Robert (Bob) Ackerman

About Robert (Bob) Ackerman

Bob Ackerman is counsel with Gowling WLG, based in the Waterloo Region office and serving clients from the firm's other Ontario offices as well. The practice centres on expropriation, with land use planning and litigation over real estate rounding it out, and Ackerman's clients include property owners, municipalities and other stakeholders. Called to the Ontario bar in 1984, Ackerman belongs to the firm's national Real Estate Group and works hand in hand with its Municipal Law Group on files across the province.

These disputes are familiar from the adjudicator's side, too. Ackerman joined the Ontario Land Tribunal as a member effective November 17, 2022, and decided numerous expropriation and land use cases there. While at the tribunal, Ackerman led the revision of its Rules of Practice & Procedure for Expropriations Act proceedings, and set up, organized and moderated a CPD seminar series for tribunal members covering expropriation law and questions of evidence.

As an advocate, Ackerman has acted under both the Expropriations Act and the Planning Act. That work has meant hearings before the OLT and the boards that came before it (the OMB and LPAT), the Tax Court of Canada and the Superior Court of Justice, with appeals reaching the Divisional Court, the Ontario Court of Appeal, the Federal Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Canada. You'll also find Ackerman at the podium at Ontario Expropriation Association events, giving tribunal updates at the fall seminars in 2023 and 2024.

Away from the office, Oakville has benefited from Ackerman's time. There's volunteer work with Meals on Wheels in the town, and a stint as vice-president of fundraising for the Rotary Club of Oakville West.