Robert H. Pineo

Robert H. Pineo

Legal Assistant: Elizabeth Branscombe

Rob is a partner and head of the Litigation Practice Group at Patterson Law.  Rob focuses his practice on four main areas of litigation: Expropriation, Property Disputes, Employment Disputes, and Business Disputes. Rob has extensive litigation experience, regularly representing clients at all levels of Court and various Administrative tribunals. In addition, Rob is committed to ongoing education to ensure that his clients receive the most in-depth and up-to-date representation possible. He was recognized as a Litigation Star in the Atlantics in Benchmark Canada's 2012 "Definitive Guide to Canada's Leading Litigation Firms & Attorneys".

  • Canadian Institute - Class Actions Conference (Toronto), 2011
  • Osgoode Hall Law School - Evidence Conference, 2010
  • Canadian Bar Association Expert Evidence Conference, 2007
  • Osgood Hall Law School - Shareholders Dispute Litigation Seminar, 2006
  • Osgoode Hall Law School - Intensive Trial Advocacy Workshop, 2005
  • LL.B. (Dalhousie University, 2001)
  • Saint Mary`s University - Analyses of Financial Information, 2003
  • Bar Admission: Nova Scotia, 2002
  • Undergraduate studies in Political Science  (Dalhousie University, 1986-1989 )

Property Dispute Litigation:

  • Expropriation: Rob acts for landowners in asserting their rights to compensation for market value, business loss and injurious affection claims in highway, pipeline and utility expropriations in Nova Scotia, Alberta and New Brunswick
  • Expropriation: Rob acts for municipal authorities in complex expropriation matters including industrial development projects
  • Trespass: Rob acts for landowners who have suffered damages due to trespass, including: unauthorized possession of property; destroyed landscaping; improperly harvested and misappropriated timber; and business losses
  • Easement Disputes: Rob acts for landowners involved in right-of-way and easement disputes, including: claims of interference with use; excessive use; necessity and prescription
  • Adverse Possession: Rob acts for both plaintiffs and defendants in claims of adverse possession (squatters claims)
  • Boundary Disputes: Rob acts for landowners in disputes with neighbours concerning the boundaries of their property, including: actions for a declaration of the actual boundary, structural encroachment, business loss claims; and nuisance claims
  • Commercial Leases: Rob acts for both landlords and tenants in commercial lease disputes, including: distraint of goods, eviction of tenants; and negligence and misrepresentation claims
  • Property Sale Disputes: Rob acts for vendors, purchasers and real estate agents in claims of misrepresentation in the sale of property

Employment Disputes:

  • Employment Advice: Rob regularly provides legal advice to employers on termination issues
  • Wrongful Dismissal: Rob acts for both employers and employees in wrongful dismissal actions
  • Union Certification: Rob acts for employers facing union certification
  • Duty of Fair Representation: Rob acts for employees against unions in complaints of unfair representation 
Business Dispute Litigation: 
  • Procurement Disputes: Rob acts for both owners and contractors in tendering and request for proposal (RFP) disputes
  • Business Losses: Rob acts for clients in commercial disputes including breach of contract; sale of goods; economic negligence claims; and losses arising from breach of fiduciary duties by directors and insurance coverage disputes
  • Business Ownership Disputes: Rob acts for clients in shareholder and partnership disputes, including oppression remedies, derivative actions, and breach of partnership agreements or duties
  • Agricultural Clients: Rob acts for agricultural producers in various matters including: asset division upon divorce; partnership and shareholder disputes; expropriation matters; contractual disputes, property disputes and insurance coverage disputes

Leading Decisions:

  • Insurance Coverage: In 2010, Rob successfully argued the now leading decision on punitive damages before the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal Kings Mutual Insurance Co. v. Ackermann, 2010 NSCA 39). This case is the first decision in which a punitive damages damage award against an insurance company has been upheld by the Court of Appeal
  • Expropriation: In 2007, Rob successfully argued before the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal the now leading decision on the jurisdiction of the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board to order discovery examinations and other procedural aspects (Nova Scotia (Attorney General) v. Bishop, 2006 NSCA 114.
  • Employment: In 2006, Rob successfully argued the now leading decision on frustration of employment contracts before the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal (Ulnooweg Development Group Inc. v. Wilmot 2007 NSCA 49). This case was featured in the May 11, 2007 edition of Lawyers` Weekly.
Professional Activities and Affiliations
  • Canadian Bar Association
  • Nova Scotia Barristers` Society
  • Bar Council, Nova Scotia Barristers` Society (2009-2011 and 2013-2015)
  • Past President, Colchester County Bar Association
  • Ontario Expropriation Association
  • Alberta Expropriation Association
  • British Columbia Expropriation Association
  • Litigation Group Chair - Patterson Law
  • Supreme Court Liaison Subcommittee (Civil) - Nova Scotia Barristers Society
  • Credentials Committee, Nova Scotia Barristers` Society
Personal, Community and Volunteer Activities
  • Served on the Appointments Committee at Dalhousie Law School
  • Acts as a judge for various 4-H activities
  • The Honourable G. I. Smith Memorial Trust Scholarship

Qualifications

  • Canadian Institute - Class Actions Conference (Toronto), 2011
  • Osgoode Hall Law School - Evidence Conference, 2010
  • Canadian Bar Association Expert Evidence Conference, 2007
  • Osgood Hall Law School - Shareholders Dispute Litigation Seminar, 2006
  • Osgoode Hall Law School - Intensive Trial Advocacy Workshop, 2005
  • LL.B. (Dalhousie University, 2001)
  • Saint Mary`s University - Analyses of Financial Information, 2003
  • Bar Admission: Nova Scotia, 2002
  • Undergraduate studies in Political Science  (Dalhousie University, 1986-1989 )

Experience

Property Dispute Litigation:

  • Expropriation: Rob acts for landowners in asserting their rights to compensation for market value, business loss and injurious affection claims in highway, pipeline and utility expropriations in Nova Scotia, Alberta and New Brunswick
  • Expropriation: Rob acts for municipal authorities in complex expropriation matters including industrial development projects
  • Trespass: Rob acts for landowners who have suffered damages due to trespass, including: unauthorized possession of property; destroyed landscaping; improperly harvested and misappropriated timber; and business losses
  • Easement Disputes: Rob acts for landowners involved in right-of-way and easement disputes, including: claims of interference with use; excessive use; necessity and prescription
  • Adverse Possession: Rob acts for both plaintiffs and defendants in claims of adverse possession (squatters claims)
  • Boundary Disputes: Rob acts for landowners in disputes with neighbours concerning the boundaries of their property, including: actions for a declaration of the actual boundary, structural encroachment, business loss claims; and nuisance claims
  • Commercial Leases: Rob acts for both landlords and tenants in commercial lease disputes, including: distraint of goods, eviction of tenants; and negligence and misrepresentation claims
  • Property Sale Disputes: Rob acts for vendors, purchasers and real estate agents in claims of misrepresentation in the sale of property

Employment Disputes:

  • Employment Advice: Rob regularly provides legal advice to employers on termination issues
  • Wrongful Dismissal: Rob acts for both employers and employees in wrongful dismissal actions
  • Union Certification: Rob acts for employers facing union certification
  • Duty of Fair Representation: Rob acts for employees against unions in complaints of unfair representation

Business Dispute Litigation:

  • Procurement Disputes: Rob acts for both owners and contractors in tendering and request for proposal (RFP) disputes
  • Business Losses: Rob acts for clients in commercial disputes including breach of contract; sale of goods; economic negligence claims; and losses arising from breach of fiduciary duties by directors and insurance coverage disputes
  • Business Ownership Disputes: Rob acts for clients in shareholder and partnership disputes, including oppression remedies, derivative actions, and breach of partnership agreements or duties
  • Agricultural Clients: Rob acts for agricultural producers in various matters including: asset division upon divorce; partnership and shareholder disputes; expropriation matters; contractual disputes, property disputes and insurance coverage disputes

Leading Decisions:

  • Insurance Coverage: In 2010, Rob successfully argued the now leading decision on punitive damages before the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal Kings Mutual Insurance Co. v. Ackermann, 2010 NSCA 39). This case is the first decision in which a punitive damages damage award against an insurance company has been upheld by the Court of Appeal
  • Expropriation: In 2007, Rob successfully argued before the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal the now leading decision on the jurisdiction of the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board to order discovery examinations and other procedural aspects (Nova Scotia (Attorney General) v. Bishop, 2006 NSCA 114.
  • Employment: In 2006, Rob successfully argued the now leading decision on frustration of employment contracts before the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal (Ulnooweg Development Group Inc. v. Wilmot 2007 NSCA 49). This case was featured in the May 11, 2007 edition of Lawyers` Weekly.
Activities & Affiliations

Professional Activities and Affiliations

  • Canadian Bar Association
  • Nova Scotia Barristers` Society
  • Bar Council, Nova Scotia Barristers` Society (2009-2011 and 2013-2015)
  • Past President, Colchester County Bar Association
  • Ontario Expropriation Association
  • Alberta Expropriation Association
  • British Columbia Expropriation Association
  • Litigation Group Chair - Patterson Law
  • Supreme Court Liaison Subcommittee (Civil) - Nova Scotia Barristers Society
  • Credentials Committee, Nova Scotia Barristers` Society

Personal, Community and Volunteer Activities

  • Served on the Appointments Committee at Dalhousie Law School
  • Acts as a judge for various 4-H activities
  • The Honourable G. I. Smith Memorial Trust Scholarship
Publications & Presentations