About Robert Sheahan

Robert Sheahan is a partner in Gowling WLG's Ottawa office, and medical defence sits at the heart of a practice built on health law and professional liability. Sheahan is currently co-lead General Counsel to the Canadian Medical Protective Association (CMPA) and represents individual physicians in malpractice lawsuits. Earlier work for doctors covered a range of medico-legal matters, discipline proceedings among them, and there's also experience handling solicitors' negligence and errors and omissions files for the Ottawa office.

The Law Society of Ontario certifies Sheahan as a Specialist in Health Law. Chambers Canada ranks the Ottawa lawyer in Band 1 for contentious healthcare work nationwide, and Best Lawyers has named Sheahan its Ottawa "Lawyer of the Year" for Health Care Law in 2017, 2020, 2023 and 2025, plus Medical Negligence in 2023.

Called to the Ontario bar in 2002, Sheahan now chairs the firm's Professional Liability Department and sits on its National Management Committee, steering medical defence, insurance and professional liability work for the firm across Canada. Between 2020 and 2025 the partner also led the Ottawa Advocacy Department and served on the Ottawa Office Management Committee.

Away from the files, Sheahan coordinates the firm's involvement in REACH Canada, ABLE2 and Run For the Cure. Grateful for good mentors along the way, Sheahan mentors associates and students today and helps with student recruitment. Teaching's a real thread too: there's been time as an instructor in Osgoode Hall's LL.M Health Law Program and as a guest lecturer at the University of Ottawa's law and medicine faculties, and Sheahan speaks on health law to audiences from the Canadian Bar Association to the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.

Practice areas

Medical defence

Sheahan defends individual physicians in malpractice suits and serves as co-lead General Counsel to the CMPA. Earlier work for doctors also covered discipline matters as well as negligence claims.

Solicitors' negligence and E&O

Sheahan has handled negligence claims against lawyers and errors and omissions matters for Gowling WLG's Ottawa office.

Education & credentials

A gold certification seal with a checkmarkCertified SpecialistHealth Law
  • LLB, Queen's University (2000)
  • BA (Hons.), Carleton University (1995)
  • Called to the Ontario bar (2002)
  • Certified Specialist (Health Law), Law Society of Ontario

Awards & recognition

Publications & speaking

  • Liability and Privacy Considerations with Personal Health Records
  • Unbundling Healthcare: The Changing Nature of the Practitioner-Patient Relationship As a Result of Electronic Health Records
  • Limiting Non-Pecuniary Damages: The Effectiveness of Caps
  • Expert Immunity: Canadian Implications of Jones v. Kaney
  • Health Litigation and Human Rights: Where Health Law and Human Rights Intersect Before the Courts, Regulatory Authorities, and Tribunals, CBA Health Law Summit, Winnipeg (2019)

Memberships & affiliations

  • Canadian Bar Association, National Health Law Section: Sheahan is an Honorary Member of the section's Executive, has sat on it since 2009, and chaired the section in 2011 to 2012.
  • Ontario Bar Association, Health Law Section: Sheahan previously served on the section's Executive, including as East Region representative.
  • The Advocates' Society: Sheahan is a member and co-chaired the society's annual Courthouse Series in Ottawa from 2009 to 2015.
  • International Bar Association: Sheahan is an active member.
  • County of Carleton Law Association: Sheahan is an active member.
  • Electronic Healthcare Law Review: Sheahan serves on the editorial board.

In the community

  • Sheahan supports and helps coordinate the firm's participation in REACH Canada, ABLE2 and Run For the Cure.
  • Sheahan volunteers as a judge for moot competitions and other legal education initiatives.
  • Sheahan mentors associates and students and takes an active part in the firm's student recruitment.

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This listing was generated by AI from public sources in October 2026. It may contain errors, and we can’t guarantee it’s accurate or complete. Before you rely on anything here, verify it on their firm’s website. Confirm Robert Sheahan’s licence and standing in the Law Society of Ontario directory ↗

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