Robert Kugler
Robert has consistently been ranked among the best lawyers in Canada in his fields of practice.
Robert litigates civil and commercial matters, including class actions, personal injuries, defective product claims, shareholder disputes, and medical malpractice, banking and insurance matters. He handles cases for individuals and companies, and has won and settled numerous multi-million-dollar cases for his clients.
Robert has worked on numerous cases of significant importance, and has helped many clients access justice.
Understanding that many individuals and companies are unable to afford to pay legal fees on an hourly-rate basis, Robert regularly accepts to work on a contingency fee basis, assuming the risk that if the case is unsuccessful, his clients will not owe legal fees.
Individuals are welcome to contact Robert for a free and confidential consultation.
Named a “Litigation Star” by Benchmark Canada: The Definitive Guide to Canada’s Leading Litigation Firms & Attorneys.
Best Lawyers® has recognized Robert as being among the best lawyers in Canada, as selected by his peers.
Regularly recognized and shortlisted for the Plaintiff (Class Action) attorney of the year, Quebec, and Plaintiff Litigator of the Year by Benchmark Canada Litigation Awards.
For many years, Robert was a member of the Comité consultatif du Barreau du Québec, Groupe d’experts sur les actions collectives, and the Canadian Bar Association Executive Committee – Class Actions Division.
Compensation for sexual abuse victims — A landmark decision was obtained on behalf of numerous victims of sexual abuse by members of the religious order “The Redemptorists”. The Judgment marked the first time in Quebec history that a Court condemned a religious order to pay damages to victims of sexual abuse perpetrated by its members. Robert’s clients ultimately recovered $20 million in total, allowing more than 100 individuals to receive substantial compensation for the harm they suffered arising from sexual abuse.
Robert has also represented thousands of individuals who obtained significant compensation following abuse suffered at the hands of members of religious orders and other institutions, including: $60 million from Les Frères du Sacré-Coeur; $30 million from Les Clercs de Saint-Viateur du Canada; $65 million from Les Soeurs de la Charité du Québec and the CIUSSS de la Capitale-Nationale; several million dollars from the City of Longueuil for victims of hockey coach François Lamarre.
Compensation for First Nations children and families — Robert was honoured to represent hundreds of thousands of First Nations children and families against the Attorney General of Canada in a class action that resulted in a Judgment approving a settlement exceeding $23 billion, the largest settlement in the history of the country. Hundreds of thousands of First Nations individuals are eligible to receive substantial compensation for the harms they have suffered.
Compensation for individuals whose constitutional rights have been violated — Robert is representing tens of thousands of individuals in Quebec against the Quebec government, claiming substantial compensation arising from the failure to respect various rights of individuals who are arrested and who are presumed innocent.
Robert obtained a Judgment awarding group members more than $164 million in damages, on behalf of thousands of individuals whose fundamental rights were violated after being arrested, making it the third largest award in the history of class actions in Quebec (currently on appeal).
Robert obtained a Judgment approving a $25 million settlement on behalf of thousands of individuals who were denied the right to have a Court consider whether their pre-trial detention remained necessary. Robert obtained a Judgment condemning the Attorney General of Quebec to pay in excess of $164 million to individuals who were deprived of their right to appear before a justice of the peace within 24 hours of arrest, as required by the Criminal Code.
Robert represents hundreds of Inuit individuals in Nunavik whose right to a bail hearing within a 3-day delay was denied for many years, and advocates on behalf of vulnerable individuals in order to assist them in accessing justice.
Personal injury — Robert obtained a Judgment from the Court of Appeal, upholding the largest amount ever awarded in Quebec history in a case against a ski hill on behalf of a child who suffered brain injuries during a group ski lesson.
Robert has also handled multi-million dollar cases on behalf of individuals who have suffered significant damages arising from injuries taking place during football games, snowmobile accidents, cycling accidents, etc.
Victims of fraud — Robert obtained a Judgment approving a multi-million dollar settlement in a class action against the Royal Bank of Canada on behalf of numerous victims of a Ponzi scheme perpetrated by Earl Jones, commonly referred to as Montreal’s “mini-Madoff”.
Product liability — Robert obtained Judgments approving settlements in class actions on behalf of individuals who received defective hip implants in excess of $20 million, enabling hundreds of individuals to receive substantial compensation for harm that they suffered.
Consumer Protection Act violations — Robert obtained a Judgment approving a $22 million settlement in a class action on behalf of tens of thousands of Quebec consumers of SiriusXM Canada Inc., whose subscription fees were alleged to have been unilaterally increased in contravention of the Consumer Protection Act.
B. v. Frères Maristes, 2026 QCCS 2031
Makoma v. Procureur général du Québec, 2025 QCCS 1646
Martin v. Procureur général du Québec, 2025 QCCS 1108
Cormier v. Ville de Longueuil, 2024 QCCS 4688
D.L. v. Soeurs de la Charité de Québec, 2024 QCCS 2711
Desroches v. Procureur général du Québec, 2024 QCCS 2415
Tixador v. Procureur général du Québec (Ministère de la Sécurité publique), 2024 QCCS 2147
Carrière v. Gen Digital Inc. (Symantec Corporation), 2024 QCCS 819
Moushoom v. Canada (Attorney General), 2023 FC 1466
Union des consommateurs v. Sirius XM Canada inc., 2023 QCCS 4239
B. v. Frères Maristes, 2023 QCCS 167
Salko v. Financière Banque Nationale inc., 2022 QCCS 3361
Carrier v. Procureure générale du Québec, C.A.M. – January 21, 2022
Moushoom v. Canada (Attorney General), 2021 FC 1225
F. v. Frères du Sacré-Coeur, 2021 QCCS 3621
Y. v. Servites de Marie de Québec, 2021 QCCS 2712
Cormier v. Ville de Longueuil, 2021 QCCS 3927
J.S. v. Soeurs de la Charité de Québec, 2020 QCCS 2533
Carrier v. Procureure générale du Québec, 2020 QCCS 1980
F. v. Frères du Sacré-Coeur, 2019 QCCS 5122
Y. v. Servites de Marie de Québec, 2018 QCCS 4889
Union des consommateurs v. Sirius XM Canada Holdings Inc., 2018 QCCS 2137
A v. Frères du Sacré-Coeur, 2017 QCCS 5394
Tremblay v. Lavoie, 2014 QCCS 3185
Royal Bank of Canada v. Capital Factors Inc., 2013 QCCS 2214
Centre de la communauté sourde du Montréal métropolitain v. Institut Raymond-Dewar, 2012 QCCS 1146
Nelles v. Royal Bank of Canada – S.C.M., March 14, 2012
Stations de la Vallée de St-Sauveur inc. v. M.A., 2010 QCCA 1509
On behalf of Kugler Kandestin, Robert established the Kugler Kandestin LLP Entrance Scholarship (McGill University – Faculty of Law) and the Kugler Kandestin Prize of Excellence at the Legal Clinic for Victims of Crimes (University of Montreal – Faculty of Law), in order to assist and encourage students to devote efforts towards social justice.
Robert has been a guest lecturer at the Faculty of Law of McGill University for many years, and a regular speaker at legal conferences in litigation and class action matters.
In 2024, Robert was honoured to become a course instructor of class actions at the Faculty of Law of McGill University.
Robert has also been a guest lecturer at the Université de Montréal.
Many clients have written to the Court to express their appreciation for Robert and his team’s efforts, professionalism and empathy. For example:
« I for one, am very grateful for all the help and support I’ve received from you and your colleagues. My statement is one of many. We all had this secret we kept to ourselves due to fear, but at least there will be an end to our childhood nightmare. »
« Votre approche humaine, votre grande écoute, votre respect envers notre fils en le laissant cheminer à son rythme ont fait en sorte qu’il a accepté de vous livrer son témoignage, ce qui nous semblait impossible au début des démarches. Même nous, ses parents, n’avons pas eu droit à toutes les confidences qu’il vous a faites. Il n’avait jamais été capable de parler de l’agression. »
« Aussi, je tiens à vous remercier personnellement, vous, vos collaborateurs ainsi que votre firme, qui avez su comprendre ma détresse. L’accompagnement, le soutien et l’encadrement reçus m’ont permis de vous faire confiance et ainsi d’ouvrir mon passé et de le livrer du mieux que j’ai pu, pour permettre à plusieurs victimes qui n’en ont pas eu la chance ou la capacité de le faire aussi pour elles. Depuis le premier jour où je vous ai contacté, j’ai pu cheminer, même si cela n’a pas été facile. Je suis bien heureux du parcours réalisé jusqu’à maintenant, et votre contribution en fait partie. »
« Sachez que je me suis senti respecté à chacune des étapes du procès. Même si je n’ai pas eu besoin de témoigner, j’ai tout de même l’impression que mon histoire a été entendue, et cela m’a fait du bien d’avancer dans mon cheminement personnel au sujet des abus sexuels que j’ai vécus lors de mon enfance. »
McGill University, Bachelor of Commerce (1996) (Dean’s Honour List)
McGill University, Faculty of Law, B.C.L., LL.B. (2000) (Dean’s Honour List)
Barreau du Québec
Bar of Montreal
The Canadian Bar Association
Executive committee member of The Canadian Bar Association, class actions division (2012-2016)
Comité consultatif du Barreau du Québec, Groupe d’experts sur les actions collectives (2022-2024)