Michael Solowan

Michael’s practice focuses on governance, ethics and providing external general counsel advice to organizations. With nearly two decades of experience advising municipalities, school boards, public agencies and provincial governments, clients appreciate Michael’s keen interest in public service and the wealth of knowledge and sound, practical advice he brings to the table. He is recognized for his work advising boards and councils on codes of conduct and complaint investigations, conflicts of interest, bylaw/policy development and meeting procedures. Michael is routinely called upon to provide training for newly elected officials and appointed board members on their roles and responsibilities and he has trained well over 500 individuals over the years with consistent positive feedback.

Working with a team, Michael provides wide-ranging, comprehensive organizational reviews and governance assessments for public sector organizations. He also investigates code of conduct complaints brought against municipal councillors and school board trustees as well as public committee members and members of boards of directors of municipally-controlled entities. Michael is also called upon from time to time to mediate disputes.

Although his practice has evolved to develop a strong solicitor-focus, Michael is a seasoned litigator who has appeared before all levels of Court in Alberta as well as the Court of Queen’s (now King’s) Bench in Saskatchewan and the Federal Court of Canada on such matters as judicial review of Ministerial decisions, challenges to municipal bylaws and contested elections. Michael has also appeared before the Municipal Government Board (now LPRT) on contested annexation applications and before the Alberta Utilities Commission on challenges to municipal public utility bylaws and rate disputes. Prior to joining Kingsgate Legal, Michael was a partner at a recognized Western Canadian law firm and earlier in his career he  served on the executive management team as in-house legal counsel to a growing mid-sized city.