Robert B. Bell

First Year of Call
Ontario, 1980

Areas of Practice
Alternative Dispute Resolution

Description
Robert B. Bell is a senior partner at Lerners LLP, with over 40 years of experience in complex civil litigation matters. He has appeared in trial and appellate courts in different provinces across Canada, and before the Supreme Court of Canada. His specialty areas include class proceedings; complex multiparty litigation including cross-border product liability involving design and manufacturing issues in automotive, aerospace and consumer products industries; major commercial disputes; and specialty insurance coverage opinions and litigation. Mr. Bell has been involved over the years as defence counsel on many of the consumer, automotive and aviation class actions in Canada, and has been counsel on leading reported decisions as the law on certification, trial, bar order in class action settlements and counsel fees has developed in Canada.

Mr. Bell is published widely and is a highly acclaimed speaker and presenter. He has created and led numerous advocacy training programs for The Advocates’ Society (including programs in Kiev, Ukraine, St. Kitts, Caribbean, and United Nations, NY), The Law Society of Ontario and the Osgoode Professional Development. He is frequently invited to participate at conferences as keynote speaker, facilitator, panelist and moderator by many legal organizations. Mr. Bell was the recipient of the 2014 Advocates’ Society Excellence in Teaching Award for his outstanding contribution to the profession. Mr. Bell is an Accredited Mediator, CEDR, (a leading UK provider of dispute resolution services). He is on The Executive Committee of Harbourfront Corporation.

Prior to joining Lerners, Mr. Bell was a senior partner at a large national law firm where he held a series of positions over the years, including Litigation Head, Managing Partner and concluded his service in firm management as Chair of its National Council.