Michael Peerless

Biography

Shortly after being called to the bar in 1993, Michael helped certify the first class action case in Ontario.  Since then, Michael has been counsel on hundreds of class actions representing both plaintiffs and defendants across all levels of court, appearing in the courts of many Canadian provinces, and assisting in international cases.  Named Managing Partner for the Firm in December 2020, Michael is also the Class Actions Department Head. 

Named Managing Partner in 2020, Michael has been continuously recognized as one of Canada’s leading class action litigators.  Since its inaugural 2006 edition, Michael has been named annually in Best Lawyers in Canada List and has several times been named Lawyer of the Year.  Michael has also often been named in the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory. As co-author of the prestigious Butterworths Class Actions Law and Practice looseleaf service, Michael has truly ‘written the book’ on class action law in Canada. Legal organizations such as the Law Society of Upper Canada, the Canadian Bar Association, the Canadian Institute, the Barreau du Quebec, and the Advocates Society regularly ask Michael to speak. 

When he is not busy Michael swims, bikes, and runs as often as possible.  Michael is a keen triathlete, and has raced in hundreds of running races and triathlons around the world, including the Boston Marathon and the Hawaii Ironman.  The perseverance and dedication required to competitively swim 3.8 km, bike 180 km, and then run 42.2 km are similar to the skill set required to direct complicated class action litigation.  Over the past couple of years, Michael has taken to doing mountain runs in places as diverse as the Rockies and the Alps, at distances as long as 50 km – Michael has found that spending significant time outdoors helps to clear the mind!