Michael Nowina
Biography
Michael Nowina is a partner who advises on a broad range of commercial disputes including fraudulent investment schemes, mortgage and credit fraud, tort, breach of contract, and negligence claims. Michael also advises clients on restructuring and insolvency matters, including bankruptcies, receiverships and the employment and pension law issues that arise on corporate liquidations or restructurings.
Michael is a part of the Firm's Dispute Resolution and Global Restructuring & Insolvency practice groups. He has appeared before all levels of courts in Canada and frequently appears on matters on the Commercial List in Toronto. Michael regularly speaks, publishes and appears in the media on fraud and insolvency matters. Michael has been recognized by Benchmark Litigation, Best Lawyers, and Legal 500. He is also co-chair of the Firm's Pro-Bono program in Canada and is actively involved with the Investor Protection Clinic at Osgoode Hall Law School.
Practice Focus
Representative Legal Matters
- Represented investors in a fraudulent crypto-currency investment scheme that resulted in bankruptcy and criminal charges against the self-proclaimed crypto-king.
- Represented investors in a successful arbitration to disgorge profits earned by fraudulent conduct as trial and appellate counsel.
- Obtained recognition of Swiss arbitral arbitration award and interim freezing order against the assets of the Canadian respondent.
- Retained to conduct an investigation of the operations of a Canadian public company operating as a cryptocurrency miner.
- Secured a favourable judgment for vendor in a contractual interpretation dispute arising from the sale of a Manitoba gold mine.
- Secured for a financial institution a CAD 10.3 million judgment in fraud against an Ontario based borrower and its principals as trial counsel and appellate counsel.
- Represented a court-appointed receiver in successful court application for declarations of contempt in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice.
- Represented an opposing creditor at trial and appellate levels in the leading Canadian case on misconduct by an insolvency professional.
- Successfully blocked the bankruptcy discharge of a debtor that unlawfully sold equipment belonging to asset base lender.
- Counsel to the pension plan custodian in dispute over priority of pension plan deficiency.
Professional Associations and Memberships
- Ontario Bar Association - Member
- Advocates Society - Member
Admissions
- Ontario~Canada (2004)
Education
- University of Western Ontario (LLB) (2003)
- Queen's University (BA, Honours) (2000)
Languages
- English