Robert Rotenberg
Encyclopedia
Robert Rotenberg is a Canadian
criminal lawyer and writer, based in Toronto
. His extensive experience as a criminal defence lawyer informs his critically acclaimed first novel, Old City Hall. He currently practices as part of the association of Rotenberg Shidlowski Jesin. (www.rsjlaw.ca)
, and then earned his law degree at Osgoode Hall Law School
. He went to the London School of Economics
for a masters degree in International Law, and traveled Europe on various scholarships. The influences of the literary realm and the legal profession have emerged throughout his career.
While in Europe in the early 1980s, he was the managing editor of English-language magazine Passion, The Magazine of Paris
. When he returned to Canada, he and a partner founded and published T.O. The Magazine of Toronto, which ran for six years and folded in 1988.
After brief stints as a film executive and a CBC Radio
producer, Rotenberg returned to law. He and associates Alvin Shidlowski and Jacob Jesin have had a criminal law practice in Toronto since the early 1990s defending, as Rotenberg describes it, "everything from murder to shoplifting." Cases attracting particular attention have included the defence in 2007 of an Ontario College of Art and Design student who planted a fake bomb and posted a YouTube video about it as part of an art project, which in turn prompted an evacuation during a gala fundraiser at the Royal Ontario Museum
.
. The book was published in February–March, 2009 in North America and the United Kingdom, and audio and translated international versions are forthcoming throughout 2009. The book garnered positive advance reviews in publications such as The Times Literary Supplement
, in which British journalist Giles Smith
commented:
Old City Hall was shortlisted for The Crime Writers Association John Creasey
(New Blood) Dagger Award at the 2009 Crime Thriller Awards. Rotenberg is currently completing his second novel.
Rotenberg is an avid presenter of his work and enjoys meeting readers and writers at live reading events. He has participated in Word on the Street
, Authors at Harbourfront Centre, Toronto and the Ottawa International Writers Festival, among other literary events.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
criminal lawyer and writer, based in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
. His extensive experience as a criminal defence lawyer informs his critically acclaimed first novel, Old City Hall. He currently practices as part of the association of Rotenberg Shidlowski Jesin. (www.rsjlaw.ca)
Career
Rotenberg studied English literature at the University of TorontoUniversity of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
, and then earned his law degree at Osgoode Hall Law School
Osgoode Hall Law School
Osgoode Hall Law School is a Canadian law school, located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and affiliated with York University. Named after the first Chief Justice of Ontario, William Osgoode, the law school was established by The Law Society of Upper Canada in 1889 and was the only accredited law...
. He went to the London School of Economics
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
for a masters degree in International Law, and traveled Europe on various scholarships. The influences of the literary realm and the legal profession have emerged throughout his career.
While in Europe in the early 1980s, he was the managing editor of English-language magazine Passion, The Magazine of Paris
Paris Passion magazine
Paris Passion, also known as Passion, was an English-language city magazine in France that existed from 1981 to 1991. Its main editorial focus was on life in Paris for both residents and visitors...
. When he returned to Canada, he and a partner founded and published T.O. The Magazine of Toronto, which ran for six years and folded in 1988.
After brief stints as a film executive and a CBC Radio
CBC Radio
CBC Radio generally refers to the English-language radio operations of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. The CBC operates a number of radio networks serving different audiences and programming niches, all of which are outlined below.-English:CBC Radio operates three English language...
producer, Rotenberg returned to law. He and associates Alvin Shidlowski and Jacob Jesin have had a criminal law practice in Toronto since the early 1990s defending, as Rotenberg describes it, "everything from murder to shoplifting." Cases attracting particular attention have included the defence in 2007 of an Ontario College of Art and Design student who planted a fake bomb and posted a YouTube video about it as part of an art project, which in turn prompted an evacuation during a gala fundraiser at the Royal Ontario Museum
Royal Ontario Museum
The Royal Ontario Museum is a museum of world culture and natural history in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. With its main entrance facing Bloor Street in Downtown Toronto, the museum is situated north of Queen's Park and east of Philosopher's Walk in the University of Toronto...
.
Writing
Rotenberg's first novel, Old City Hall, is set in Toronto, and as the name suggests, features pivotal scenes in the city's historic Old City HallOld City Hall (Toronto)
Toronto's Old City Hall was home to its city council from 1899 to 1966 and remains one of the city's most prominent structures. The building is located at the corner of Queen and Bay Streets, across Bay Street from Nathan Phillips Square and the new City Hall in the centre of downtown Toronto...
. The book was published in February–March, 2009 in North America and the United Kingdom, and audio and translated international versions are forthcoming throughout 2009. The book garnered positive advance reviews in publications such as The Times Literary Supplement
The Times Literary Supplement
The Times Literary Supplement is a weekly literary review published in London by News International, a subsidiary of News Corporation.-History:...
, in which British journalist Giles Smith
Giles Smith
Giles Smith is a British journalist and former musician. In 1998 he was named sports journalist of the year.Smith was one of the two members of the band Orphans of Babylon who in 1983 produced the cassette Pinch Me - I Think I'm In Kent.This cassette featured 36 tracks including "Helluva Break By...
commented:
There is nothing in Old City Hall to suggest that it's Robert Rotenberg's debut. The middle-aged Canadian criminal lawyer has got it all - pace, good characters, tension, and an intriguing plot. Set in Toronto, it opens with a radio personality opening the door to his newspaper delivery man with the words "I killed her". The body of his lover is naked in the bathtub, stabbed to death. Why is it not an open-and-shut case of murder? Prosecution, defence and police take it in turns to believe they've got the answer, only to be derailed by a yet another new twist. The resolution is clever and surprising.
Old City Hall was shortlisted for The Crime Writers Association John Creasey
John Creasey
John Creasey MBE was an English crime and science fiction writer. The author of more than 600 novels, he published them using 28 different pseudonyms, including Anthony Morton, Michael Halliday, Kyle Hunt, J.J. Marric, Jeremy York, Richard Martin, Peter Manton, Norman Deane, Gordon Ashe, Henry St...
(New Blood) Dagger Award at the 2009 Crime Thriller Awards. Rotenberg is currently completing his second novel.
Rotenberg is an avid presenter of his work and enjoys meeting readers and writers at live reading events. He has participated in Word on the Street
Word on the Street
Word on the Street is a Canadian book and magazine festival held each September in Vancouver, Toronto, Calgary, Kitchener and Halifax.Each city's festival features author readings, workshops, information booths and reading and writing-related activities....
, Authors at Harbourfront Centre, Toronto and the Ottawa International Writers Festival, among other literary events.
External links
- Robert Rotenberg Web site
- Robert Rotenberg Facebook fan page
- Rotenberg Shidlowski Jesin law firm
- Everybody lies. Even in Toronto. Macleans, March 5, 2009
- Lawyer's whodunit set in Toronto court, Toronto Star, March 3, 2009
- Murder most local, Globe and Mail, February 28, 2009
- Old City Hall book trailer
- The Scales of Injustice, Globe and Mail (reprinted by The Canadian Bar Association), January 11, 2003