Michael practices criminal law in the Kitchener-Waterloo and Cambridge courts, as well as nearby cities, including Guelph and Stratford.  His interest in criminal law began when he articled for a criminal lawyer.  During the Bar Admissions Course, Michael received the E.J. McGrath Prize for Criminal Procedure.  Michael accepts Legal Aid certificates. 

When you are charged with a criminal offence, you are required to appear before the court for such purposes as receiving Crown disclosure, scheduling pre-trial resolution meetings and scheduling further court dates.  If you retain Michael, he can appear on your behalf, and deal with all of the preliminary matters for you, including the appearances in court and resolution meetings with the Crown.

Michael will review the facts with you, and discuss your options.  If you do not agree with the Crown's allegations, you will often need to go to trial. Michael has trial experience with respect to several areas of criminal law including assaults, sexual offences, thefts/fraud and impaired driving.

If you acknowledge the Crown's allegations, your charges can be resolved with alternative measures or with a guilty plea.  Michael can meet with the Crown to explore these options on your behalf, and seek the most advantageous outcome for you.  The way in which a criminal charge can be resolved will depend on several factors, including your age, prior criminal record, the circumstances of the alleged offence and how you have addressed the issues that led to the alleged offence.  Michael has experience in addressing these factors when negotiating with Crown attorneys, which can sometimes result in charges being withdrawn, guilty pleas to lesser charges, or joint submissions for reasonable sentences.  Michael also has experience in addressing the same factors before judges, who ultimately impose sentences for any offences that you plead guilty to, or are convicted of.

Michael appears regularly on criminal matters in the Ontario Court of Justice, including Youth Court, but has also appeared in the Superior Court of Justice.  Most matters start and end in the Ontario Court of Justice, but some indictable matters, and summary conviction appeals, end up in the Superior Court of Justice.  The distinction between summary and indictable charges, and the procedure for each, can be confusing.  Michael explains the process to his clients, and helps to guide them through.

Michael has also handled quasi-criminal matters in Provincial Offences Court, particularly driving offences, such as careless driving.  While Highway Traffic Act convictions do not result in a criminal record, they can have significant consequences for your automobile insurance rates, and also result in demerit points on your drivers licence.