and insurers. He has also advised a number of manufacturers with respect to their product recalls.

Aviation

• As an extension of his significant practice in the areas of insurance, civil liability and product liability, Robert has, for some 25 years, represented clients in numerous aviation matters, acting primarily on behalf of Canadian, American, British and French insurers, whether in defense or subrogation.
• His cases have involved fixed wing and rotor aircraft and parts manufacturers and repairers, engine manufacturers and repairers, airports, airlines and general aviation.

Other Professional Activities

• Member of the Canadian and American Bar Associations
• Québec coordinator of the Insurance Litigation Group's newsletter published by our Firm
• Montréal regional leader of our Aviation and Product Liability Groups