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Michael Clifton was born in Sarnia, Ontario and grew up in Toronto. He holds bachelor and master degrees in philosophy from the University of Waterloo and obtained his law degree from the University of Toronto in 1998. He was called to the bar in 2000 after articling at Fasken Campbell Godfrey in Toronto, where his practice focused primarily on intellectual property law.
After being called to the bar, Michael worked with Samuel Baker, QC, focussing on permanent and temporary immigration to Canada for Skilled Workers and Business Class applicants and general corporate/commercial law. During this period Michael represented several domestic and international businesses and their owners.
In 2002, Michael returned to the Kitchener-Waterloo area to work exclusively in the area of condominium law at McCarter Grespan Robson Beynon Thompson LLP. Since then he has represented more than 250 condominium corporations, management companies and unit owners throughout Southwestern Ontario and the GTA. He has guided several corporations through amalgamations, condominium lien and rule enforcement action, and has drafted and registered numerous condominium by-laws, declaration amendments and indemnity agreements. Michael has also assisted several condominium developers with standard, phased, common element and vacant land condominium plans, including new developments and conversions.
At Clifton Kok LLP, condominium law (for both condominium developers and boards of registered corporations) continues to constitute almost 100% of Michael’s practice area, with some forays into other areas of interest where appropriate to meet clients' needs.
Michael is a co-author of two books on Ontario condominium law: A Planners’ and Municipalities’ Guide to the Condominium Act, 1998 and Essential Issues for Realtors in the Condominium Act, 1998. He has also had numerous articles on condominium law published in trade periodicals including the Condo News and Condominium Manager, assisted in the preparation of the most recent version of the Level 200 Course materials for Canadian Condominium Institute – Golden Horseshoe Chapter and has been an instructor at various CCI forums and courses. In September 2006, Michael was elected to the board of directors of the Golden Horseshoe Chapter of the Canadian Condominium Institute. In May, 2008, Michael was awarded the designation of Associate of the Canadian Condominium Institute (ACCI).
In addition to practicing law, Michael is an active lay minister/church adminstrator, artist and writer. Since 1987, he has published more than 200 articles and illustrations in various periodicals on a wide variety of subjects including Japanese and Canadian law, art, music, history, religion, philosophy and culture. Michael has been a speaker in academic conferences and college classes in Boston, Toronto, London and the Kitchener-Waterloo area. He has also previously served as a director of Leading Tone Arts Productions (based in Lindsay, Ontario) and the Kitchener Waterloo (now, Grand) Philharmonic Choir. Michael is a dedicated husband and the father of two.
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Although born in the Netherlands, Mark has lived most of his life in Kitchener and has deep roots in this community. He attended high school locally at Eastwood Collegiate Institute and following graduation was hired as a cadet with the Waterloo Regional Police Service. Mark served the Region for eight years as a police officer before opting to return to school. He completed his bachelor’s degree in philosophy at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, where he maintained Dean’s List standing and graduated with the highest grade point average in the program.
Mark subsequently obtained his law degree from the University of Western Ontario. While there he qualified for the Law School’s Moot Court team on International Law and competed against both Canadian and U.S. law students in international competition. Mark returns annually to assist the university with its selection of its external advocacy competition teams.
Mark completed his studies at the University of Western Ontario in 2002 and then went on to article with the Kitchener law firm of Madorin, Snyder LLP. He was admitted to the Ontario bar in the Summer of 2003 and was invited to remain with Madorin, Snyder LLP as an associate lawyer. There, Mark began developing a general solicitor’s practice with a focus on the areas of general corporate/commercial work, real estate, and wills and estates work.
With an eye towards gaining more specialized experience, Mark joined the corporate and commercial law group at the Kitchener firm of McCarter Grespan Robson Beynon Thompson LLP in 2004. While there Mark assisted clients in a broad range of corporate and commercial matters and gained extensive experience in dealing with the day-to-day legal challenges which face today’s small to mid-size businesses. As well, Mark worked on numerous commercial transactions including mergers, acquisitions and corporate reorganizations. These transactions ranged in size and value from a few thousand dollars to acquisitions worth tens of millions of dollars.
Since leaving McCarter Grespan Beynon LLP in 2007 to form Clifton Kok LLP, Mark has continued his work in the areas of general corporate and commercial work. Mark is also developing a significant practice in condominium and land development. Since the establishment of Clifton Kok LLP, Mark has been involved in the creation of dozens of condominium developments for developers in various parts of south-western Ontario, including standard, phased and vacant land condominium plans, and in related development processes, land acquisitions and business transactions.
Mark is active in the community and has served as a board member of Waterloo Region’s branch of Crime Stoppers. He currently volunteers his time as the community representative of the Community Assessment Team for New Directions in Kitchener and represents Clifton Kok LLP in some firm-sponsored local charitable activities.
In addition to his legal education and practice, Mark is currently engaged in post-graduate studies at The University of St. Jerome’s College at the University of Waterloo. Mark resides in Kitchener and is a dedicated husband and the father of three small children.
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Karyn was born and raised in Brantford, Ontario. She attended Queen’s University where she obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in History with a minor concentration in French, as well as her law degree.
While at Queen’s, Karyn was a member of the Fasken and Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition Teams.
Karyn articled with Kearns McKinnon in Guelph and remained with the firm after her call to the Bar and that firm’s merger with Miller Thomson LLP in 2003.
While at Kearns McKinnon and Miller Thomson, Karyn developed a primarily corporate/commercial practice with a particular interest in working with start up companies and assisting in early stage financing transactions. She has experience with a wide variety of business matters including incorporation of for profit, not-for-profit and charitable corporations, partnerships, asset and share purchase and sale transactions, corporate reorganizations, co-operatives, financing agreements, share holder agreements, and a variety of other business agreements. She also has experience in residential and commercial real estate transactions, condominium governance, wills and estate planning and has acted as a child protection litigator.
Karyn has written articles for the Condo News and has taught components of CCI courses.
At Clifton Kok LLP, Karyn will be continuing a general corporate and commercial practice and expanding her practice in condominium and land development and condominium management matters.
In addition to her professional activities, Karyn is active in the Guelph community and currently sits on the boards of the Volunteer Centre of Guelph/Wellington, Community Torchlight and the Wellington Law Association. She has also coached girl’s ice hockey in Guelph and enjoys playing in a recreational league in her spare time.
Karyn and her husband live in Guelph and enjoy spending time with their three dogs.
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Nelson Amaral was born and raised in Cambridge, Ontario and is a long time resident of Waterloo Region.
After graduating from Preston High School, Nelson worked several years for an international industrial corporation as a sales associate and field trainer. Nelson later enrolled at Wilfrid Laurier University where he obtained an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy. He then attended at the University of Windsor where he was awarded a Master of Arts degree, also in philosophy, delivering a Master’s thesis in bioethics relating to human genetics.
Thereafter, Nelson attended law school at the University of Western Ontario. During law school, Nelson developed a keen interest in criminal law and was accepted into the criminal law concentration program. In addition to his academic pursuits at the time, he also excelled in the annual American Bar Association Negotiation Competition, and represented his law school at a number of national and international events. Nelson earned the title of Canadian Negotiation Champion two years in succession and went on to represent Canada in two international negotiation world championships. In 2004, he earned Canada a third place finish at the ABA International Negotiation Championship.
During the summer of 2004, Nelson was the recipient of the University of San Diego’s Pierre Azard Scholarship and attended the International Law Institute at the University of Paris. He studied European Union Law under noted international scholar and Columbia law professor, George Bermann.
When the time came to article, Nelson chose the Kitchener-Waterloo office of Gowling Lafleur Henderson LLP. While articling, he was exposed to and worked on a number of commercial transactions including corporate reorganizations, asset purchases and corporate mergers. Nelson later went on to practice commercial civil litigation at the Waterloo based firm Farhood, Boehler & Associates prior to joining Clifton Kok LLP.
At Clifton Kok LLP, Nelson’s practice focusses primarily on condominium development and management law. With his litigation experience, Nelson also expands the services offered by the firm by providing some litigation advice and assistance as appropriate to our existing condominium corporation and developer clients.
Nelson is a long time supporter of the arts and is a former member of the board of directors of the Canadian Clay and Glass Gallery.
In addition to his professional and community related interests, Nelson is a dedicated husband and is the father of two young children.
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