Michael is a founding partner of Clifton Kok LLP. He heads up the firm's condominium management law practice and also practices condominium development law. Michael is regarded as an expert in Ontario condominium law, on which he has written and taught extensively. He was previously appointed as a Condominium Administrator under section 131 of the Condominium Act, 1998, and has been an expert witness in court matters relating to both condominium management and development legal services. Michael is also an experienced mediator, assisting clients to resolve various types of legal dispute.
mclifton@cklegal.ca 519.632.9755 (Dial '1')
KEY AREAS OF PRACTICE:
CONDOMINIUM MANAGEMENT LAW
CONDOMINIUM DEVELOPMENT LAW REAL PROPERTY TRANSACTIONS MEDIATION |
Michael was born in Sarnia, Ontario and grew up in Toronto. Throughout high school Michael studied art and literature primarily, and obtained an honours B.A. and M.A. in philosophy from the University of Waterloo before studying law at the University of Toronto.
After graduating from law school, Michael articled at a leading Bay Street law firm with a focus on intellectual property law before working with a sole practitioner where his practice was mainly focussed on immigration and real estate law. When he returned to Waterloo in 2002, he commenced a condominium law practice with one of the region's leading law firms, assisting both condominium corporations and their developers. Since that time Michael has assisted clients involved with all types of condominium corporations (standard, phased, vacant land, common elements and leasehold) for virtually all matters arising under the Condominium Act, 1998, including handling condominium conversions and amalgamations, drafting and amending governing documents, section 98 agreements, standard unit by-laws, and dealing with condominium liens, rule and by-law enforcement and dispute resolution.
Michael has co-authored two books on condominium law published by the Canadian Condominium Institute (CCI), and has contributed numerous articles to magazines such as Condo News, Condo Voice and Condominium Manager. He has also taught seminars on condominium law for CCI, the Association of Condominium Managers of Ontario (ACMO), the KW Real Estate Board and the Brant Condominium Corporations Association (BCCA). Michael was awarded the designation of ACCI (Associate of the Canadian Condominium Institute) in 2008, and received the LCCI (Leader of the Canadian Condominium Institute) designation in 2019. He served as a member of the board of directors of the CCI Golden Horseshoe Chapter from about 2009-2015, serving as its president from 2011-2013, and is an honorary member of BCCA. He was an instigator in the process leading to the creation of the CCI Grand River Chapter. In October, 2016, Michael was elected as a member of the National Executive of CCI and completed his second term in office in 2019.
In October, 2017, Michael was appointed as one of the first members and a Vice Chair of the Condominium Authority Tribunal (CAT), which came into force on November 1, 2017. His is currently in his second 3-year term as a tribunal member. Michael also provides services as a mediator or arbitrator, particularly for condominium related issues, separate and apart from his legal practice and service on the CAT.
Michael lives in Waterloo with his wife. They have two adult children and four grandchildren. Outside of the practice of law, Michael's activities focus on his family, lay ministry, art, music, writing, geneaology, and gardening. Since 1980, Michael has published over 250 articles and illustrations in various publications and has spoken at conferences and courses on a variety of subjects. Michael is a member of the Steering Committees of Interfaith Grand River and Christians Together Waterloo Region (formerly, KW Council of Churches). He is a former director of Leading Tone Arts Productions and the Grand Philharmonic Choir and is the founder of the "Strummerfest" music festival. Michael has organized other charitable music events including "From Rock to Rhapsody" (for Eastwood C.I.) and "Out of the Ashes" (for Morningstar Family Ministries). He is lead singer of the vintage punk rock cover band, CID.
After graduating from law school, Michael articled at a leading Bay Street law firm with a focus on intellectual property law before working with a sole practitioner where his practice was mainly focussed on immigration and real estate law. When he returned to Waterloo in 2002, he commenced a condominium law practice with one of the region's leading law firms, assisting both condominium corporations and their developers. Since that time Michael has assisted clients involved with all types of condominium corporations (standard, phased, vacant land, common elements and leasehold) for virtually all matters arising under the Condominium Act, 1998, including handling condominium conversions and amalgamations, drafting and amending governing documents, section 98 agreements, standard unit by-laws, and dealing with condominium liens, rule and by-law enforcement and dispute resolution.
Michael has co-authored two books on condominium law published by the Canadian Condominium Institute (CCI), and has contributed numerous articles to magazines such as Condo News, Condo Voice and Condominium Manager. He has also taught seminars on condominium law for CCI, the Association of Condominium Managers of Ontario (ACMO), the KW Real Estate Board and the Brant Condominium Corporations Association (BCCA). Michael was awarded the designation of ACCI (Associate of the Canadian Condominium Institute) in 2008, and received the LCCI (Leader of the Canadian Condominium Institute) designation in 2019. He served as a member of the board of directors of the CCI Golden Horseshoe Chapter from about 2009-2015, serving as its president from 2011-2013, and is an honorary member of BCCA. He was an instigator in the process leading to the creation of the CCI Grand River Chapter. In October, 2016, Michael was elected as a member of the National Executive of CCI and completed his second term in office in 2019.
In October, 2017, Michael was appointed as one of the first members and a Vice Chair of the Condominium Authority Tribunal (CAT), which came into force on November 1, 2017. His is currently in his second 3-year term as a tribunal member. Michael also provides services as a mediator or arbitrator, particularly for condominium related issues, separate and apart from his legal practice and service on the CAT.
Michael lives in Waterloo with his wife. They have two adult children and four grandchildren. Outside of the practice of law, Michael's activities focus on his family, lay ministry, art, music, writing, geneaology, and gardening. Since 1980, Michael has published over 250 articles and illustrations in various publications and has spoken at conferences and courses on a variety of subjects. Michael is a member of the Steering Committees of Interfaith Grand River and Christians Together Waterloo Region (formerly, KW Council of Churches). He is a former director of Leading Tone Arts Productions and the Grand Philharmonic Choir and is the founder of the "Strummerfest" music festival. Michael has organized other charitable music events including "From Rock to Rhapsody" (for Eastwood C.I.) and "Out of the Ashes" (for Morningstar Family Ministries). He is lead singer of the vintage punk rock cover band, CID.