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About Allan

I graduated from McGill University in Montreal with a B.A. in 1982 and obtained my law degree from Osgoode Hall Law School at York University in 1986. After articling and attending the Bar Admission Course, I was called to the Bar in the Province of Ontario in 1988. I started my own practice shortly thereafter.

Allan Rouben

I adore practicing law and I especially enjoy the challenges associated with appearing in Court in difficult and complicated matters. The most rewarding aspect of my legal practice, though, has been the personal relationships I have made with the clients I have had over the years. I believe strongly in providing personal service and in giving my personal attention to my clients’ cases.

I represent my clients in a caring and compassionate manner while at the same time aggressively pursuing their legal rights. I also believe strongly in our system of justice and in giving back to the profession to which I am privileged to belong.

In 1923, British Judge Edward Abbott Parry wrote about the qualities that he felt went into the making of a great advocate, qualities which in turn were based on centuries of tradition of the English bar. He called his book “The Seven Lamps of Advocacy”, those being the lamps of honesty, courage, industry, wit, eloquence, judgment and fellowship. I believe these ancient traditions still hold true and, of these, it is the lamp of honesty that remains the most important quality of the successful advocate. The bonds of trust and confidence lie at the heart of the solicitor and client relationship and I believe it is essential that the relationship be based upon the unshakeable belief that the interests of the client will always be placed ahead of the interests of the lawyer. These are the ideals for which the legal profession must continuously strive. These are the ideals which I bring to the practice of law and the relationship I have with my clients.

Professional Involvement

  • Member Board of Directors, Ontario Trial Lawyers Association 2008-present
  • Chair, Rules Task Group, Ontario Trial Lawyers Association 2009-present
  • Advocates’ Society Crown Wardship Appeal Program 2010-present
  • Law Society of Upper Canada Duty Counsel Program 2007-present
  • Ontario Trial Lawyers Association-Counsel on Interventions 2007-present
  • Child Advocacy Project 2006-present
  • Advocates’ Society Court of Appeal Program 2005-present
  • Instructor/Judge Moot Court Program, University of Toronto Law School 2005-present
  • Law Society of Upper Canada Practice Advisory Mentorship Program 2004-present
  • Legal Aid Ontario Civil Litigation Mentorship Program 1995-present
  • Volunteer Lawyers Service/Pro-Bono Law Ontario 1995-present
  • Legal Aid Ontario Area Committee Member 1991-present
  • Ontario Trial Lawyers Association-Response to Civil Justice Review 2007-2008
  • Instructor/Judge High School Moot Court Programs, Ontario Justice Education Network 2005-2007
  • Instructor Bar Admission Course, Civil Litigation Section 2004-2005
  • Pre-Hearing Arbitrator/Mediator, Ontario Insurance Commission 1997-1999
  • Volunteer Mediator ADR Centre, Ontario Court (General Division) 1996-1997
  • Mediator Family Law Settlement Conferences, Legal Aid Ontario 1995-1997
  • Canadian Bar Association Civil Litigation Section Executive 1988-1991
  • Canadian Bar Association Criminal Litigation Section Executive 1989-1991
  • Joint Committee on Court Reform 1988-1991

Publications/Presentations

  • Oral Argument in Motions Court, Ontario Trial Lawyers Association, New Lawyers Division Conference, September 2013
  • Oral Argument in the Supreme Court of Canada, Commons Institute, June 2013
  • Top Ten Cases in the Court of Appeal on Liability, Damages and Jury Issues, Ontario Trial Lawyers Association Fall Conference, October 2012
  • Post Combined Air and the New Summary Judgment Test, Ontario Bar Association, Panel Member, September 2012
  • Club Resorts v. Van Breda: Where Are We Now, Ontario Trial Lawyers Association, Spring Conference, June 2012
  • A Full Appreciation of the Summary Judgment Rule, Ontario Bar Association, Panel Member, December 2011
  • Civil Appeals: The Year in Review, Law Society of Upper Canada, Van Breda v. Village Resorts Limited, Panel Member, October 2011
  • The Use of Summary Judgment in Long-Term Disability Claims, Co-Chair Long-Term, Disability Program, Ontario Trial Lawyers Association, January 2011
  • The Jurisdiction of Ontario Courts: Anatomy of an Appeal, Litigator Magazine, November 2010
  • OTLA Interventions: Anatomy of an Appeal, Co-Chair Fall Conference, Ontario Trial Lawyers Association, October 2010
  • Is There a Constitutional Right to a Jury in Civil Cases? Litigator Magazine, Dec. 2009
  • Processing Errors as a Ground of Appeal in Medical Malpractice Cases, Ontario Trial Lawyers Association, Medical Malpractice Roundtable, September 2009
  • Damages for Mental Distress in Employment Law Cases after Keays v. Honda Canada Inc., Ontario Trial Lawyers Association Spring Conference, May 2009
  • Duty of Fair Representation Complaints Before the Ontario Labour Relations Board Litigator Magazine, April 2009
  • Controlling Your Witness and Getting Admissions on Examination for Discovery, Ontario Trial Lawyers Association, New Lawyers Division Conference, March 2009
  • The Use of Juries in Long-Term Disability Claims, Litigator Magazine, 2008
  • The Use of Rule 31.06(2) in Medical Malpractice Cases, Ontario Trial Lawyers Association, Medical Malpractice Roundtable, January 2008
  • Jurisdiction in Tort Actions After the Muscutt Quintet, Law Society of Upper Canada, The Twelve Minute Civil Litigator, November 2007
  • The Simplified Procedure in Long-Term Disability Claims, Co-Chair Long-Term Disability Program, Ontario Trial Lawyers Association, September 2007

Memberships

Community Involvement

  • Board of Directors, UNITY Charity 2007-2011
  • Advisory Board Jewish Immigrant Aid Society, Jumpstart Program 2007-2009
  • Board of Directors, Partners in Caring 2000-2002
  • Board of Directors, Toronto Daily Bread Food Bank 1989-1992