Michael L. Lee

Michael advises public and private companies regarding mergers and acquisitions, financings, restructurings and general corporate law matters. He has represented and worked with clients in a broad range of transactions, including public and private financings of equity and debt, acquisitions and divestitures, arrangements, takeover bids and corporate reorganizations.

Michael also advises public company clients and their boards of directors on corporate governance, directors’ duties and responsibilities and securities regulatory compliance. In addition, he acts as counsel to special committees of boards of directors in related party transactions and other corporate transactions. Michael is the co-lead of the Corporate Governance Group. He was previously the head of the Business Services Group at Lawson Lundell.

Michael has also served as corporate secretary to a major electric utility and acted as general counsel to the utility’s subsidiary. Prior to obtaining his law degree, Michael worked as a special assistant to a federal cabinet minister in Vancouver and Ottawa from 1990 to 1993.

Recognition and Ranking

• 2011 Lexpert Zenith Award: recognized for Corporate and Law Firm Social Responsibility for his outstanding work and long-standing dedication in the area of Corporate Governance

Community Activities

• Michael serves on the Boards of the following non-governmental and community organizations: Sustainable Cities International, Justice Education Society of BC, UBC Alumni Association and Arts Umbrella.
• He has also served as the Past Vice-Chair and Board Member of Science World British Columbia, S.U.C.C.E.S.S. (a community and social service organization) and Leadership Vancouver (a community leadership development program).

Bar Admissions

• British Columbia (1997)

Education

• Institute of Corporate Directors (Institute-certified Director, ICD.D, 2009)
• University of Victoria (LL.B., 1996)
• University of British Columbia (M.A. in Political Science, 1992)
• University of British Columbia (B.A. (Hons.) in Political Science, 1989)
• University of British Columbia (B.Sc. in Biology, 1986)

Representative transactions include:

• The merger of a U.S. coal mining company and a Canadian coal mining company with operations located in the U.S., Canada and the U.K.
• The acquisition by a Canadian coal mining company of a mining company listed on AIM with operations located in the U.S. and the U.K.
• The recapitalization of a Canadian forest products company by plan of arrangement
• Public offerings and private placements of $275 million of equity and convertible debt by a Canadian coal mining company
• A $100 million initial public offering by a mining exploration company on the TSX Venture Exchange
• The sale by a fuel cell company of its automotive fuel cell research and development assets to two strategic partners based in Germany and the U.S.
• The cross-border acquisition of a U.S. mining exploration company listed on the NYSE Amex by a Canadian mining exploration company
• The acquisition of port terminal facilities by an infrastructure fund of a global financial institution
• The sale of a Canadian company operating hearing aid clinics in B.C., Alberta, Ontario and Nova Scotia to a company based in Switzerland
• A $182 million cross-border equity offering by a silver mining company
• The reorganization of an income fund to establish a limited partnership to operate a coal storage and loading facility business
• The reverse takeover of a company listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange by an Australian gold mining company
• The management buyout of a B.C.-based entertainment company by plan of arrangement
• The establishment of management and operational arrangements between two B.C. Crown Corporations relating to electrical power transmission
• The acquisition by a private equity firm of a specialty metals distribution and processing business with operations in Western Canada and the U.S.
• The formation and initial public offering of an income fund in the steel wire and fabricated wire products manufacturing sector
• The merger of two B.C.-based mining companies with operations located in Australia, Peru, Alaska, Ontario and British Columbia