Robert M. McLennan 10YEARSAWARDED
Works at
Alexander Holburn Beaudin + Lang LLP

33 Best Lawyers awards

Alexander Holburn Beaudin + Lang LLP logo

Biography

Rob is a Partner and member of the Insurance, Class Actions, and Administrative Law Practice Groups. His primary focus lies in insurance-based liability defense, specifically in the areas of occupiers liability, product liability, and professional liability and discipline. In addition to his litigation practice, Rob is actively expanding his mediation skills and practice.

With over 30 years of experience as a litigator, Rob has honed his skills in the courtroom, appearing before the British Columbia Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal, and the Federal Court and its Court of Appeal. While he is a skilled trial advocate, Rob recognizes that most disputes are resolved through negotiation rather than litigation. This understanding has shaped his approach to legal practice, enabling him to effectively analyze and strategize from the outset of each case, ensuring effective and efficient resolutions. He takes pride in being just as persuasive in the dispute resolution process as he is during trials.

Rob’s dedication to excellence has earned him consistent recognition by The Best Lawyers in Canada in Insurance Law since 2016, and he has been listed in the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory for litigation in commercial insurance since 2020.

Rob is actively developing his mediation skills and has completed several mediation courses, including the esteemed Mediating the Litigated Case program at the Strauss Institute of Dispute Resolution at Pepperdine University. His extensive experience includes successfully participating in hundreds of mediations, which has deepened his commitment to understanding diverse perspectives and enhancing his listening abilities—both crucial for navigating mediation effectively and achieving amicable resolutions. If you need a mediator, please reach out to Rob at rmclennan@ahbl.ca.

As a past Chair and current member of the firm’s Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Committee, Rob is committed to fostering an inclusive environment. His strong work ethic, extensive litigation background, and specialized mediation training make him exceptionally well-equipped to navigate and mediate any dispute effectively.

Rob is now welcoming opportunities for mediation work, where he can leverage his experience and skills to help parties reach amicable resolutions.

Works at
Alexander Holburn Beaudin + Lang LLP

33 Best Lawyers awards

Alexander Holburn Beaudin + Lang LLP logo

Locations

Education

  • University of British Columbia, LL.B., graduated 1992
  • Queen's University, B.A., graduated 1988

Bar Admissions

  • Yukon, Law Society of Yukon, 2008
  • British Columbia, Law Society of British Columbia, 1993

Affiliations

  • Canadian Bar Association, (Civil Litigation + Insurance subsection) - Member
  • Canadian Defence Lawyers - Member
  • Law Society of British Columbia - Member
  • Vancouver Bar Association - Member

Client Testimonials

Awards & Focus

Recognized in The Best Lawyers in Canada™ 2027 for work in:
  • Insurance Law
Awards:
  • 2016 – 2023 Best Lawyers® in Canada Insurance Law
  • 2022 - 2023 Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory repeatedly recommended in the area of Litigation - Commercial Insurance

Additional Information

  • Experience

Occupiers’ Liability

Rob has handled occupiers’ liability claims for his entire career. He regularly acts directly on, and supervises all levels of occupiers’ liability claims ranging from slip and falls on residential premises, to catastrophic injury on commercial properties.

As a result, Rob has developed extensive knowledge and expertise relating to liability issues associated with an occupiers’ duty of care, including necessary maintenance and supervision systems. In addition, given his years of experience and ongoing practice, Rob has also developed very considerable knowledge regarding the medical conditions and injuries that are the subject of the claims, ranging from minor soft tissue injuries to severe and disabling injuries such as paralysis, brain injury and psychiatric disorders.

Product Liability

For more than twenty years, Rob has handled a wide variety of products liability cases for retailers, distributors and manufacturers, both as insureds and directly for the corporate entities.

Rob has extensive expertise with the legal and practical issues associated with product manufacturing, sale, use and failure. He also has detailed knowledge regarding the effects of product failure, including personal injury, property damage and economic loss.

Professional Liability

Rob regularly represents and defends professionals in negligence claims. He acts for professionals in a variety of fields although the majority of his practice involves defending liability claims against pharmacists and real estate appraisers.

Rob also regularly represents and defends pharmacists, other pharmacy professionals and pharmacy operators in disciplinary and related proceedings with the College of Pharmacists of BC.

Advocacy

Rob has appeared as counsel in the British Columbia Supreme Court and Court of Appeal and in the Federal Court of Canada and Federal Court of Appeal.

He frequently conducts seminars for lawyers and students through Alexander Holburn’s internal ASCEND™ program, and for law students at the University of British Columbia on the litigation skills required for effective advocacy and case management/resolution.

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