Robel Sahlu

Representative matters in which Robel has been involved include:

Business Crimes

• Conducting testing and assessments of industry-leading bribery and corruption compliance programs

• Conducting anti-bribery and corruption risk assessments for global resource mining companies

• Conducting internal investigations into potential violations of domestic bribery laws and company policies

• Conducting internal investigations into potential violations of bribery laws relating to First Nations officials

• Responding to RCMP investigations into alleged violations of the Corruption of Foreign Public Officials Act

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

Competition/Antitrust & Foreign Investment

• Advising a foreign state-owned investment company with respect to various acquisitions

• Advising a global transportation company on the sale of its logistics division

• Advising a major Canadian telecommunications company on the acquisition of a wholesale-based internet service provider

• Advising a public U.S.-based energy and electricity infrastructure company on several acquisitions

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

• Advising a conglomerate on the sale of its security equipment assets

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

• Advising 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

• Advising 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

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

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

• Advising 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

• Obtaining various Investment Canada Act clearances of high-valued foreign investments, including with respect to state-owned entities and national security matters

• Obtaining various Canada Transportation Act clearances with respect to acquisitions of transportation undertakings

Commercial Litigation

• Representing an international railway in litigation related to a train car derailment

• Representing a grain dryer manufacturer with respect to product liability claims

• Representing a global electronics and consumer goods manufacturer with respect to product recalls and liability claims

• Representing an oil and gas company with respect to breach of contract, negligence, and defamation claims

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 currently a vice chair of the Criminal Matters Committee of the National Competition Law Section of the Canadian Bar Association and a coordinator of the young lawyer representative/young economist representative program for 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.
• Co-author: The Paths of AMG and Credit Bureau to the Supreme Court
  American Bar Association Antitrust Law Section, March 2021.
• Author: Putting the Ice on Price: A Snapshot of Anti-Price Gouging Legislation in Canada
  American Bar Association Antitrust Law Section Pricing Conduct Committee, The Price Point, November 2020.