- Ranked by Chambers Canada 2020, 2021, 2023 & 2024 for Litigation: General Commercial [Atlantic Canada – Band 1]
- Ranked in 10th edition Benchmark Litigation 2023 “Top 100 Women” in Canada
- Repeatedly Recommended by The Canadian Legal Lexpert® Directory for Litigation - Commercial Insurance, Litigation - Directors' & Officers Liability, Litigation - Product Liability, Personal Injury (Represents Defendants), and Class Actions (most recently in 2024)
- Named Best Lawyers® Class Action Litigation “Lawyer of the Year” in Halifax (2023)
- Ranked in 9th edition Benchmark Litigation 2022 “Top 100 Women” in Canada
- Best Lawyers® 2018, 2020 and 2022 Product Liability Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Halifax
- Listed in Benchmark Litigation Canada 2022 Atlantic Canada’s Top 50 Women in Litigation
- Best Lawyers® 2021 Corporate and Commercial Litigation “Lawyer of the Year” in Halifax
- 2020 and 2017 Atlantic Litigator of the Year, Benchmark Canada
- Recognized by Best Lawyers® Canada for her practice in Appellate Practice (since 2019), Bet-the-Company Litigation (since 2024), Class Action Litigation (since 2021), Corporate and Commercial Litigation (since 2013), Insurance Law (since 2008), Personal Injury Litigation (since 2013) and Product Liability Law (since 2012)
- Listed as one of the Top 50 Trial Lawyers in Canada for 2019 and 2018, Benchmark Canada
- Featured in the 2018 Lexpert Special Edition – Canada’s Leading Litigation Lawyers
- 2020-2021 Top 50 Women in Canada, Benchmark Litigation
- 2014-2019 Top 25 Women in Litigation, Benchmark Canada
- 2013 LEXPERT Zenith Award
- 2013 Atlantic Female Litigator of the Year, Benchmark Canada
- Recognized Annually in Best LawyersTM in Canada
- Appointed Queen’s Counsel in January, 2010
- Twice named in LEXPERT’s list of Canada’s Top 40 Lawyers Under 40
- Listed in the 13th edition of Benchmark Litigation Canada Top 100 Women in Litigation (2024)
- Listed as a Litigation Star in the 13th edition of Benchmark Litigation Canada for Insurance, Securities and Commercial (2024)
About Michelle
Michelle is a senior partner in McInnes Cooper’s Litigation and Insurance Groups. She is a Fellow of both the American College of Trial Lawyers and the International Academy of Trial Lawyers. Michelle practices throughout Atlantic Canada in the areas of commercial litigation and arbitration, securities, risk management, shareholder disputes, product liability, defamation, commercial insurance and bonding, and disability and life insurance underwriting and claims. Michelle is known for her strategic and client-focused advice leading to dispute avoidance and dispute resolution. She has represented businesses and business leaders from all parts of Canada and around the world before all levels of Courts, including the Federal Court and the Supreme Court of Canada. Outside of law practice, Michelle is a Director of the Halifax Port Authority and a member of the QEII Health Sciences Centre Foundation Board of Trustees. In her spare time, Michelle enjoys tennis, running, skiing and cooking.
Awards & Recognitions
Memberships
- American College of Trial Lawyers Board of Regents
- Port of Halifax Board of Directors
- Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society Governance and Nominating Committee and Hearing Committee Vice Chair
- Supreme Court Advocacy Institute
- Trustee (and Past Chair) of the Foundation for Legal Research
- The Advocates’ Society Board of Directors (2014-2018), Past Chair of several committees and current Vice Chair of the Society’s Access to Justice Task Force
- Dalhousie University Board of Governors (2008-2017)
- Past President, Nova Scotia Branch of the Canadian Bar Association
- McInnes Cooper Board of Directors (2010-2016), Audit Committee Chair and Member of the Governance and Management Compensation Committee
Education
- J.D., University of Toronto (1991)
- B.Comm.(Hons.), Dalhousie University (1988)
Bar Admissions
- Nova Scotia (1992)
Languages
- English
