MikeÃÆ'¢â‚¬â„¢s main areas of focus are civil litigation with an emphasis on bankruptcy and insolvency, builderÃÆ'¢â‚¬â„¢s liens and other construction disputes, pension and employee benefits litigation, and commercial landlord and tenant disputes. In addition, he also has experience in realizations, enforcement of foreign judgments, commercial and residential foreclosures, and receiverships. He has appeared at all levels of court within the Province of B.C. Mike also routinely advises various stakeholders, including secured and unsecured creditors, debtors and trustees in bankruptcy, as to their rights, remedies and obligations in respect of both commercial and personal insolvencies.

Mike is a regular contributor to Lawson LundellÃÆ'¢â‚¬â„¢s Western Canada Business Litigation Blog, a resource that examines current trends and interesting issues emerging in the legal and business communities.

Bar Admissions
British Columbia (1999)
Yukon (2010)

Education
Trinity Western University (B.A., 1993)
University of Alberta (LL.B., 1998)

Significant Accomplishments
Recent Judgments:

Trustees of the IWA - Forest Industry LTD Plan v. Ainsworth Engineered Canada Limited Partnership, 2013 BCSC 41

Environmental Packaging Technologies, Ltd. v. Rudjuk, 2012 BCCA 342

1043325 Ontario Ltd. v. CSA Building Sciences Western Ltd., 2012 BCSC 1058
Re Ted Leroy Trucking Ltd., 2012 BCSC 178

West Fraser Mills Ltd. v. BKB Construction Inc., 2012 BCCA 89

Caromar Sales Ltd. v. Shura Real Estate Development Company Limited, 2011 BCSC 1088

Smith v. Landstar Properties Inc., 2011 BCCA 44

Armstrong v. Lang, 2011 BCCA 205

0757376 B.C. Ltd. (Re), 2011 BCSC 1268

D. Bacon Holdings Ltd. v. Naramata Vines Inc., 2011 BCCA 22

D. Bacon Holdings Ltd. v. Naramata Vines Inc., 2010 BCCA 427

D. Bacon Holdings Ltd. v. Naramata Vines Inc., 2010 BCCA 613

Farm Credit Canada v. Naramata Vines Inc., 2010 BCSC 1317

Mike has:

Acted for commercial landlords and tenants with respect to their rights and remedies in connection with commercial lease disputes

Acted for trustees in bankruptcy in realizing upon real property and other assets belonging to individual bankrupts

Acted for pension and benefit plan trustees in enforcing their rights against delinquent and insolvent employers as well as employees

Acted for a major secured lender in enforcing its rights against a bankrupt boat dealership

Acted for a major creditor of an insolvent debtor who filed for creditor protection pursuant to the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act and who also commenced legal action against the same creditor. The debtor’s claims were dismissed following a lengthy trial

Advised a secured creditor with respect to its rights and remedies in relation to a debtor who filed for creditor protection pursuant to the Companies Creditors Arrangement Act

Acted for a major B.C. forest products company in defending builder’s lien claims

Advised a large Western-based roofing company in connection with enforcing its builder’s liens rights and advising of its rights and remedies in relation to a bankrupt customer

Acted for an Alberta corporation in relation to the seizure of substantially all its assets in B.C. by a B.C. company

Advised a Trustee in Bankruptcy with respect to the ranking of secured creditors over assets located in B.C. of a bankrupt company carrying on business across Canada

Advised creditors with respect to the registration and enforcement of judgments obtained in Ontario, Quebec, and other foreign jurisdictions, in B.C.

Acted for a landlord in defending builder’s lien claims filed by an insolvent tenant’s contractor

Advised a landlord of its rights and remedies against an insolvent tenant


Professional Associations
*Canadian Bar Association Insolvency Law and Construction Law Sections, Member
*Greater Vancouver Insolvency Discussion Group, Member

Recognition and Ranking
*2011 Lexpert Zenith Award: recognized for Corporate and Law Firm Social Responsibility for his contributions to Family Services of Greater Vancouver

Community Activities
*Young Insolvency Professionals of British Columbia and Alberta (2006 - present)
*Coach ÃÆ'¢â‚¬â€Å" Little Mountain Baseball (Little League) (2005 ÃÆ'¢â‚¬â€Å" present)
*Out of the Cold Homeless Shelter ÃÆ'¢â‚¬â€Å" Volunteer (2004 ÃÆ'¢â‚¬â€Å" present)
*Western Canada Access to Justice Society ÃÆ'¢â‚¬â€Å" Pro bono legal advice (2004 - present)
*Director ÃÆ'¢â‚¬â€Å" Lazarus Community Society ÃÆ'¢â‚¬â€Å" a non-profit community housing provider (2004 ÃÆ'¢â‚¬â€Å" present)

Seminars/ Presentation
Lawson Lundell Real Estate Roundtable, "How to Deal With Defaulting Tenants - Should They Stay or Should They Go?", Speaker (October 2012)

CLEBC - Editor of the BuildersÃÆ'¢â‚¬â„¢ Liens Practice Manual (2009 to date)

CLEBC - Construction Law Practice 2010 - Construction in Challenging Times: Insolvency, Pre-Sales, Warranties, Priorities and Strategies to Manage Default Risks

Lawson Lundell Real Estate Roundtable, "Builders Liens - Keep Calm so the Work Can Carry On", Speaker (October 2011)

Builders' Liens in B.C. - Client Seminar (February 2010)

International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans ÃÆ'¢â‚¬" Foundations for Trustees 1: Delinquency (June 23, 2008)

CBABC Insolvency Subsection - Pension Claims in Insolvency (June 10, 2008)

Builders' Liens in B.C. ÃÆ'¢â‚¬" Client Seminar (April 30, 2008)

Overview of Insolvency and Restructuring ÃÆ'¢â‚¬" Client Seminar (April 1, 2008)

Pacific Business and Law Institute: The Essential Tasks of Pension and Benefit Plan Trustees: Comprehensive Update (February 19, 2008)

International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans ÃÆ'¢â‚¬" Foundations for Trustees 1: Delinquency (September 27, 2007)

CLEBC ÃÆ'¢â‚¬" Personal Injury Practice 2008 ÃÆ'¢â‚¬" Benefits and Benefit Reimbursement ÃÆ'¢â‚¬" Reimbursement Obligations to Trust Benefit Plans (February 27, 2007)

• COVID-19 and Global Issues: A Contrarian's Solution to Construction Contracts?

  By Michael Morgan, Thomas Krikke, Krikke Consulting Ltd |March 2020

Additional ArticlesInsolvency and Restructuring Bulletin: SCC Releases its Decision in Sun Indalex Finance, LLC v. United Steelworkers (February 7, 2013)

"Whoa! developers: Court may no longer be the answer" (January 14, 2013), Author

Lawson Lundell Launches the Western Canada Business Litigation Blog (October 1, 2010)

The Peoples Decision - Two Years Later: Where Are We At And What Have We Learned? (October 31, 2006)

Collection Law in British Columbia: Getting Paid on a Collection File - From Start to Finish (October 27, 2005)

Builders' Lien Rights for Architects and Engineers: Real or Illusory? (October 15, 2002)

Commercial Litigation and Dispute Resolution Blog

Lawson Lundell LLP

Lawson Lundell's Commercial Litigation and Dispute Resolution Blog follows new and interesting issues emerging in the legal and business communities. Our goal is to provide a source of valuable information and insight on a wide variety of matters for our readers.

North of 60 Blog

Lawson Lundell LLP

Our North of 60 Blog provides commentary on current legal trends and developments, and legislative updates affecting businesses in Northern Canada.

Pensions and Employee Benefits Law Blog

Lawson Lundell LLP

Lawson Lundell's Pension and Employee Benefits Law Blog provides updates on the most recent legal developments impacting pension and employee benefit plans. We cover a range of topics, including recent case law and changes to relevant provincial and federal legislation.

Privacy & Data Management Blog

Lawson Lundell LLP

This blog is authored by members of the Privacy & Data Management Department. We follow new and interesting issues emerging in the legal and business communities. We follow emerging issues, legal developments, and new technology as they impact privacy and data management. We will focus on how organizations can protect, manage and innovate with information considering the various risks, regulatory and governance requirements.

Real Estate Law Blog

Lawson Lundell LLP

Our Real Estate Law Blog provides brief commentary on current legal trends and developments affecting your business. The topics addressed in Lawson Lundell’s Real Estate Law Blog are of interest to commercial real estate developers, real estate and strata agents, investors, landlords and tenants, as well as a variety of industry groups.

The Business Law Blog

Lawson Lundell LLP

This blog is authored by members of the Litigation and Dispute Resolution Department. We intend to follow new and interesting issues emerging in the legal and business communities. The wide range of experience among the members of our litigation group will provide a diverse and insightful examination of current legal trends and topics. Our goal is to provide a source of valuable information and insight on a wide variety of matters for our readers.