Robert Martz

Experience

Rob Martz has over a decade of experience in commercial and corporate dispute resolution. His practice focuses on complex and high stakes appellate litigation, arbitrations, and trial work. This work encompasses a wide range of matters include disputes involving constitutional questions, corporate and commercial matters, class action; energy and natural resources, and joint venture disputes.

In addition, Rob Martz has significant experience in dealing with international anti-corruption and bribery issues sanctions, and tariffs. This includes developing compliance plans and dealing with anti-corruption issues for companies around the globe under the Corruption of Foreign Public Officials Act, experience in assisting clients with CFPOA and FCPA due diligence during mergers, and working with companies and provided advice on operating in North Africa, South America, and the Middle East. Rob also works on sanctions related and tariff issues.

Rob also has significant experience in class actions. He represented class members in Steele v. Leduc (City), 2023 ABKB 460, a class action involving allegations of sexual assault and sexual harassment at the City of Leduc. Rob's team obtained the biggest per-person settlement in Canadian history for workplace sexual harassment and assault.

Arbitration experience

Rob is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and has extensive experience as counsel in domestic and international arbitrations. His representative work includes:

• Successfully represented a multi-national corporation in an LCIA arbitration regarding a partnership.
• Successfully represented a multi-national corporation in an ADRIC arbitration regarding a joint venture.
• Successfully represented a multi-national energy company in a domestic arbitration regarding oil and gas leases.
• Successfully represented a multi-national energy company in a domestic arbitration regarding audit queries 

Litigation experience

Rob has successfully litigated at all levels of Court in Canada. As a former clerk at the Supreme Court of Canada he has a particular interest and experience in appellate litigation of all kinds. His representative experience includes:

Supreme Court of Canada

• Counsel for the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers in the Reference re. Impact Assessment Act, 2023 SCC 23, which involved the constitutionality of environmental impact assessment legislation.
• Counsel to Counsel to Deans Knight Income Corp in Deans Knight Income Corp. v. Canada, 2023 SCC 16 in a case involving unique application of the GAAR.
• Counsel for Peace River Hydro Partners, in Peace River Hydro Partners, et al. v. Petrowest Corporation, et al., a case which involves the question of whether a receiver can disclaim an arbitration clause while still enforcing the underlying contract.
• Counsel to the Explorers and Producers Association of Canada in Reference re Environmental Management Act, 2020 SCC 1, a case that considered the constitutionality of the inter-provincial transport of oil and gas and environmental regulations.
• Counsel to the Alberta Small Brewers Association in R. v. Comeau, 2018 SCC 15, a case that considered the constitutionality of cross-border restrictions on the trade in beer.

Court of Appeal and trial experience 

• Counsel to Webber Academy in a Charter claim involving freedom of expression, religion, and association. Webber Academy Foundation v Alberta (Human Rights Commission), 2023 ABCA 194
• Counsel to Cavendish Farms Corporation in the successful appeal of a municipal tax decision. Cavendish Farms Corporation v. Lethbridge (City), 2022 ABCA 293
• Counsel to CAPP and EPAC in the Reference re. Bill C-69 in 2021; Reference re. Impact Assessment Act, 2022 ABCA 165
• Counsel in Willott v. Northwynd Resort Properties Ltd., where certification of a securities class action was granted
• Counsel to the Plaintiff in three successful appeals and one cross appeal before Court of Appeal involving the allocation of damages from a pipeline failure and Pierringer Agreements affect the calculation of damages. Canadian Natural Resources Limited v. Wood Group Mustang (Canada) Inc., (IMV Projects Inc.), 2018 ABCA 305.
• Counsel to the Plaintiff in a three-month trial where the Defendant engineering company was found to be negligent and in breach of contract in its design of a high-temperature emulsion pipeline near Cold Lake, Alberta. Canadian Natural Resources Limited v.Wood Group Mustang (Canada) Inc., formerly IMV Projects Inc., 2017 ABQB 106.
• Counsel to a Calgary real estate corporation in the successful defence of allegations of land titles fraud and a demand for specific performance by the Strategic Group and Riaz Mamdani. Strategic Acquisition Corp. v. Multus Investment Corp., 2016 ABQB 681 and Strategic Acquisition Corp. v. Multus Investment Corp., 2017 ABCA 250.
• Counsel to a plaintiff in an occupiers' liability trial, which found that the City of Calgary had breached the Occupiers' Liability Act by failing to have adequate security measures in place at a Light Rail Transit station and connected Plus 15 walkway on New Year's Eve. The failure to have adequate surveillance camera placement and quality, sufficient lighting, an effective video monitoring system, or sufficient peace officer patrols, contributed to an unsafe environment. This prevented Transit employees from observing or detecting a serious and prolonged series of assaults against the plaintiff, deploying peace officers or Calgary Police to intervene, or taking other steps to mitigate the harm. McAllister v. Calgary (City), 2018 ABQB 480.
• Counsel to an Alberta corporation in a successful appeal reinstating an action that had been assigned to it by a Receiver, but struck by a Judge on the grounds of champerty and maintenance. 1773907 Alberta Ltd v. Davidson, 2015 ABCA 150.
• Counsel to a government regulatory entity in successfully resisting an allegation of an unconstitutional search and seizure. Arnold v. GIC, [2015] A.W.L.D. 4446 and Arnold v. GIC, 2015 ABCA 55.

Languages

Rob is fluent in French.