
Overview
Michael Wilson is a partner at Goodmans.
Michael acts as lead counsel in matters involving corporate governance and shareholder disputes, director and officer liability claims, and employment and commercial issues. Given his extensive experience advising decision-makers in the federal and provincial governments, he is regularly called upon to advise and represent clients in administrative and regulatory matters, including to develop legislative and regulatory proposals that respond to complex and urgent policy challenges.
Michael previously served as the chief of staff to the Attorney General of Ontario. Providing strategic counsel to two successive Attorneys General, Michael led the development and implementation of substantial legislative reform, including the modernization of legislation related to Ontario’s crown liability, class actions, civil forfeiture, and construction. He routinely advised on policy development related to regulated professions and industries, including those regulated by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (alcohol, gaming, and cannabis). In 2023, Michael was designated by the Government of Ontario as King’s Counsel in recognition of his commitment to the pursuit of legal excellence in service to the Crown, the public and his community.
Michael has appeared before the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, the Ontario Court of Appeal, the Federal Court of Canada, the Federal Court of Appeal and international and domestic arbitration panels.
Michael is recognized as a “Future Star” by Benchmark Litigation Canada and as “One to Watch” by The Best Lawyers in Canada. Michael was included in the 2023 Benchmark Litigation’s 40 & Under List – Canada, and has also been recommended by The Legal 500 Canada in the area of Dispute Resolution: Ontario.
Expertise
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Aging and Health Care
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Arbitration - Domestic and International
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Class Actions
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Construction and Infrastructure
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Corporate and Commercial Litigation
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Crisis Management and Urgent Proceedings
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Dispute Resolution
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Employment, Pensions and Executive Compensation
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Insolvency Litigation
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Insurance Litigation
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Regulatory, Administrative and Public Law
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Securities Litigation
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White Collar Defence and Investigations
Featured Work
Michael’s representative work includes acting as counsel to:
Class Actions
- a US-based, Canadian-listed company resisting leave and certification in a class action with claims related to its prospectus disclosure and secondary market disclosure
- a publicly-traded company resisting the certification of a class action in relation to its securities disclosure
- senior officers of a publicly-traded company in a class proceeding relating to the company’s securities disclosure
- a corporate defendant in a consumer class action regarding price-fixing
Complex Corporate and Commercial Cases
- defending a multinational company against an oppression claim commenced by a purported creditor
- a co-founder/shareholder of a technology company in a dispute concerning the non-complete and non-solicitation provisions of a unanimous shareholders agreement
- a venture capitalist in defence of breach of contract and fiduciary duty claims made in connection with a share purchase transaction
- a Canadian wine-maker in defence of alleged breaches of a share purchase agreement and a shareholders agreement following the unwinding of a joint venture
- a professional services firm in asserting breach of contract, fiduciary duty and confidence claims against two departing senior employees
- a shareholder in a closely-held family business in a shareholder dispute
Regulatory Matters, Judicial Reviews and Claims Against the Government
- a cannabis retailer in response to regulatory inquiries from the AGCO
- a group of developers in a judicial review of a municipal council decision
- a Canadian pharmaceutical company in a claim against the federal government for breach of contract, negligence, and misfeasance in public office
- a Canadian pharmaceutical company in multiple judicial reviews against the federal government
Defamation Cases
- the Monitor in a CCAA proceeding defending defamation claims made by the former CEO of the CCAA debtor company
- the principal of a professional services firm in taking action against defamatory comments made by a competitor
Awards & Recognition
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Best Lawyers in Canada Ones to Watch, Corporate and Commercial Litigation 2024
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Benchmark Litigation's 40 & Under List - Canada 40 & Under List - Canada 2023
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Benchmark Canada Future Star 2023
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The Legal 500 Canada Recommended, Dispute Resolution: Ontario 2023
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The Legal 500 Canada Recommended, Dispute Resolution: Ontario 2022
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The Legal 500 Canada Rising Star, Litigation 2021
Credentials
Professional Involvement
Michael is a guest lecturer at the University of Toronto and the Metropolitan Toronto University, where he teaches on various corporate law and litigation topics.
Credentials
- Western University, J.D., 2012
- Western University, B.A., 2007
Call to Bar
- 2013 Ontario
Insights
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Aging and Health Care
Amendments to Long-Term Care Regulations Seek to Ease Staffing Requirements During Pandemics
On March 20, 2020, amendments to Regulation 79/10 under the Long-Term Care Homes Act, 2007 came into force, streamlining current staffing and training procedures in long-term care homes… -
Dispute Resolution
Under a State of Emergency, What Orders can the Ontario Government Enact?
What is the impact of Ontario's declaration of a State of… -
Dispute Resolution
Supreme Court of Canada Cases to Watch: Winter 2020
This week, the Supreme Court of Canada (SCC) will begin its regular Winter sittings. In the next few months, the top court will hear several civil, commercial and constitutional cases that will… -
Corporate and Commercial Litigation
Hryniak v. Mauldin Breathes New Life Into Summary Judgment Motions, Commercial Litigation
Jason Wadden and Michael Wilson authored the article "Hryniak v. Mauldin Breathes New Life Into Summary Judgment Motions", originally published in Commercial Litigation, Volume XV, No…
News & Events
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Private Equity and Venture Capital
100+ Goodmans lawyers recognized in The Best Lawyers in Canada: 2024 Edition
Goodmans is delighted to announce we have been recognized in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in Canada with 101 lawyers ranked across 41 practice areas.Congratulations to Harry Radomski… -
Goodmans Partners Recognized in Benchmark Litigation's 40 & Under List
Goodmans is pleased to congratulate Tamryn Jacobson, Melanie Ouanounou, and Michael Wilson who have all been recognized in the 8th edition of Benchmark Litigation's 40 & Under List… -
Michael Wilson at Canadian Gaming Summit
Michael Wilson was featured on a panel at the 2023 Canadian Gaming Summit on June 14th. The session "How a new model is born: the strategic advocacy that ended grey market play and brought about…