Bio:

Called to the bar in 1978, Robert has a special interest in personal injury and workers’ compensation law. He is also experienced in the fields of insurance and administrative law.

Before joining Harris & Brun as a founding partner in 1984, Robert practiced for five years with the Workers’ Compensation Board of BC.

Robert is a knowledgeable and experienced practitioner in the field of workers’ compensation as it relates to auto-accident injuries. He is a skilled trial lawyer who has conducted many trials and appeals in the Supreme Court of British Columbia, Court of Appeal, and Supreme Court of Canada. Robert is a frequent guest lecturer at seminars for lawyers put on by Continuing Legal Education, the Canadian Bar Association and the Trial Lawyers Association of BC.

He has served his profession as a President of the BC Branch of the Canadian Bar Association in 2003-2004 and three terms as a Bencher of the Law Society of British Columbia between 2005 and 2011. He has also served as a member of the Justice Review Task Force and the CBA National Task Force on Conflicts of Interest. In March 2010 Robert was elected to the position of Second Vice-President of the Canadian Bar Association.  He will assume the role of President of the Canadian Bar Association at the CBA’s Canadian Legal Conference in Vancouver in August 2012.

Memberships & Professional Affiliations:

• Law Society of British Columbia
• Canadian Bar Association
• Trial Lawyers Association of British Columbia

Positions:

• CBA, First Vice President, 2011
• Bencher of the Law Society of BC; 2005 to 2011 serving 3 terms.

Lectures / Publications / Seminars:

The Continuing Legal Education Society of British Columbia:

• Psychological Injury – 1/26/1995 – Course Materials Author
• PLTC Mock Civil Trial – 6/16/1996  - PLTC Guest Instructor, Vancouver
• PLTC Mock Civil Trial – 9/26/1998  - PLTC Guest Instructor, Vancouver
• Civil Litigation Conference 1999 – 1/14/1999 – Course Materials Author
• Civil Litigation Conference – Day 2 – 1/15/1999  - Course Presenter
• PLTC Mock Civil Trial – 9/26/1999 – PLTC Guest Instructor, Vancouver
• ABCs of Personal Injury Practice for Legal Support Staff- 11/26/1999 – Course Presenter
• Personal Injury for Legal Support Staff 1999 – 11/26/1999 – Course Materials Author
• BC Motor Vehicle Accident Claims – 2nd edition – 12/31/1999 – Book Author
• PLTC Mock Civil Trial – 6/18/2000 – PLTC Guest Instructor, Vancouver
• BC Motor Vehicle Accident Claims  2001 update – 12/1/2000 – Book Author
• PLTC Mock Civil Trial – 1/4/2001 – PLTC Invite Letter Vancouver
• BC Motor Vehicle Accident Claims 2001 update – 4/10/2001 – Book Author
• Personal Injury Basics for Legal Support Staff – 12/4/2001 – Course Presenter
• Personal Injury for Legal Support Staff 2001 Update – 12/4/2001  - Course Materials Author
• PLTC Mock Civil Trial – 1/7/2002 – PLTC Invite Letter Vancouver
• BC Motor Vehicle Accident Claims 2002 update -  4/11/2002 – Book Author
• BC Motor Vehicle Accident Claims 2003 update – 12/31/2002 – Book Author
• Part 7 Benefits – 3/6/2003 – Course Materials Author
• Part 7 Benefits – 3/6/2003  - Course Presenter
• Civil Litigation Basics for Legal Support Staff – 6/5/2003 – Course Presenter
• Civil Litigation Basics for Legal Support Staff – 6/5/2003 – Course Materials Author
• Defending Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Cases – 11/20/2003 – Course Materials Coordinator
• Defending Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Cases – 11/20/2003 – Course Chair
• BC Motor Vehicle Accident Claims 2004 update – 4/28/2004 – Book Author
• BC Motor Vehicle Accident Claims 2005 update – 4/1/2005 – Book Author
• BC Motor Vehicle Accident Claims 2006 update – 12/31/2005 – Book Author
• Defending Personal Injury – 3/10/2006 – Course Materials Author
• Defending Personal Injury 2006 – 3/10/2006 – Course Chair
• Medical Issues in Personal Injury – 12/7/2006 – Course Materials Author
• Medical Issues in Personal Injury 2006 – 12/7/2006 – Course Chair
• Personal Injury for Legal Support Staff 2006 Update – 12/8/2006 – Course Materials Author
• BC Motor Vehicle Accident Claims  2007 update – 2/1/2007 – Book Author
• Discovery Practice 2007 – 6/7/2007 – Course Presenter
• Personal Injury Conference 2007 – 6/22/2007  - Course Materials Coordinator
• Civil Litigation for Legal Support Staff  2007 Update – 9/20/2007 – Course Materials Author
• Civil Litigation Basics for Legal Support Staff – 9/20/2007 – Course Presenter
• Civil Litigation Conference 2007 – 11/22/2007 – Course Presenter
• Civil Litigation Conference 2007 – 11/22/2007 – Course Materials Author
• BC Motor Vehicle Accident Claims 2008 Update – 2/25/2008 – Book Author
• BC Motor Vehicle Accident Claims 2009 Update – 12/1/2008 – Book Author
• BC Motor Vehicle Accident Claims 2009 Update – 2/20/2009 – Book Author
• Defending Personal Injury 2009 – 10/15/2009 – Course Chair
• Civil Litigation Basics for Legal Support Staff – 12/3/2009 – Course Materials Author
• Civil Litigation Basics for Legal Support Staff 2009 Update – 12/3/2009 – Course Materials Author
• BC Motor Vehicle Accident Claims 2010 update – 2/8/2010 – Book Author
• New Civil Rules for Legal Support Staff 2010 – 5/7/2010 – Course Materials Author

Recognitions / Awards:

• Appointed Queen’s Counsel 2004
• Martindale-Hubbell Rating – BV^® Distinguished™

Reported (and Unreported) Cases*:

• Munro and Schroeder v Gibb [1981] 3 W.W.R. 344 (SCC)
• Baas v Jellema 2000 BCCA 24 (BCCA)
• Gemmell v Reddicopp 2005 BCCA 628 (BCCA)
• Abma v Paul 2009 BCSC 60 (BCSC)
• Abma v Paul 2008 BCSC 783 (BCSC)

*References to successful case results where the lawyers at Harris & Brun have acted for clients are not a guarantee of future results. The outcome of every legal proceeding will vary according to the facts in each individual case.

Community Involvement:

• Mount Seymour Soccer Association Coach 1987-1999
• Leader with Mount Seymour Cubs 1993-1997

Education:

1974 UBC Bachelor of Arts

Law School:

1977 UBC Bachelor of Laws