Robert B. Bell
Partner
Rob is a senior partner with 45 years of experience in complex civil litigation, including class actions, commercial disputes, and specialty insurance coverage. He has appeared before courts across Canada, including the Supreme Court.
Office
Awards & Recognitions
Areas of Expertise
Appellate Practice
Aviation Law
Class Action Litigation
Corporate and Commercial Litigation
Director and Officer Liability Practice
Insurance Law
Product Liability Law
Education
Admitted to Ontario Bar (1980)
Education
Admitted to Ontario Bar (1980)
Education
Admitted to Ontario Bar (1980)
Awards and Recognitions
Recognized in Best Lawyers in the following areas: Appellate Practice, Aviation Law, Class Action Litigation, Corporate and Commercial Litigation, Director and Officer Liability Practice, Insurance Law, Product Liability Law (2025)
Ranked in Chambers Canada - Litigation: Product Liability (2025)
Recognized in Who’s Who Legal (now Lexology). Rob Bell is identified as "a talented litigator" with experience in handling some of the most prominent aviation and automotive class action cases in recent Canadian history (2025)
Recognized by Benchmark Canada as “Litigation Star” for his leading expertise (2025)
Ranked in Chambers Canada - Litigation: Product Liability (2015-2025)
Recognized in Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory - Class Actions; Litigation - Commercial Insurance; Litigation - Product Liability; Aviation Law (2013-2025)
Recognized in Lexpert Special Edition on Canada’s Leading Litigation Lawyers (2024)
Recognized as a leading Canadian lawyer in Who's Who Legal: Product Liability Defence
Lawyer of the Year, Product Liability Law - Toronto, Best Lawyers in Canada (2020)
Recognized in Benchmark Canada – The Definitive Guide to Canada’s Leading Litigation Firms & Attorneys as a “Litigation Star: Ontario” and a “Litigation Star: Product Liability” (2015-2020) and "Litigation Star: Appellate and Dispute Resolution" (2019-2020)
Recognized in The Lexpert/American Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada - Product Liability (2013-2017, 2019)
Martindale-Hubbell AV constant Pre-eminent 5 out of 5 Peer Review Rating
Selected by peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in Canada - Appellate Practice, Aviation Law, Class Action Litigation, Corporate and Commercial Litigation, Director and Officer Liability Practice, Insurance Law, Personal Injury Litigation [Defendants; Product Liability]; Product Liability Law [Defendants]
Awards and Recognitions
Recognized in Best Lawyers in the following areas: Appellate Practice, Aviation Law, Class Action Litigation, Corporate and Commercial Litigation, Director and Officer Liability Practice, Insurance Law, Product Liability Law (2025)
Ranked in Chambers Canada - Litigation: Product Liability (2025)
Recognized in Who’s Who Legal (now Lexology). Rob Bell is identified as "a talented litigator" with experience in handling some of the most prominent aviation and automotive class action cases in recent Canadian history (2025)
Recognized by Benchmark Canada as “Litigation Star” for his leading expertise (2025)
Ranked in Chambers Canada - Litigation: Product Liability (2015-2025)
Recognized in Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory - Class Actions; Litigation - Commercial Insurance; Litigation - Product Liability; Aviation Law (2013-2025)
Recognized in Lexpert Special Edition on Canada’s Leading Litigation Lawyers (2024)
Recognized as a leading Canadian lawyer in Who's Who Legal: Product Liability Defence
Lawyer of the Year, Product Liability Law - Toronto, Best Lawyers in Canada (2020)
Recognized in Benchmark Canada – The Definitive Guide to Canada’s Leading Litigation Firms & Attorneys as a “Litigation Star: Ontario” and a “Litigation Star: Product Liability” (2015-2020) and "Litigation Star: Appellate and Dispute Resolution" (2019-2020)
Recognized in The Lexpert/American Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada - Product Liability (2013-2017, 2019)
Martindale-Hubbell AV constant Pre-eminent 5 out of 5 Peer Review Rating
Selected by peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in Canada - Appellate Practice, Aviation Law, Class Action Litigation, Corporate and Commercial Litigation, Director and Officer Liability Practice, Insurance Law, Personal Injury Litigation [Defendants; Product Liability]; Product Liability Law [Defendants]
Awards and Recognitions
Recognized in Best Lawyers in the following areas: Appellate Practice, Aviation Law, Class Action Litigation, Corporate and Commercial Litigation, Director and Officer Liability Practice, Insurance Law, Product Liability Law (2025)
Ranked in Chambers Canada - Litigation: Product Liability (2025)
Recognized in Who’s Who Legal (now Lexology). Rob Bell is identified as "a talented litigator" with experience in handling some of the most prominent aviation and automotive class action cases in recent Canadian history (2025)
Recognized by Benchmark Canada as “Litigation Star” for his leading expertise (2025)
Ranked in Chambers Canada - Litigation: Product Liability (2015-2025)
Recognized in Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory - Class Actions; Litigation - Commercial Insurance; Litigation - Product Liability; Aviation Law (2013-2025)
Recognized in Lexpert Special Edition on Canada’s Leading Litigation Lawyers (2024)
Recognized as a leading Canadian lawyer in Who's Who Legal: Product Liability Defence
Lawyer of the Year, Product Liability Law - Toronto, Best Lawyers in Canada (2020)
Recognized in Benchmark Canada – The Definitive Guide to Canada’s Leading Litigation Firms & Attorneys as a “Litigation Star: Ontario” and a “Litigation Star: Product Liability” (2015-2020) and "Litigation Star: Appellate and Dispute Resolution" (2019-2020)
Recognized in The Lexpert/American Lawyer Guide to the Leading 500 Lawyers in Canada - Product Liability (2013-2017, 2019)
Martindale-Hubbell AV constant Pre-eminent 5 out of 5 Peer Review Rating
Selected by peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in Canada - Appellate Practice, Aviation Law, Class Action Litigation, Corporate and Commercial Litigation, Director and Officer Liability Practice, Insurance Law, Personal Injury Litigation [Defendants; Product Liability]; Product Liability Law [Defendants]
Selected Presentations and Publications
The Advocates’ Society, Lead Instructor, Summer Trial Advocacy College: 2017-2025
Osgoode Civil Litigator’s Survival Guide to Evidence, Faculty and Speaker: 2016-2025
Co-Chair, “Winning Body Language for Litigators”, The Advocates’ Society, June 2022
Presenter, "The Current State of Solicitor-Client and Litigation Privilege", The Civil Litigators Survival Guide to Evidence, Osgoode Professional Development Program, January 2022
Co-Chair, “Summer Trial Advocacy College”, The Advocates’ Society, June 2021
Co-Chair, “Train the Trainer”, The Advocates’ Society, November 2020
Panelist, “Cross-Examination: Strategies for Success”, The Advocates’ Society, March 2021
Presenter, "Expert Evidence: How It Can make or Break Your Case", The Civil Litigators Survival Guide to Evidence, Osgoode Professional Development Program, November 2020
“Telling the Story: Executing a Persuasive Cross-Examination of the Key Witness at Trial” in Todd L. Archibald, ed, Annual Review of Civil Litigation, 2020 (Toronto: Thomson Canada Limited, 2020)
Co-Chair, "Class Actions Advocacy", The Advocates' Society, June, 2019
Author and presenter, numerous papers on class actions, product liability, the auto industry, and evidence law
Presenter/Faculty: Advocacy Training Programs - The Advocates’ Society, Law Society of Ontario and the Osgoode Professional Development
Selected Presentations and Publications
The Advocates’ Society, Lead Instructor, Summer Trial Advocacy College: 2017-2025
Osgoode Civil Litigator’s Survival Guide to Evidence, Faculty and Speaker: 2016-2025
Co-Chair, “Winning Body Language for Litigators”, The Advocates’ Society, June 2022
Presenter, "The Current State of Solicitor-Client and Litigation Privilege", The Civil Litigators Survival Guide to Evidence, Osgoode Professional Development Program, January 2022
Co-Chair, “Summer Trial Advocacy College”, The Advocates’ Society, June 2021
Co-Chair, “Train the Trainer”, The Advocates’ Society, November 2020
Panelist, “Cross-Examination: Strategies for Success”, The Advocates’ Society, March 2021
Presenter, "Expert Evidence: How It Can make or Break Your Case", The Civil Litigators Survival Guide to Evidence, Osgoode Professional Development Program, November 2020
“Telling the Story: Executing a Persuasive Cross-Examination of the Key Witness at Trial” in Todd L. Archibald, ed, Annual Review of Civil Litigation, 2020 (Toronto: Thomson Canada Limited, 2020)
Co-Chair, "Class Actions Advocacy", The Advocates' Society, June, 2019
Author and presenter, numerous papers on class actions, product liability, the auto industry, and evidence law
Presenter/Faculty: Advocacy Training Programs - The Advocates’ Society, Law Society of Ontario and the Osgoode Professional Development
Selected Presentations and Publications
The Advocates’ Society, Lead Instructor, Summer Trial Advocacy College: 2017-2025
Osgoode Civil Litigator’s Survival Guide to Evidence, Faculty and Speaker: 2016-2025
Co-Chair, “Winning Body Language for Litigators”, The Advocates’ Society, June 2022
Presenter, "The Current State of Solicitor-Client and Litigation Privilege", The Civil Litigators Survival Guide to Evidence, Osgoode Professional Development Program, January 2022
Co-Chair, “Summer Trial Advocacy College”, The Advocates’ Society, June 2021
Co-Chair, “Train the Trainer”, The Advocates’ Society, November 2020
Panelist, “Cross-Examination: Strategies for Success”, The Advocates’ Society, March 2021
Presenter, "Expert Evidence: How It Can make or Break Your Case", The Civil Litigators Survival Guide to Evidence, Osgoode Professional Development Program, November 2020
“Telling the Story: Executing a Persuasive Cross-Examination of the Key Witness at Trial” in Todd L. Archibald, ed, Annual Review of Civil Litigation, 2020 (Toronto: Thomson Canada Limited, 2020)
Co-Chair, "Class Actions Advocacy", The Advocates' Society, June, 2019
Author and presenter, numerous papers on class actions, product liability, the auto industry, and evidence law
Presenter/Faculty: Advocacy Training Programs - The Advocates’ Society, Law Society of Ontario and the Osgoode Professional Development
Noteworthy Cases
Volkswagen TDI Class Actions – Lead defence counsel on national class proceedings
General Motors Class Actions – Lead defence counsel on national class proceedings re Ignition Switch, EPS, Antifreeze, Takata Airbag
Carroll-Byrne et al. v. Air Canada et al.– Class proceeding resulting from March 29, 2015 crash at Halifax. Acting for the defendant, Nav Canada
Ramdath George Brown College – Class proceeding. Acted as trial and appellate counsel for the defendant George Brown; new law in consumer protection and aggregate damages developed
Abdulrahim et al. v. Air France et al. – Class proceeding arising out of crash of Air France flight at Toronto. Acted for the defendant Goodrich
ONHWP Chevron et al. (1999), 46 OR (3d) 130 (Ont. Gen. Div.) (Winkler, J.) – Bar Order in class action settlement
Cloud Canada (Attorney General) (2004), 2 CPC (96th) 199 (Ont. CA) – Class proceeding involving residential schools
Sauer Canada (Attorney General), 2007 ONCA 454 – Class proceeding - Appeal with respect to pure economic loss issues
Celanese Canada Inc. v. Murray Demolition Cor. et al. (2006), 269 DLR (4th) 193 (SCC) – Successful appeal to Supreme Court of Canada in respect of solicitor client privilege and disqualification of counsel in context of Anton Piller order
Ticketnet Air Canada (1997), 154 DLR (4th) 271 (Ont. CA) – Leave to the Supreme Court of Canada dismissed, leading decision on damages in favour of a start-up company
Pettey Avis (1994), 13 OR (3d) 725 – Decision at trial on validity of Mary Carter agreement
Cougar Helicopters Inc. v. Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. (2011), 335 DLR (4th) 203 (NLCA) – Jurisdiction issues in product liability case
Murphy Welsh – Stoddard v. Watson, [1993] 2 S.C.R. 1069 – Supreme Court of Canada decision on solicitor’s negligence claim application of Highway Traffic Act limitation period to claims of infants and mental incompetents
Noteworthy Cases
Volkswagen TDI Class Actions – Lead defence counsel on national class proceedings
General Motors Class Actions – Lead defence counsel on national class proceedings re Ignition Switch, EPS, Antifreeze, Takata Airbag
Carroll-Byrne et al. v. Air Canada et al.– Class proceeding resulting from March 29, 2015 crash at Halifax. Acting for the defendant, Nav Canada
Ramdath George Brown College – Class proceeding. Acted as trial and appellate counsel for the defendant George Brown; new law in consumer protection and aggregate damages developed
Abdulrahim et al. v. Air France et al. – Class proceeding arising out of crash of Air France flight at Toronto. Acted for the defendant Goodrich
ONHWP Chevron et al. (1999), 46 OR (3d) 130 (Ont. Gen. Div.) (Winkler, J.) – Bar Order in class action settlement
Cloud Canada (Attorney General) (2004), 2 CPC (96th) 199 (Ont. CA) – Class proceeding involving residential schools
Sauer Canada (Attorney General), 2007 ONCA 454 – Class proceeding - Appeal with respect to pure economic loss issues
Celanese Canada Inc. v. Murray Demolition Cor. et al. (2006), 269 DLR (4th) 193 (SCC) – Successful appeal to Supreme Court of Canada in respect of solicitor client privilege and disqualification of counsel in context of Anton Piller order
Ticketnet Air Canada (1997), 154 DLR (4th) 271 (Ont. CA) – Leave to the Supreme Court of Canada dismissed, leading decision on damages in favour of a start-up company
Pettey Avis (1994), 13 OR (3d) 725 – Decision at trial on validity of Mary Carter agreement
Cougar Helicopters Inc. v. Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. (2011), 335 DLR (4th) 203 (NLCA) – Jurisdiction issues in product liability case
Murphy Welsh – Stoddard v. Watson, [1993] 2 S.C.R. 1069 – Supreme Court of Canada decision on solicitor’s negligence claim application of Highway Traffic Act limitation period to claims of infants and mental incompetents
Noteworthy Cases
Volkswagen TDI Class Actions – Lead defence counsel on national class proceedings
General Motors Class Actions – Lead defence counsel on national class proceedings re Ignition Switch, EPS, Antifreeze, Takata Airbag
Carroll-Byrne et al. v. Air Canada et al.– Class proceeding resulting from March 29, 2015 crash at Halifax. Acting for the defendant, Nav Canada
Ramdath George Brown College – Class proceeding. Acted as trial and appellate counsel for the defendant George Brown; new law in consumer protection and aggregate damages developed
Abdulrahim et al. v. Air France et al. – Class proceeding arising out of crash of Air France flight at Toronto. Acted for the defendant Goodrich
ONHWP Chevron et al. (1999), 46 OR (3d) 130 (Ont. Gen. Div.) (Winkler, J.) – Bar Order in class action settlement
Cloud Canada (Attorney General) (2004), 2 CPC (96th) 199 (Ont. CA) – Class proceeding involving residential schools
Sauer Canada (Attorney General), 2007 ONCA 454 – Class proceeding - Appeal with respect to pure economic loss issues
Celanese Canada Inc. v. Murray Demolition Cor. et al. (2006), 269 DLR (4th) 193 (SCC) – Successful appeal to Supreme Court of Canada in respect of solicitor client privilege and disqualification of counsel in context of Anton Piller order
Ticketnet Air Canada (1997), 154 DLR (4th) 271 (Ont. CA) – Leave to the Supreme Court of Canada dismissed, leading decision on damages in favour of a start-up company
Pettey Avis (1994), 13 OR (3d) 725 – Decision at trial on validity of Mary Carter agreement
Cougar Helicopters Inc. v. Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. (2011), 335 DLR (4th) 203 (NLCA) – Jurisdiction issues in product liability case
Murphy Welsh – Stoddard v. Watson, [1993] 2 S.C.R. 1069 – Supreme Court of Canada decision on solicitor’s negligence claim application of Highway Traffic Act limitation period to claims of infants and mental incompetents
Memberships
The Advocates’ Society (Present Member and Past Member of The Executive)
Law Society of Ontario
Canadian Bar Association
American Bar Association
International Bar Association Member
Member of The Executive Committee, Harbourfront Corporation
Memberships
The Advocates’ Society (Present Member and Past Member of The Executive)
Law Society of Ontario
Canadian Bar Association
American Bar Association
International Bar Association Member
Member of The Executive Committee, Harbourfront Corporation
Memberships
The Advocates’ Society (Present Member and Past Member of The Executive)
Law Society of Ontario
Canadian Bar Association
American Bar Association
International Bar Association Member
Member of The Executive Committee, Harbourfront Corporation
Eminent Lawyer, Author, and Presenter
Robert Bell is a senior partner at the Lerners Toronto office with 45 years of experience in complex civil litigation. He has appeared in trial and appellate courts across Canada and before the Supreme Court of Canada. Rob Bell’s areas of speciality include class proceedings; complex multiparty litigation including cross-border product liability matters involving design and manufacturing issues in automotive, aerospace, and consumer products industries; major
Over the years, Rob has acted as defence counsel in numerous consumer, automotive, and aviation class actions. He is counsel on leading reported decisions, as the law on certification, trial, bar order in class action settlements, and counsel fees has developed in Canada.
Robert Bell is a senior partner at the Lerners Toronto office with 45 years of experience in complex civil litigation. He has appeared in trial and appellate courts across Canada and before the Supreme Court of Canada. Rob Bell’s areas of speciality include class proceedings; complex multiparty litigation including cross-border product liability matters involving design and manufacturing issues in automotive, aerospace, and consumer products industries; major commercial disputes and specialty insurance coverage opinions and litigation.
Over the years, Rob has acted as defence counsel in numerous consumer, automotive, and aviation class actions. He is counsel on leading reported decisions, as the law on certification, trial, bar order in class action settlements, and counsel fees has developed in Canada.
Rob is a widely published author and highly acclaimed speaker and presenter. He creates and leads numerous training programs for The Advocates’ Society (including in Kiev, Ukraine; St. Kitts, Caribbean; and at the United Nations, NY), The Law Society of Ontario, and Osgoode Professional Development. He is frequently invited to participate at legal conferences as a keynote speaker, facilitator, panellist, and moderator.
Robert Bell is a senior partner at the Lerners Toronto office with 45 years of experience in complex civil litigation. He has appeared in trial and appellate courts across Canada and before the Supreme Court of Canada. Rob Bell’s areas of speciality include class proceedings; complex multiparty litigation including cross-border product liability matters involving design and manufacturing issues in automotive, aerospace, and consumer products industries; major commercial disputes and specialty insurance coverage opinions and litigation.
Over the years, Rob has acted as defence counsel in numerous consumer, automotive, and aviation class actions. He is counsel on leading reported decisions, as the law on certification, trial, bar order in class action settlements, and counsel fees has developed in Canada.
Rob is a widely published author and highly acclaimed speaker and presenter. He creates and leads numerous training programs for The Advocates’ Society (including in Kiev, Ukraine; St. Kitts, Caribbean; and at the United Nations, NY), The Law Society of Ontario, and Osgoode Professional Development. He is frequently invited to participate at legal conferences as a keynote speaker, facilitator, panellist, and moderator.
Reach Out
Everyone at Lerners is committed to ensuring your matters are addressed with the attention and care you expect.
Reach Out
Everyone at Lerners is committed to ensuring your matters are addressed with the attention and care you expect.
Reach Out
Everyone at Lerners is committed to ensuring your matters are addressed with the attention and care you expect.