Robert O’Brien

Robert is a Partner with Coutts Crane. He is celebrating this 40^th anniversary with the firm in 2021.  He articled with the firm in 1981 under Elgin Evans Coutts Q.C and in 1983 was called to the Bar and became a Partner in 1985.

Robert’s practice and expertise includes estates law, estate dispute resolution and litigation, family law, civil litigation and dispute resolution and he has appeared in Superior Court, the Court of Appeal and before various tribunals.  He takes a practical approach to legal issues with a high degree of personal engagement and empathy in resolving clients’ problems.

Robert has actively served on the Boards for a number of charitable, not-for-profit organizations in the community.  He has been a member of The Rotary Club of Toronto for 36 years and served as President of The Rotary Club of Toronto in 1998-1999. His accomplishments in this capacity included being recognized with the Paul Harris Fellow/William Peace Award and as outstanding Club President for District 7070.  Robert served as the Chairman of the Churchill Society for the Advancement of Parliamentary Democracy between 2007 to 2010 and remains on the Board of Directors and has been on the Board of Directors for the International Churchill Centre.   He currently serves on the Board of Directors for The Rotary Foundation (Canada).  Robert is actively involved in his Church, has been involved in federal and provincial riding associations at the executive level and has attended as a delegate at national leadership conventions.  Robert has been a public speaker to various community and professional groups on a wide variety of topics.

As well Robert was the recipient of the Vera L. Parsons and the Joseph Sedgwick Awards for proficiency in the Bar Admission Course of the Law Society of Upper Canada.

Robert is an accomplished long-distance and marathon runner, having participated in the Toronto, Niagara and New York City Marathons.