Headshot of Michael Sinclair in Pihl Law boardroom

CONTACT Michael

250.762.5434
[email protected]


FOCUS

Family Law
Mediation & Arbitration
Estate Litigation


EDUCATION

  • Bachelor of Arts (Sociology), University of Calgary
  • Bachelor of Laws, University of Alberta


MEET MY TEAM



ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIPS

  • Canada Bar Association – Family Law Subsection
  • Kelowna Bar Association
  • Trial Lawyers Association of British Columbia
  • Chair of the board of the Continuing Legal Education Society of British Columbia
  • Law Society of BC Fee Mediation Program – Roster of Fee Mediators
  • Coach for the Vernon Ski Club
  • Member of the Board of the Vernon Ski Club

Michael Sinclair


B.A., LL.B.

SHAREHOLDER
*Legal Services provided by a Law Corporation

Michael carries on a practice in family law and estate litigation. His family law practice involves division of property, custody, access and support issues. His estate practice includes disputes that arise before and after death dealing with wills variation, committeeship applications and undue influence cases. Michael is also a qualified family and civil mediator.

Michael's practice in family law covers the full spectrum of files, from the preparation of cohabitation agreements while parties are together and amicable to files where the division of complex corporate holdings are at issue and files where parties have difficulty agreeing on support and parenting issues. The issue of support, like property division can be complicated by the intricacies of the law as well as tax issues and the corresponding effect on retirement and estate planning. More often, files like these take empathy and an ability to appreciate what his client is going through, standards he aspires to.

The issues Michael deals with in his estate litigation practice build on his expertise in family law. These files are often complicated by trusts, tax and high animosity. His approach is to zero in quickly to the central issues at hand to properly allocate the necessary resources to tackle them in a timely manner. Like family law, estate litigation requires not only a detailed and thorough knowledge of law and court procedure, but also an ability to steer clients through a difficult period in their lives.

Michael enjoys the inherent challenges posed by his work and the opportunity to provide innovative solutions for his clients. He thinks it is particularly important to have an open mind and listen to his client’s concerns and by taking that client-centered approach he finds that he can achieve the best results. Ultimately, any case comes down to identifying established priorities and having a good strategy and he strives to assist his clients in developing both.

Outside the office Michael enjoys spending time with his family. Depending on the season he's camping with his family, mountain biking, or skiing on one of the local hills.


RECENT BLOG POSTS BY Michael

Common Mediation Myths Debunked

February 28, 2024

Mediation is not new. In fact its roots are believe to go back thousands of years to ancient Mesopotamia. Yet there is still some resistance to it in certain spheres of the legal profession, and amongst the parties to a dispute. Some of this resistance comes from common beliefs that it is not appropriate in…

Unwitting Partners & Cohabitation Agreements

March 10, 2021

The one thing worse than a break-up is one where you discover, much to your surprise, that your partner is able to advance claims against you when you had assumed the contrary. Many people are aware of the fact that unmarried spouses have a right to claim spousal support and child support, usually because they’ve…