Michael Bordin
Michael Bordin is a partner in Gowling WLG's Hamilton office and a certified specialist in civil litigation. Michael combines strong communication, presentation and relational skills with sound judgment and analysis to advise his clients and advocate on their behalf. He routinely represents institutional clients, such as insurers and municipalities, as well as businesses and individual clients in a wide variety of disputes. Michael is preferred counsel for LawPRO, where he has acted in the defense of lawyers for almost 20 years.
While most litigation settles outside the courtroom, when necessary Michael applies his broad experience in trial and appellate advocacy to achieve optimal outcomes for his clients — whether through negotiation or a hearing. Over the course of his career, Michael has conducted trials in a wide variety of cases including product liability, construction, professional negligence, breach of contract, partnership disputes and tort claims, and has argued appeals before the Supreme Court of Canada (SCC) and the Court of Appeal for Ontario. Most recently, he successfully represented the plaintiff in Fleming v. Ontario, a landmark SCC civil liberties case that gave new clarity to the limits of police powers.
Michael also has experience arguing complex motions and applications, including injunctions and judicial reviews, as well as acting as counsel before administrative tribunals and inquests.
From 2016 to 2017, Michael served as president of the Hamilton Law Association. He frequently presents at continuing professional development programs on a wide range of advocacy-related subjects.
In every aspect of his practice, Michael honours the trust his clients place in him by constantly striving to improve the lawyer-client relationship and finding new ways to foster his clients' success. He takes the time to understand their pain points and their goals, and to connect them with the resources they need at home and abroad.