Michael Fenrick

Michael Fenrick’s legal practice is broad, giving his clients the advantage of strategic insight across a range of areas and industries. His work covers commercial litigation, infrastructure, appellate advocacy, judicial reviews, class actions, civil liberties, defamation, privacy, and employment law. He is often retained on highly confidential and sensitive matters for clients in crisis situations that could receive negative publicity. His clients value his calm demeanour and sound judgment.
Michael has taught constitutional law at Osgoode Hall and the University of Toronto. He has deep knowledge of election issues, and is active in the Liberal Party of Canada, for whom he served as a Constitutional and Legal Affairs Advisor. He has been recognized by Lexpert, Benchmark Litigation, and Best Lawyers in Canada, and received a Precedent Setter award in 2019. Michael was the gold medallist at Dalhousie Law School in 2008 and clerked for the Honourable Justice Marshall Rothstein of the Supreme Court of Canada in 2009.
Education
- Dalhousie University, LL.B., 2008
- University of British Columbia, M.A., 2005
- University of King's College, B.A., 2003
Bar Admissions
- Ontario, 2009
Professional Affiliations
- The Advocates' Society
Practice Areas
- Appeals and Judicial Review
- Class Actions
- Commercial Litigation
- Constitutional Litigation
- Defamation, Libel and Slander
- Employment Law
- Healthcare
- Human Rights
- Infrastructure and P3
- Judicial Inquiries and Inquests
- Labour Law
- Municipal and Planning Law
- Privacy and Access
- Professional Discipline and Regulation
- Public and Administrative Law
- Securities Litigation
Awards and Honours
-
Best Lawyers in Canada - Corporate and Commercial Litigation, Labour and Employment Law
-
Benchmark Litigation - Future Star
-
2019 Precedent Setter Award
-
Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory - Leading Lawyer to Watch - Litigation - Public Law
-
Benchmark Litigation - 2019 - 40 & Under Hot List
Representative Work
-
Co-counsel representing three migrant workers in the first constitutional challenge to the Seasonal Agricultural Workers’ Program
-
Co-counsel for the British Columbia Civil Liberties Association in the first appeals before the Supreme Court of Canada challenging the constitutionality of the terrorism provisions in the Criminal Code
-
Co-counsel for the Canadian Civil Liberties Association in R. v. Bedford in which the Court of Appeal struck down many of the provisions criminalizing prostitution in Canada
-
Co-counsel for the Canadian Police Association in leading cases in the area of freedom of association (Fraser v. Ontario (Attorney General) and Mounted Police Association of Ontario v. Canada)
-
Counsel for the Canadian Police Association in Penner v. Niagara Police Services Board respecting the scope of issue estoppel and police discipline
Community Involvement
-
OneLight Theatre – Board member
-
Local Federal Riding Association – Executive member and Fundraising co-chair
Publications
-
No Freedom to Remain Silent – Law Times article about the heated debate over the Law Society of Upper Canada’s decision to require licensees to adopt a statement of principles related to diversity and inclusion – November 2017
-
Regularly speaks or chairs panels on legal matters related to public law issues