OVERVIEW

Retired – January 1, 2026

Michael was a senior corporate commercial solicitor whose practice was focused on real estate-backed transactions and financial services. He brought more than 30 years of legal experience to all aspects of corporate commercial transactions.

As a former member of the Lending, Real Estate, and Business Transactions Groups at Richards Buell Sutton LLP, he assisted clients with risk management planning and corporate reorganizations with our Estate and Wealth Advisory Practice Group. Michael joined RBS in 2006 after running his own firm for 12 years where he acted for private and public companies since 1988.

REPRESENTATIVE CLIENT WORK

As a former member of the firm’s Lending Group, Michael acted for Canadian financial institutions, private lenders, and corporate borrowers. Specifically, his practice entailed the structuring and documentation of credit facilities and secured transactions, including:

• Project financing
• Lease financing
• Acquisition and merger financing
• Mezzanine financing
• Credit syndication

As a former member of the Real Estate Group, Michael provided legal representation and advice to developers, lenders, and borrowers with respect to complex real estate transactions and development matters. These included:

• Creation and implementation of real estate ownership structures such a joint ventures, co-ownership agreements, limited partnership, and shareholder arrangements
• Property acquisition, disposition, and development
• Financing and securitization
• Commercial leasing and property management

As a former member of the Business Law Group, Michael’s corporate/commercial practice included advising business owners and other professional advisors on the planning and implementation of complex business transactions. He acted for both purchasers and sellers in the purchase and sale of assets and shares, and provided legal advice on the formation, structuring, and restructuring of various business associations. He also assisted clients in drafting and negotiating corporate and commercial contracts, shareholder agreements, commercial leases, and with managing business transactions. He provided legal representation for clients when negotiating or structuring the following:

• Business organization, purchases, and sales
• Plans of arrangement and divisive reorganizations
• Joint ventures and partnerships
• Franchising and licensing agreements
• Mergers and acquisitions
• Asset protection, transfers, and licensing
• Legal risk management, corporate governance, and compliance matters

As a former member of the Estate and Wealth Advisory Group, Michael assisted business clients and their advisors in structuring their affairs to ensure the client’s personal and business objectives were met in the most efficient and effective manner, especially as it pertained to:

• Corporate reorganizations
• Estate and succession planning for business owners
• Asset protection
• Legal risk management and tax minimization strategies

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

Michael volunteered with the Greater Vancouver Food Bank together with other members of the firm. He has served on the board of a non-profit organization that seeks to improve the lives of people who have suffered life-altering brain injuries. He is also a former pro bono counsel for Literacy BC. In addition to fundraising for Science World for four years, Michael was former chair of their auction committee. He was a regular volunteer for the Law Society of British Columbia, teaching the corporate practice module to law graduates in the Professional Legal Training Course.

Michael obtained his bachelor degree at UBC in Political Science and International Relations and is a self-confessed current events junkie. He is married with two children and is an avid golfer, hiker, and cyclist. He is also a passionate oenophile and has an extensive library of books on wine. He is enjoying retirement!