Michael is Head of the Advocacy Group in the Calgary office and is a member of the Partnership Board. He represents numerous domestic and international clients in all major areas of commercial litigation, arbitration and alternative dispute resolution.
Michael’s dispute resolution philosophy is predicated on the principle that every dispute has unique characteristics and exigencies. Efficient and effective dispute resolution requires a flexible and business outcome oriented approach. His primary focus is to provide decisive advice his clients can trust when these disputes arise.
Michael regularly advises clients on litigation matters involving oil and gas, corporate governance and shareholder activism, product liability, construction, directors and officers liability, professional liability, securities, commercial real estate and insurance. Michael is recognized for his particular expertise in the areas of directors and officers liability, upstream and midstream oil and gas litigation involving pipelines and processing facilities, breach of confidence as well as product liability claims involving medical devices. He has appeared in all levels of Alberta courts, before various administrative tribunals, including the Alberta Securities Commission, and in numerous private mediation and arbitration proceedings.
Professional Activities
Michael is a member of the Calgary, Canadian and American Bar Associations, the Professional Liability Underwriters Society (PLUS), the Defence Research Institute (DRI) and the Kappa Alpha Literary Society Alumni Association. He is also a member of the Trial Law Institute and Diversity Law Institute of the Litigation Counsel of America. Michael is a trustee of the John Hart Hunter Educational Foundation (Canada and US).
Michael is a frequent lecturer on matters pertaining to advocacy and dispute resolution for the Advocates Society and the Legal Education Society of Alberta (LESA). He has given numerous industry presentations and authored several articles relating to commercial litigation, alternative dispute resolution and advocacy.