About
Contact:
- E michael.fenrick@paliareroland.com
- T 416.646.7481
- F 416.646.4301
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 understands the multidimensional nature of complex litigation and works with his clients to avoid problems and manage them to successful outcomes when they happen. But sometimes litigation is the best option, and when it is he is a strong advocate.
He has been recognized for commercial litigation and public law by Lexpert; commercial litigation, employment law and appellate practice by Best Lawyers in Canada; and by Benchmark Litigation for commercial litigation. Michael was a Lexpert Rising Star in 2018 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. He has been adjunct faculty at both the University of Toronto, Faculty of Law and later Osgoode Hall Law School for many years. He is a contributing author to Constitutional Litigation in Canada.
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
Awards
Awards and Honours
- Best Lawyers in Canada 2025 – Administrative and Public Law (2025); Appellate Practice (Since 2024), Corporate and Commercial Litigation, Labour and Employment Law (Since 2021)
- Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory: Litigation - Corporate Commercial; Litigation - Regulatory & Public Law
- Benchmark Litigation - Future Star
- 2019 Precedent Setter Award
- Benchmark Litigation - 2019 - 40 & Under Hot List
- Lexpert Rising Star - 2018 - One of Canada's Leading Lawyers under 40
- Law Clerk to the Honourable Justice Marshall Rothstein, Supreme Court of Canada - 2008 - 2009
- Dalhousie Law School - University Medal in Law - 2008
- Numerous academic and advocacy prizes in areas such as constitutional, administrative, labour and corporate commercial law
Rep. Work
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
- Co-counsel for the Foundation for the Advancement of Investor Rights before the Supreme Court of Canada in the reference respecting the constitutionality of the proposed national securities regulator
- Appeared as co-counsel on a number of judicial reviews or appeals from decisions of the administrative tribunals, including decisions of the Ontario Municipal Board, the Ontario College of Pharmacists, the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board and the Ontario Securities Commission
Community
Community Involvement
- OneLight Theatre – Board member
- Local Federal Riding Association – Executive member and Fundraising co-chair