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Chair of the Litigation Group in Montréal and the office managing partner, where he
practices corporate, commercial, securities, banking, product liability, real estate litiga-
tion and arbitration. Has an extensive class-action defense practice, including multijuris-
dictional and multi-defendant class actions involving pharmaceuticals, medical devices,
product liability, financial services, consumer fraud, securities and pension fund litiga-
tion. Has a wide range of experience acting for investment and securities dealers with
respect to a variety of civil disputes, including malpractice litigation, and in respect of
securities regulatory compliance issues. Has leading experience in shareholder litigation
with emphasis on oppression disputes. Has appeared before the Supreme Court of Can-
ada, the Québec Court of Appeal and the Québec Superior Court. Admitted to Québec
Bar in 1985.
Partner and head, Competition & Foreign Investment Review Group. Executive Vice
President and Chief General Counsel, TELUS Corp. (1996‒99). Head, Canada's
Competition Bureau (1993‒96). Head, Bureau's Mergers Branch (1989‒1993). Named
in Expert Guides' Guide to the World's Leading Competition and Antitrust Lawyers and
as one of the world's top 30 competition and antitrust lawyers in Best of the Best; Who's
Who Legal Canada: Competition – Lawyers; e Best Lawyers in Canada; Chambers
Global; e Legal 500: Canada; e Lexpert®/American Lawyer Guide to the Leading
500 Lawyers in Canada; the Lexpert® Guide to the Leading US/Canada Cross-border
Corporate Lawyers in Canada. Named Toronto's Competition/Antitrust Lawyer of the
Year (2012). Past Chair, Competition Law and Policy Working Party, OECD. Past Vice
Chair, Business Industry Advisory Committee, OECD. Director and executive commit-
tee member, Canadian Chamber of Commerce. Member, LSUC, LSA, CBA, ABA and
IBA. Called to Bars of Ontario (1979) and Alberta (1999).
Melanie Aitken is the Managing Principal of Bennett Jones (US) LLP, which carries on
the practice of Canadian law in Washington, DC, in association with Bennett Jones LLP.
She is Co-chair of the competition and foreign investment practice of Bennett Jones,
representing Canadian, US and international clients as advisory and litigation counsel.
Aitken most recently served as Canada's Competition Commissioner, in charge of the
Canadian Competition Bureau. She headed the Bureau from 2009 to 2012, having
previously served in the Bureau as the Senior Deputy Commissioner leading merger
review from 2006 to 2009. She specializes in merger matters, cartel investigations and
defense work, particularly in the cross-border context.
Robert J.
Torralbo
Blake, Cassels &
Graydon LLP
Tel: (514) 982-4014
Montréal
George N.
Addy
Davies Ward
Phillips &
Vineberg LLP
Tel: (416) 863-5588
Fax: (416) 863-0871
Toronto
Melanie L.
Aitken
Bennett
Jones LLP
Tel: (202) 204-0500
Fax: (202) 204-0498
Toronto
robert.torralbo@blakes.com
gaddy@dwpv.com
aitkenm@bennettjones.com
CLASS ACTIONS / COMPETITION LAW
COMPETITION LAW
