Michelle is a partner practising in the area of corporate and commercial law, with a special emphasis on business acquisitions, dispositions, commercial real estate, construction, transportation and pension law.
Commercial, Real Estate, Construction and Municipal
- Lead counsel on purchase and sale of office, retail, industrial and development properties for real estate investment trust
- Lead counsel on purchase and sale of large office buildings and manufacturing facilities
- Providing commercial and real estate advice to national grocery retailer
- Co-Counsel on negotiation of construction of large agricultural processing plant
- Providing advice on construction of 40-storey mixed-use tower along with subdivision of airspace titles for office and apartment tower
- Lead and co-counsel for negotiating construction contracts and heavy equipment procurement for potash mine
- Negotiating development agreements, grant agreements and other municipal agreements for large greenfield development projects, quarries, etc.
- Providing advice to a variety of clients on shareholders matters, buyout, etc.
- Providing advice on a variety of commercial business and real estate acquisitions
- Assisted on various strategic alliance matters involving a large public company
Transportation
- Providing a variety of clients with assistance on contract negotiations and interpretation, including truck and rail transportation, marine shipping and port contracts
- Providing advice on levels of service issues
- Drafting independent contractor and third party trucking agreements
- Lead counsel on purchase and sale of trucking businesses
Pension and Benefit
- Advised employer on partial windup and full windup of a defined benefit plan
- Advised federal employer on establishing new defined benefit/flexible plan and transfer of assets into plan
- Advised employers on participation and separation from multi-employer plans and plan texting draft
- Preparation of health and welfare benefit trust agreements
- Advised on purchases and sales of companies involving insolvent pension plans
- Providing advice on negotiating and interpreting various pension related agreements
- Recognized in Best Lawyers, Real Estate Law (since 2019)
- Recognized in Best Lawyers, Mergers & Acquisitions Law (since 2020)
- A leading practitioner, Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory, Corporate Commercial
- Member of MLT Aikins Executive Board
- Chair, Manitoba Pension Commission (2020-present)
- Vice-Chair, Manitoba Pension Commission (1997-1999, 2018-2020)
- Director, iDE Canada (2019-present)
- Director, Mennonite Brethren Collegiate Institute (2013-2018)
- Chair, Constitution Committee, Mennonite Brethren Church of Manitoba (2005-present), Committee Member (2003-2005)
- Council Member, Manitoba Bar Association (2005-2007)
- Chair, Business Law Subsection, Manitoba Bar Association (2002-2003)
- Director, Bethania Personal Care Home (1996-1998)
- Director, Crosstown Credit Union Limited (1992-1995)
- Member, The Law Society of Manitoba
- Member, Manitoba Bar Association
- Member, Canadian Bar Association
- “Legal Update on Pension Matters,” Public Sector Pension Conference (July 2010)
- “Pension Issues with Respect to Mergers and Acquisitions,’ Pension Law, Litigation and Governance Conference, Canadian Institute (May 11, 2006)
- “Legal Options in Commercial Transactions,” The Law Society of Manitoba (May 11, 2005)
- Advanced Business Law, The Law Society of Manitoba (September 30, 2003)
- Basic Business Law, The Law Society of Manitoba (May 6, 2003)
- Bar Administration Course Seminar Leader Real Estate, The Law Society of Manitoba (2002-2003)
- Red River Community College, Business Law II Instructor (1994-1996)