Michael advises clients on a wide variety of commercial real estate matters including buying, selling, financing, leasing, developing, and managing commercial real estate assets. He also has experience with real estate ownership structuring including through limited partnerships, trusts, co-ownerships, joint ventures, and other arrangements.
Michael works with a diverse group of clients in all shapes and sizes based in Canada, the United States, and around the world, including institutional investors, private investors, public companies, pension funds, private equity funds, real estate investment trusts (REITs), financial institutions, developers, landlords, and tenants. His clients are active in retail, office, industrial, multi-family, mixed-use, and other commercial real estate sectors as well as in various industries including real estate development, hospitality, banking, life sciences, technology, energy (including renewables), forestry, and mining.
As part of his practice, Michael works closely with other Blakes lawyers to provide comprehensive legal advice to meet the needs of his clients, including in areas such as tax, environmental, corporate/commercial, employment, Indigenous, regulatory, competition, and dispute resolution. He also provides real estate advice and support on M&A, corporate, banking, and financing transactions.
Michael strongly believes in giving back to the community. He has provided pro bono legal advice to clients active in the performing arts, cancer research, and conservation sectors, among others. He also serves on the executive of the parents’ advisory council at his child’s school (including as chair) and coaches little league baseball.