More about me

Michael has appeared before all levels of court in Manitoba, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, the Supreme Court of Canada, the Tax Court of Canada and various hearing and arbitration panels for self-regulating organizations. He has also appeared as counsel in various arbitrations and mediations, particularly relating to construction disputes.

Michael is frequently consulted by owners, contractors, subcontractors, engineers, architects and suppliers to provide strategic advice in connection with construction projects. This includes preparation and review of contract documents, contractual disputes, employment issues, builders’ lien issues, bonding, sureties, insurance and statutory trusts.

He also regularly represents clients in complex commercial and shareholder disputes, insurance defence, product liability claims, and defamation claims.

Michael has a particular interest in alternative dispute resolution and negotiation, and has extensive experience practising and teaching in this area. Michael was appointed as Canadian National Representative to the International Negotiation Competition and coached the University of Manitoba negotiation team for more than a decade. He previously taught the negotiation course at Robson Hall and conducts negotiation workshops for students in the Robson Hall negotiation course and for articling students in the CPLED program.

  • Member, International Association of Defense Counsel (2024-present)
  • Member, Winnipeg Construction Association (2018-present) 
  • Member, Queen’s Bench Rules Committee (2016-2018)
  • Member, Law Society of Manitoba 
  • Member, Law Society of Ontario 
  • Member, Canadian Bar Association
  • Member, Manitoba Bar Association 
  • Co-chair, Construction Law Section, Manitoba Bar Association 
  • Sessional Instructor, Negotiation, Faculty of Law, Robson Hall (Manitoba, 2015-2016) 
  • Learning Group Facilitator/Instructor, CPLED Program, Law Society of Manitoba (Manitoba, 2013-2021)  
  • Chair, MLT AIkins Students Committee, Winnipeg (2023-present)
  • Past Chair, Board of Directors, MS Society of Canada (Manitoba) 
  • Vice-President, Winnipeg Board of Jewish Education  
  • Past Director,  B’nai Brith Jewish Community Camp
  • Past Chair, Buildings and Project Committee, B’nai Brith Jewish Community Camp 
  • Past Member, Peer Review Committee, Manitoba Veterinary Medical Association
  • Member, Grants Committee, Jewish Foundation of Manitoba 
  • Past Member, Special Awards Committee, Jewish Foundation of Manitoba
  • Past Director, Plug In Institute of Contemporary Art

  • Recognized by Best Lawyers in Canada – Construction Law, Corporate and Commercial Litigation (2025)
  • Recognized as a Leading Canadian Lawyer in Litigation, General Commercial, Chambers Canada (Manitoba, 2023-present)
  • Recognized as a Leading Practitioner, Construction Law, Lexpert (2023-present)
  • Recognized as a Leading Practitioner, Infrastructure, Lexpert Special Edition: Infrastructure (2023)
  • Named a Litigation Star, Benchmark Litigation Canada (2019-present)
  • Named a Future Star, Benchmark Litigation Canada (2016-2018)
  • Shem Tov Award, Volunteerism, Jewish Federation of Manitoba (2018)
  • Winner, International Negotiation Competition for Law Students  (Singapore, 2007) 

  • Counsel to a multinational heavy construction contractor on a complex arbitration involving thirteen discrete claims relating to design and delay on an infrastructure project 
  • Counsel to a concrete subcontractor on a delay and deficiency dispute over a bridge project 
  • Counsel to numerous Indigenous communities regarding construction projects and disputes 
  • Counsel to non-profit organization on construction and design agreement templates 
  • Advising public and private owners on compliance with new Prompt Payment and Adjudication legislation 
  • Advising owners, contractors and subcontractors on builders’ lien and prompt payment-related disputes 
  • Counsel to excavation contractor on an arbitration regarding dispute over alleged failures in municipal sewer installation 
  • 4508841 Manitoba Association Inc. v. Stuart Olson Construction Ltd. et al., 2021 MBQB 179 (CanLII)  
  • The Estate of Denise Joanne Pynenburg et al. v. Donald Rocan Salkeld, 2020 MBQB 150 (CanLII) 
  • Stuart Olson Dominion Construction Ltd. v. Structal Heavy Steel, 2018 MBQB 41 (CanLII)  
  • Stuart Olson Construction Ltd. v. Structal Heavy Steel, 2016 MBQB 56 (CanLII) 
  • R. v. W.C.D., 2012 MBQB 128 (CanLII) 
  • Hoffman v. Heinrichs, 2012 MBQB 133 (CanLII) 

  • Co-author, “The importance of giving timely and proper notice of a claim in the construction context” (April 2024)
  • Presenter, “Taxation of Damages and Settlement Amounts,” Manitoba Bar Association Midwinter (January 2022)
  • Author, “Changes to Limitation Periods in Manitoba: Bill 51,” Build Manitoba, Issue 2: Summer (June 2021)
  • Presenter, “Limitation of Actions in the Construction Industry,” Manitoba Bar Association (April 2021)

Client Testimonials

“Professionalism and knowledge on our construction legal needs have been great.”

- Estimator in the Construction Industry

“[I am] happy with the service provided.”

- CFO in the Agriculture and Food Industry