Robel Sahlu Associate | Calgary, Toronto

Representative matters in which Robel has been involved include acting for:

Competition/Antitrust & Foreign Investment

• A cross-border transportation company on the acquisition of a western Canadian refrigerated trucking company

• A global asset management company on its multi-billion-dollar acquisition of a cross-border asset and wealth management company

• A multinational private equity company on its sale of its joint-control interest in a major hockey and lacrosse equipment manufacturer

• A major waste management company on its multibillion-dollar acquisition of an international medical waste company

• A cross-border pharmaceutical company on its acquisition by a global laboratory equipment supplier

• A global pharmaceutical company on its multibillion-dollar acquisition of an international radiopharmaceutical company

• An international industrial products supplier on its acquisition of the Canadian assets of a global industrial products supplier

• A national transportation company on its acquisition of a cross-border freight trucking company

• An international wood products manufacturer on its multimillion-dollar acquisition of the engineered wood products division of a publicly traded, international building products company

• A private equity firm on a US$400-million acquisition of an industrial supply company

• A conglomerate on the sale of its security equipment assets

• A global industrial group on the acquisition of a multinational utility company

• Various companies with respect to class actions and competition litigation

• A U.K.-based global insurance brokerage, as its Canadian counsel, on its now terminated US$30-billion proposed acquisition of another leading global insurance brokerage

• The special committee of a seafood supplier in respect of a proposed acquisition of another global seafood supplier by a 50-50 joint venture for a transaction valued at approximately C$1-billion

• A global manufacturer of automated teller machines (ATMs) on its acquisition of another ATM-services provider in a transaction valued over US$2-billion

• A global supplier of building material on its combination with a North American cement manufacturer to create an industry-leading joint venture

• A leading online travel search aggregator in its defence of a Canadian class action alleging deceptive marketing practices and violations of provincial consumer protection statutes

• Various companies on obtaining Investment Canada Act clearances of high-valued foreign investments, including with respect to state-owned entities and national security matters

Commercial Litigation

• A global health-care and consumer goods company in respect of alleged damages arising from product recalls

• An international railway company in litigation related to a train car derailment

• A grain dryer manufacturer with respect to product liability claims

• An international consumer goods manufacturer with respect to a contractual dispute and settlement

Business Crimes

• Various companies in conducting risk assessments with respect to international anti-bribery and corruption

• Various companies in conducting internal investigations into potential violations of domestic bribery laws and company policies in conducting internal investigations into potential violations of bribery laws relating to First Nations officials

• Various companies in responding to RCMP investigations into alleged violations of the Corruption of Foreign Public Officials Act

• Various in responding to Competition Bureau investigations into suspected price-fixing, market allocation, and big-rigging conspiracies

• Various clients on transactional due diligence and contractual obligations related to anti-bribery and corruption, sanctions, and anti-money laundering risks

Robel is a member of the Canadian Bar Association Competition Law Section, the American Bar Association Antitrust Law Section and the Canadian Association of Black Lawyers.

He is the chair of the Criminal Matters Committee of the National Competition Law Section of the Canadian Bar Association and a vice chair of the Mergers & Acquisitions Committee of the American Bar Association's Antitrust Law Section.

Robel is also a member of the Teaching Team for the Lawyer as a Negotiator course at Osgoode Hall Law School.

• Co-author : Alberta’s New Tort of Harassment
  Blakes Bulletin on Litigation & Dispute Resolution, August 8, 2023.
• Co-author : Canada Sees Its Second-Ever Remediation Agreement
  Blakes Bulletin on Business Crimes, Investigations & Compliance, June 12, 2023.
• Co-author : The Power to Pierce: New Guidance on Piercing the Corporate Veil and the Oppression Remedy
  Blakes Bulletin on Litigation & Dispute Resolution, May 31, 2023.
• Co-author : Ontario Superior Court Provides Key Guidance About the Corruption of Foreign Public Officials Act
  Blakes Bulletin on Business Crimes, Investigations & Compliance, March 21, 2023.
• Co-author : Putting the ABC in ESG: The Role of Anti-Bribery and Corruption Compliance Programs in Enhancing ESG Commitments
  Alberta Law Review, Energy Law Edition, Vol. 60, No. 2, December 9, 2022.
• Co-author : Canada Chapter
  The International Comparative Legal Guide: Vertical Agreements and Dominant Firms, Global Legal Group, August 5, 2022.
• Co-author : Bribery and Corruption Offences Chapter
  A Primer for In-House Counsel: Corporate and Financial Crimes, Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP, July 2022.
• Co-author : Overseas Corruption Report – Canada Chapter
  Herbert Smith Freehills LLP, June 2022.

• Speaker : Legislative Amendments: Bill C-59
  In-House Counsel Network, November 21, 2024.
• Panel Moderator : Corporate Law – Key Legislative Updates Impacting Canadian Businesses
  Canadian Association of Black Lawyers Annual Conference, October 18, 2024.
• Moderator : Regulating Reverse Payment Settlements in Canada
  Criminal Matters Committee Seminar, Canadian Bar Association, February 1, 2024.
• Contributor : 2023 – The legal year in review
  Asia Business Law Journal, January 19, 2024.
• Panellist : Brother to Brother
  Black Law Students’ Association of Canada Annual Conference, February 18, 2023.