Bio

James Robbins was a senior partner at Cavalluzzo until his retirement from the full-time practice of law in December 2021. James is continuing to work with the firm on a few ongoing cases and as a consultant to firm lawyers as he winds down his practice.

As a partner, James led the firm's construction group and was a member of the labour group.

James is well known as an advocate for construction unions in Ontario. He worked with his clients to develop effective strategies to achieve their goals, whether through negotiation, litigation, or advocacy regarding public policy, and provided practical ways of resolving their problems.

In the area of occupational health and safety, James provided strategic and policy advice for union clients in both provincial and federal jurisdictions and represented them in a wide variety of courts and tribunals.

James has extensive experience acting on behalf of private and public sector union clients in labour relations matters and had appeared frequently before the CIRB, OLRB and arbitrators.

Education

  • Call to the Ontario Bar, 1997
  • University of Toronto, LL.B., 1995
  • University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Ph.D., 1990

Memberships

  • Canadian Association of Labour Lawyers (CALL)
  • Ontario Bar Association – Labour and Construction, Co-Chair of the 1st Joint CLE Session

Accolades

  • Leading Practitioner in Construction Sector Labour Relations, Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory, 2014
  • Leading Practitioner in Construction Sector Labour Relations, Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory, 2012
  • Leading Practitioner in Construction Sector Labour Relations, Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory, 2011

Related Events

Event/Nov 5, 2017

Jim Robbins Speaks at 8th Biennial Construction Labour Relations Conference

Jim Robbins speaks at the 8th Biennial Construction Labour Relations Conference.  He will be participating in a panel entitled:  "Effective ...
Event/Oct 10, 2017

Jim Robbins Speaks at 2017 Lancaster Health and Safety Conference

Jim Robbins speaks at Lancaster House 2017 Health and Safety Conference. He will be participating in a panel entitled: "Major Caselaw and Legislative ...
Event/Oct 24, 2015

Jim Robbins Speaks at the 2015 Health and Safety and Workplace Safety and Insurance Conference

Jim Robbins is speaking at the 2015 Health and Safety and Workplace Safety and Insurance Conference.  He will be speaking on a panel entitled:&nb...
Event/Jun 11, 2015

Jim Robbins Speaks at 2015 Annual Canadian Association of Labour Lawyers Conference

Jim Robbins speaks at the 2015 Annual Canadian Association of Labour Lawyers Conference, participating in a panel entitled:  "Expert Witnesses:&n...

Cases

Case/3 March 2010

CUPE v. Air Canada

CUPE v. Air Canada, 2010 FC 245 (CanLII);  [2010] F.C.J. No. 286; [2010] A.C.F. no 286; 363 F.T.R. 24 The primary issue in dispute is whether a H...