Robel Sahlu Associate | Calgary, Toronto

About Robel

Robel is a trusted Canadian competition/antitrust and foreign investment lawyer based out of the Firm’s Calgary and Toronto offices.

Through his national practice, Robel provides clear strategic advice to Canadian and multinational businesses, sovereign wealth funds, and private equity firms navigating the complexities of the Competition Act and Investment Canada Act, including with respect to efficiently obtaining regulatory approvals and designing effective compliance programs. Robel also advises clients on critical anti-corruption and sanctions matters applicable to their domestic and foreign operations.

As an articling student, Robel 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 publicly traded Canadian mining company on its multibillion-dollar acquisition by another publicly traded mining company
A US-based private equity firm on its multimillion-dollar acquisition of a cross-border fuel services business
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 U.S.-based private equity firm on a multimillion-dollar acquisition of an industrial supply company
A global consumer goods conglomerate on the multimillion-dollar sale of its security equipment assets
A global industrial group on its multimillion-dollar 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 risks associated with misleading environmental claims (so-called "greenwashing") under the Competition Act
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 healthcare 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 current executive member of the Mergers Committee of the national Competition Law and Foreign Investment Review Section of the Canadian Bar Association and the former chair of the Criminal Matters Committee. He is also a vice chair of the Mergers & Acquisitions Committee of the American Bar Association's Antitrust Law Section.

Robel is a former 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.

Professional Appearances

Speaker : Greenwashing Guidelines in Canada: Best Practices and Disclosure Considerations
Blakes Business Seminar, Calgary, Alberta, June 19, 2025.
Moderator : Criminal Matters Roundtable with the Competition Bureau and Public Prosecution Services Canada
Canadian Bar Association – National Competition and Foreign Investment Section, June 12, 2025.
Featured : Keeping Tabs
The Advocates’ Society, March 23, 2025.
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.