Michael Bain

(604) 696-6120
E-mail

Michael was called to the bar of British Columbia in 1999. He has practised employment law with Hamilton Howell since 2005 reviewing and negotiating employment contracts, benefits packages (including stock options), advising clients and acting on their behalves with respect to wrongful dismissals, terminations, severance packages, constructive dismissals and human rights complaints, and negotiating settlements or litigating claims as the circumstances require. He has appeared before administrative tribunals, the Federal Court of Appeal and the Courts of Appeal for British Columbia and the Yukon Territory. He has also appeared at the trial level of all courts in B.C. and at the Federal Court of Canada. Michael is the only lawyer in Canada to have serenaded a judge on the Supreme Court of Canada. In addition to employment law matters, Michael has experience resolving shareholder’s disputes, professional regulatory matters, copyright and patent disputes and wills & estates.

Michael is the assistant editor of the Advocate, a legal periodical circulated to all lawyers in the province of British Columbia. He is the current secretary-treasurer of the Vancouver Bar Association having been first elected to that body in 2003. In 2009 Michael was, together with the Dean of UBC Law School, the winner of the Great Debate, an annual debating competition between UVic and UBC alumni. Michael is a regular participant in the annual fundraising efforts of the CBA (BC) Benevolent Society performing with both Mr. Fancy Education and Twisted Solicitor. A bassist, guitarist, singer, writer and documentary filmmaker, Michael is known for his humorous, satirical and risqué songs and poems. He recently won an international documentary film award and is currently writing a novel.