Michael L. Byers

Practice Areas

Michael Byers is an experienced litigator whose practice focuses on corporate, securities and complex employment litigation and arbitration.

His litigation practice includes contract disputes, shareholder and oppression claims, class actions, insolvency and bankruptcy litigation, professional liability, fraud claims, and insurance litigation. Michael has particular expertise and experience in securities litigation matters, including investigations and proceedings conducted by the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) and other securities regulators, investment loss claims, broker/dealer disputes and cryptocurrency litigation. Michael also has significant experience in employment law matters, especially in litigation involving departing brokers and advisors, executive employment disputes, and cases involving complex financial and damages quantification issues or allegations of cause. He has particular expertise in wrongful dismissal matters in the financial services and securities industries.

Michael has significant experience in disputes in the financial services, securities, mining, technology, cannabis, cryptocurrency, and accounting sectors. Michael also has a specialized practice advising cryptocurrency industry participants and holders on securities regulatory issues and related litigation matters, and in cases involving the tracing of cryptocurrency funds and crypto-based fraud claims.

Michael has appeared as counsel in numerous trials and hearings, including before all levels of court in Ontario, arbitral tribunals, the Ontario Securities Commission (now Capital Markets Tribunal), the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization, the Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario, the Financial Services Regulatory Authority, and the British Columbia Securities Commission. Michael also has experience in proceedings before the courts of other provinces, and in assisting clients in investigations and proceedings commenced by regulatory bodies across the country, including the Human Rights Tribunal and other provincial insurance and securities regulators.

Awards