Robert B. Kennedy

Robert practises defence litigation with an emphasis on university, sports, recreation and adventure tourism cases. He has wide experience in a number of areas of litigation practice including insurance, occupier’s liability, municipal liability, university law, personal injury, product liability and professional errors and omissions including medical and dental malpractice and hospital liability claims. Robert is actively involved as defence counsel for the outdoor commercial recreation and adventure tourism industry in British Columbia. Representative clients include University of British Columbia, Simon Fraser University, Whistler Blackcomb, Heli-Cat Canada, Backcountry Lodges Association of British Columbia, Canadian Avalanche Association and most of the ski area, helicopter and snowcat and backcountry skiing operators in British Columbia.

In addition to defending civil claims against commercial recreation and adventure tourism operators and equipment manufacturers, Robert has also advised and lectured on comprehensive risk management programs, including the contractual exclusion of liability program currently in use by the ski industry in Canada. Robert is a recipient of the Marshall Award and the Jimmie Spencer Award for his contribution to the ski industry in Canada, and is an associate member of Canada West Ski Areas Association. Robert is a former Chair of the CWSAA Safety Committee and works closely with the ski industry developing mountain safety and risk management programs. He is also an active member of the Association of Ski Defence Attorneys. Robert was called to the bar in Ontario in 1979, remains a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada and practises in both Ontario and British Columbia. He was appointed King’s Counsel in 2011.