Robel Sahlu Associate | Calgary, Toronto

About Robel

As part of his national practice, Robel provides advisory and advocacy services to businesses with respect to competition/antitrust, foreign investment, anti-corruption and sanctions matters, competition litigation, and commercial litigation.

Prior to joining Blakes, Robel practised competition and foreign investment law at a national law firm in Toronto. As an articling student, he worked at a leading western Canadian law firm and completed a secondment to the Court of Appeal for Saskatchewan where he was a seconding clerk to three justices, including the chief justice.

Select Experience

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

Competition/Antitrust & Foreign Investment

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

Professional Activities

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.

Publications

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.