Michael maintains a robust commercial/civil litigation practice with a sub-focus on administrative law/professional regulation, professional malpractice claims and debt recovery/foreclosures. Michael assists individuals and businesses, as well as governmental and non-governmental entities, in resolving a broad range of complex litigation matters, including contractual/commercial disputes, corporate/governance issues, professional malpractice claims and claims of financial/trust mismanagement.
Michael is part of MLT Aikins litigation team, practising primarily in complex commercial litigation with a sub-focus on administrative law/professional regulation matters and debt recovery/foreclosure matters. Michael takes a practical, results-focused approach to solving client issues. He has appeared before all levels of court in the Province of Saskatchewan, the Court of King’s Bench in Alberta and Manitoba, as well as Federal Court.
Michael has significant experience advising professional regulators as well as other governmental and non-governmental entities and tribunals, assisting such organizations managing their risk and meeting their legal requirements, allowing them to carry out their respective mandates in an effective and responsible manner. This experience extends to governance issues, ensuring leaders have confidence in their authority to manage the challenges faced by their organizations.
Michael has experience representing clients in debt recovery and secured realization/foreclosures, helping clients realize on debts in an expedient and economic manner. Michael is counsel of record in several significant successful publicly reported decisions in this area, with demonstrated knowledge in what can be a technical and niche area of the law.
Michael has experience representing clients in a number of complex commercial litigation matters across a range of areas. He routinely acts for clients in litigation or alternative dispute resolution related to agricultural and agribusiness disputes; real estate matters; corporate/financial mismanagement and oppression claims; commercial lease disputes; construction matters; and professional malpractice.
Michael obtained his Juris Doctor with great distinction from the University of Saskatchewan, graduating second in his class and receiving the Law Society of Saskatchewan Silver Medal. Prior to joining MLT Aikins, he spent a year clerking at the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal for Justices Jackson, Barrington-Foote and Kalmakoff. Michael was called to the Saskatchewan Bar in 2020 and joined the firm the same year.
When not at work, Michael enjoys reading and spending time with his young family. Prior to law school, Michael completed his Bachelor of Social Work at the University of Regina and worked in this field for three years.
- Chair, Aboriginal Law Section South, Canadian Bar Association
- Member, Young Lawyers Committee, Canadian Bar Association
- Secretary, Board of Governors, Maria Montessori (2018-2019)
- Volunteer, Systemic Initiatives Program, CLASSIC, Pro Bono Students Canada (2016-2017)
- Volunteer, Summer Success Reading Program, United Way (Saskatoon, 2017)
- Adult Support, Youth in Care and Custody Network (Saskatchewan, 2013-2016)
- Mentor, Street Culture Project (2011-2013)
- Silver Medallist, Law Society of Saskatchewan (Saskatchewan, 2019)
- Personal Property Class Prize, Secured Transactions (2019)
- Blakes Scholar (2017; 2018)
- Clifford Reed Scholarship, Law
- Class of ’60 Cronkite Prize, Personal Injuries Compensation
- Donald Maclean Memorial Prize, Constitutional Law
- Silas E. Halyk Prize, Criminal Law
- Strayer Prize, Constitutional Law
- Goldenberg Prize, Taxation (2017-2018)
- P.E. Mackenzie Prize, Evidence
- Amy and Brian Pfefferle Prize