Michael provides strategic guidance to clients in the areas of labour, employment, human rights and privacy law.
He regularly acts as employment counsel on corporate transactions on issues such as executive compensation, employee liabilities, employee retention, workplace restructuring, group benefit plans and equity and non-equity-based incentive compensation plans. Michael often interacts with clients in the United States and overseas.
Michael counsels employers on how to manage their workplaces effectively. This includes:
- dismissals and disciplinary measures
- compensation and benefit plans
- employment agreements, workplace policies and workplace investigations
- collective bargaining
- arbitration grievances
- labour board proceedings
- language issues
- non-competition, non-solicitation and other restrictive covenants
- discrimination and harassment claims
- employee-related privacy law issues
- bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings
Throughout his career, Michael has assisted Indigenous employers with labour relations issues affecting their workforces. He has traveled to Indigenous communities across Canada to present and consult on workforce matters.
Michael sits on the Board of Directors of the Sylvan Adams YM-YWHA (Ben Weider JCC).
Experience
- Kiewit Construction in various matters before the Superior Court of Québec and the Québec Labour Board.
- Enterprise Rent-A-Car Canada Company in various matters before the Québec Labour Board and in grievance arbitration.
- Forever XXI ULC in various matters before the Québec Labour Board.
- Quality Hotel Dorval regarding a dismissal complaint before the Québec Labour Board.
- Innvest Hotels GP Ltd. in various matters before the Québec Labour Board, the Québec Human Rights Tribunal and in grievance arbitration.
- Ganotec Inc. in connection with a complaint made under the Québec Labour Code.
- BIC Inc. before the Québec Labour Board with respect to dismissal, prohibited practice and psychological harassment complaints filed by a former employee.
- PSB Boisjoli Inc. regarding a successor employer application filed by the Québec Labour Standards Commission relating to PSB Boisjoli's appointment as a receiver pursuant to the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act.
- The Town of Hampstead before the Québec Labour Board, the Superior Court of Québec and the Québec Court of Appeal, with respect to grievances arising out of the merger and demerger of the City of Montréal.
- Various Indigenous Band Councils in matters before the Canadian Industrial Relations Board and the Canadian Human Rights Commission
- Listuguj Mi’gmaq Government in various matters before the Canada Industrial Relations Board.
- Long Point First Nation in various matters before the Canada Industrial Relations Board.
- Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg Band Council regarding a dismissal complaint filed by a former manager under the Canada Labour Code.
- Various National Hockey League clubs regarding the interpretation of the league-wide collective bargaining agreement and for salary arbitration purposes
- Various Canadian retailers in connection with labour standards investigations conducted by the Québec Labour Standards Commission.
- As employment counsel for Phoenix Wrappers ULC and its shareholders in its sale to Pacteon, a global leader in end-of-line packaging automation.
- As employment counsel for PE-backed Atlanta-based buyer, East West Manufacturing, LLC in its acquisition of all the assets of Groupe Varitron, Inc., a top five electronic manufacturing services (EMS) provider in Canada.
- As employment counsel for Triple M Metal in its joint venture with ArcelorMittal Long Products Canada to create Integrated Metal Recycling Inc.
- As employment counsel for Bad Monkey Popcorn, a maker and marketer of popcorn and other confectionery products, in its sale to Champlain Financial Corporation and a group of co-investors.
- Kiewit Construction in various matters before the Superior Court of Québec and the Québec Labour Board.
- Enterprise Rent-A-Car Canada Company in various matters before the Québec Labour Board and in grievance arbitration.
- Forever XXI ULC in various matters before the Québec Labour Board.
- Quality Hotel Dorval regarding a dismissal complaint before the Québec Labour Board.
- Innvest Hotels GP Ltd. in various matters before the Québec Labour Board, the Québec Human Rights Tribunal and in grievance arbitration.
- Ganotec Inc. in connection with a complaint made under the Québec Labour Code.
- BIC Inc. before the Québec Labour Board with respect to dismissal, prohibited practice and psychological harassment complaints filed by a former employee.
- PSB Boisjoli Inc. regarding a successor employer application filed by the Québec Labour Standards Commission relating to PSB Boisjoli's appointment as a receiver pursuant to the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act.
- The Town of Hampstead before the Québec Labour Board, the Superior Court of Québec and the Québec Court of Appeal, with respect to grievances arising out of the merger and demerger of the City of Montréal.
- Various Indigenous Band Councils in matters before the Canadian Industrial Relations Board and the Canadian Human Rights Commission
- Listuguj Mi’gmaq Government in various matters before the Canada Industrial Relations Board.
- Long Point First Nation in various matters before the Canada Industrial Relations Board.
- Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg Band Council regarding a dismissal complaint filed by a former manager under the Canada Labour Code.
- Various National Hockey League clubs regarding the interpretation of the league-wide collective bargaining agreement and for salary arbitration purposes
- Various Canadian retailers in connection with labour standards investigations conducted by the Québec Labour Standards Commission.
- As employment counsel for Phoenix Wrappers ULC and its shareholders in its sale to Pacteon, a global leader in end-of-line packaging automation.
- As employment counsel for PE-backed Atlanta-based buyer, East West Manufacturing, LLC in its acquisition of all the assets of Groupe Varitron, Inc., a top five electronic manufacturing services (EMS) provider in Canada.
- As employment counsel for Triple M Metal in its joint venture with ArcelorMittal Long Products Canada to create Integrated Metal Recycling Inc.
- As employment counsel for Bad Monkey Popcorn, a maker and marketer of popcorn and other confectionery products, in its sale to Champlain Financial Corporation and a group of co-investors.
