He has tackled civil, commercial, and regulatory litigation for over two decades
Sugden, McFee & Roos LLP partner Michael Shirreff has been appointed to the Supreme Court of British Columbia as an associate judge beginning July 23.
Shirreff has been assigned to Vancouver but will handle matters in other regions as well through travel and video-conferencing technology. He is a seasoned civil, commercial and regulatory litigator with over two decades of experience.
He has tackled complex commercial matters, contract disputes, and real estate litigation as well as administrative or regulatory matters, personal injury claims, and certain criminal or quasi-criminal matters.
Shirreff acted for a police officer in a judicial review proceeding of an underlying discipline matter. He also represented a mining company and challenged an oppression proceeding brought by the company’s ex-key consultant.
He acted for a person in one of the first provincial prosecutions brought pursuant to the Real Estate Development and Marketing Act. Moreover, he represented a group of defendants in an action related to broadband and wireless technologies and appealed the sentence issued in an assault proceeding.
Shirreff assisted defendants appealing the trial outcome that they were liable for significant civil fraud. He acted on appeal for a person opposing a BC Securities Commission decision.
He was involved in arbitration proceedings regarding how joint venture contract was to be interpreted. He also worked on the applications for leave to appeal that followed.
Shirreff was counsel for for a foreign tobacco company in the BC suit against the tobacco industry for the recovery of government-funded health care expenditures. He was also counsel for the Crown in appeal proceedings following a landmark conviction.
He represented the Law Society of BC and for other lawyers on discipline and credentials matters. He has appeared before all levels of BC court and administrative tribunals.
Shirreff held senior roles at the Canadian Bar Association’s BC Branch and at the Trial Lawyers Association of British Columbia. Before joining Vancouver litigation firm Sugden, McFee & Roos in 2007, he was an associate lawyer at Singleton Urquhart LLP. He also recorded a stint with Fasken Martineau DuMoulin as a summer/articling student, according to LinkedIn.
As associate judge, Shirreff will preside over civil and family chambers and registrar hearings. He will tackle pre-trial and procedural matters in civil and family cases.
