Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2021 
Michael works exclusively with the social impact sector, advising charities, not-for-profit organizations, associations, professional bodies, clubs, and social enterprises. With 15 years’ experience, Michael advises sector organizations on a variety of tax and legal matters:
Creation: Incorporation and structuring, charity registration applications, organizational start-up.
Tax Compliance: Obligations under the Income Tax Act, including charitable purposes and activities, granting, fundraising, advocacy, filing obligations, working overseas, structuring and working with private entities.
Governance: Bylaws and governance policies, director fiduciary duties and statutory responsibilities, board-management relations, member-relations, member-discipline, virtual meetings, complex meetings.
Gift-Planning: Gift documentation and policies, certified cultural gifts, gifts of private shares, gifts of art, gifts of interests in real-estate, gifts of life-insurance, charitable remainder trusts
Commercial transactions: restructuring, mergers and acquisitions, amalgamations, service and agency agreements, funding contracts, negotiation of government agreements, operating and transfer agreements, waivers and indemnity agreements.
Michael is a registered parliamentarian, providing practical advice and assistance to organizations with complex or contentious meetings. Michael presents and speaks regularly on topics relevant to the social impact sector.
Michael is a volunteer with a number of causes in his community and is currently a director on the national board of the Canadian Association of Gift Planners.
