ABOUT US

RBMConsulting is a firm providing advice, support, and representation in predominantly trade and transportation-related areas of public and international law.

Offering focused legal and consulting services, clients can expect solutions customized to their individual needs.

The firm is structured as a sole proprietorship owned and operated by Rohan B. Mathai.

Meet Rohan

B.A.S., J.D., LL.M.

Integrity

Understanding

Trust

Resolute lawyer with experience helping clients understand, navigate, and resolve complex issues in transportation and trade-related areas of public and international law.

He has advised on:

ship and rail-sourced oil spill liability and compensation
the subsidizing and dumping of foreign goods
customs tariff classifications
rules of origin
government procurement
marine, rail, and aviation-related enforcement, licensing, penalty, medical, and security decisions
other matters in administrative law, insurance law, employment law, personal injury, and commercial law

Advised on the above over the course of working for various organizations as external and/or in-house counsel. This includes work as in-house counsel for the Transportation Appeal Tribunal of Canada, the Canadian International Trade Tribunal, the Office of the Administrator of the Fund for Railway Accidents Involving Designated Goods, and the Office of the Administrator of the Ship-source Oil Pollution Fund.

Rohan's unique combination of technical skills and legal knowledge along with a firm commitment to service, has resulted in the development of effective plans and successful achievement of client goals. Focused on ensuring the highest level of service, clients can be confident that their needs will be met, and their expectations exceeded.

Fluent in English with working proficiency in French having taken multiple French courses at Western University's satellite campus in Trois-Pistoles, Quebec.

Rohan is licensed by the Law Society of Ontario to practise law as a barrister and solicitor in Ontario. He was called to the Bar of Ontario in 2016.

Frequently speak and teach on a variety areas, including on transportation and administrative law. Past engagements include:

“Marine Law”, Asynchronous Online Instruction, 2022.
“Multi-Modal Mandatory Vaccination Regulations”, Webinar Co-Presentation, 2022.
“Marine Environment Law & Pollution Control”, Asynchronous Online Instruction, 2021.
“Training Session 1 Concerning the Fund for Railway Accidents Involving Designated Goods”, Onsite Training, 2020.
“Training Session 2 Concerning the Fund for Railway Accidents Involving Designated Goods”, Onsite Training, 2020.
“Modal Updates”, Conference Speaker, 2019.
“The Fund for Railway Accidents Involving Designated Goods”, Conference Speaker, 2019.
“What are the Impacts of the Recent Legislative Changes on the Fund?”, Conference Panel Moderator, 2019.
“An Introduction to the Fund for Railway Accidents Involving Designated Goods”, Webinar Presentation, 2018.
“The FRAIDG and SOPF”, Webinar Presentation, 2018.
“The Fund for Railway Accidents Involving Designated Goods (FRAIDG): An Intro for Response Organizations”, Webinar Presentation, 2018.
“The Ship-source Oil Pollution Fund (SOPF) and the Fund for Railway Accidents Involving Designated Goods (FRAIDG)”, Webinar Presentation, 2018.
“FRAIDG Rail Workshop”, Workshop Speaker, 2017.
“Case Law Update and New Developments on Transport and Administrative Law”, Webinar Presentation, 2017.
“The Ship-source Oil Pollution Fund”, Conference Co-Speaker, 2017.
“Duty to Give Reasons and Writing an Analysis”, Webinar Co-Presentation, 2017.
“Insufficient Information on the Minister's Notice and Insufficient Grounds for Appeal”, Webinar Co-Presentation, 2017.
“Statutory Interpretation”, Webinar Co-Presentation, 2017.
“Administrative Law Update and New Developments”, Webinar Co-Presentation, 2016.
“International Conventions and Domestic Legislation”, Webinar Co-Presentation, 2016.
“Preliminary Objections: Delay, Prematurity, Mootness, Adequate Alternative Remedy and Waiver Before the Tribunal”, Webinar Co-Presentation, 2016.
“Tribunal Procedures: Postponements and Disclosure”, Webinar Co-Presentation, 2016.

Degrees, Certificates, Licenses

2023 | Certificate in Oral Advocacy | Osgoode Hall Law School of York University

This practice-based program was designed to refine and advance the oral skills needed in both remote and in-person proceedings. Workshops taken towards certificate were "Intensive Trial Advocacy", "Effective Cross-Examinations", "Advanced Impeachment", "Dealing with Expert Witnesses", "Thinking Fast and Slow: Strategies and Tools to Enhance Decision-Making", and "Mastering Examinations-in-Chief".

2016 | Barrister-at-Law | Law Society of Ontario

Admitted as a Barrister and Solicitor with the Law Society of Ontario, Canada.

2014 | LL.M. | University of Toronto Faculty of Law

Achieved a Master of Laws (LL.M.) at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law. Held positions of Graduate Law Students' Association President, Pro Bono Students Canada volunteer, and Acting South Asian Law Students' Association President.

2012 | C.T.L.S. | Center for Transnational Legal Studies

Studied transnational law, earning a Certificate in Transnational Legal Studies (C.T.L.S.) at Kings College in London, England. Acted as a Common Law peer mentor for Civil Law students while there.

2012 | J.D. | University of Melbourne

Attained a Juris Doctor (J.D.) from the University of Melbourne Law School - a globally-ranked-top-10 law school. Took part in various activities, including the ALSA International Humanitarian Law Moot Court Competition and was a University of Melbourne Student Loans and Bursaries Committee member.

2009 | B.A.S. | University of Guelph

Have a Bachelor of Arts and Science (B.A.S.) from the University of Guelph in mathematical science and psychology. Involved in numerous extracurricular activities/groups, including: varsity cross-country, varsity track, and orchestra. Represented students on the University of Guelph Board of Governors, Senate, and Central Student Association Board of Directors.

Continuing Professional Development (CPD)

Regularly attend programs, courses, or events in various areas, including:

Civil Litigation:

Advanced Impeachment Techniques; Osgoode Hall Law School (2023)
Advanced Questioning Techniques: Dealing with Expert Witnesses; Osgoode Hall Law School (2023)
43rd Annual Intensive Trial Advocacy Workshop; Osgoode Hall Law School (2022)
Civil Litigation Refresher 2022; Law Society of Ontario (2022)
Effective Cross Examinations; Osgoode Hall Law School (2022)
Mastering Examinations-in-Chief; Osgoode Hall Law School (2022)
The Twelve-Minute Civil Litigator 2022; Law Society of Ontario (2022)

Transportation and Trade:

Canadian Transport Lawyers Association Annual Educational Conference; Canadian Transport Lawyers Association (2021, 2019, & 2018)
Intersection of International Trade Law and Aboriginal Law: Key concepts and recent developments; Canadian Bar Association (2018)
Canada - Reducing Your Risk: Critical Issues in Canadian Transportation Law; Borden Ladner Gervais LLP (2018)
Marine Liability Act and Vessel Arrest; Canadian Bar Association (2018)
Transportation of Dangerous Goods (TDG) Regulations: Part 7 Requirements and How They Will Affect Your Emergency Response Assistance Plan (ERAP) (as part of Dangerous Goods Emergency Management Conference); Emergency Response Assistance Canada (2018)
Federal Court of Appeal and Federal Court Education Seminar: Maritime Law; The Canadian Maritime Law Association and the National Judicial Institute (2017)
Lessons learned from Montreal, Maine & Atlantic Co. and the Lac Mégantic tragedy; Richter (2017)

Ethics, Professional Responsibility and/or Practice Management:

Strategies to De-Escalate Situations with Challenging Personalities; Law Society of Ontario (2022)
Thinking Fast & Slow: Strategies and Tools to Enhance Decision Making; Osgoode Hall Law School (2022)
Advancing Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion in the Legal Professions E-Course - Hour 1, 2, & 3; Law Society of Ontario (2021)
Addressing Harassment and Discrimination in Lawyer and Paralegal Workplaces; Law Society of Ontario (2020)
14th Solo and Small Firm Conference: Strategic Solutions; Law Society of Ontario (2020)
Time and Task Management for Paralegals; Law Society of Ontario (2019)
In-House Counsel Conference; Borden Ladner Gervais LLP (2019)
Practice Management for Litigators; Law Society of Ontario (2018)
Neuroscience and Behavioural Economics for Legal Practitioners; Law Society of Upper Canada (2017)
Addiction in the Legal Profession; Action Group on Access to Justice (TAG) (2016)

Environmental Law:

The Six-Minute Environmental Lawyer; Law Society of Ontario (2022)
British Columbia Spill Response and New Regulations (part of Multi-Industry Preparedness and Response Symposium); Railway Association of Canada, Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers, ... (2018)
The International Liability and Compensation Regimes for Tankers; International Oil Pollution Compensation Funds (2017)
Transboundary Liability & Compensation Oil Spill Workshop; Ship-source Oil Pollution Fund (2017)

Administrative Law:

18th Annual Advanced Administrative Law & Practice; The Canadian Institute (2018)
Federal Regulatory Law Enforcement Symposium; Community of Federal Regulators in partnership with the Department of Justice (2017)
Claims of Bias and Lack of Independence; Transportation Appeal Tribunal of Canada Secretariat (2017)
Tribunal's Jurisdiction to Deal with Constitutional and Quasi-Constitutional Issues; Transportation Appeal Tribunal of Canada Secretariat (2017)
Taking Judicial Notice; Transportation Appeal Tribunal of Canada Secretariat (2016)

Human Rights:

Annual Pride Month Program; Law Society of Ontario, Ontario Bar Association (SOGIC) (2022)
National AccessAbility Week 2022; Law Society of Ontario (2022)
Responsibility to Humanity (R2H): An Essay on Sovereignty and the Prospects for Peace (as part of CTLS Annual Academic Conference and Alumni Reunion); The Center for Transnational Legal Studies (2018)

Indigenous Legal Issues:

Louis Riel Day Program (2023)
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation/Orange Shirt Day; Law Society of Ontario (2022)
An Update on the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) (as part of Indigenous Law Issues 2020); Law Society of Ontario (2020)
Workplace Issues and Indigenous Parties before the CHRT: Case Review (as part of Indigenous Law Issues 2020); Law Society of Ontario (2020)

Other:

Journée international de la Francophonie 2023 : Accès à la justice : les possibilités et défis liés au travail en français en milieu minoritaire; Law Society of Ontario
Black History Month program: Celebrating Black excellence in the legal professions; Law Society of Ontario, the Canadian Association of Black Lawyers (CABL), and the Ontario Association of Black Paralegals (OABP) (2023)
Private International Law; University of Ottawa Faculty of Civil Law (2020)
The Blockchain Revolution and In-House Counsel; LexisNexis Canada (2020)
Obligations I; University of Ottawa Faculty of Civil Law (2018)
Obligations III; University of Ottawa Faculty of Civil Law (2017)
Security for Debt; University of Ottawa Faculty of Civil Law (2017)
The Insurance Bureau of Canada and Canadian Red Cross Society Experience in Mass Indemnification; Insurance Bureau of Canada & Red Cross (2017)
Persons and Family Law; University of Ottawa Faculty of Civil Law (2016)
Property Law; University of Ottawa Faculty of Civil Law (2016)

Let's Work Together

Be it helping you to navigate a trade issue or contest a marine, rail, or aviation-related enforcement measure, the support you need is here.