Michael E. Burke, B.A. (York) 1982, LL.B. (Osgoode) 1986, M.B.A. (Schulich) 1986, called to the Bar of Ontario in 1986, is a Partner in the Financial Services Group of Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP, where his practice primarily focuses on securitization and asset-based lending/leasing transactions and the development of wholesale and retail (consumer) lending/leasing programs. He also deals with complex opinion issues arising in connection with secured transactions and structured finance transactions. Over the years, Michael has consistently been recognized by his peers and clients as one of Canada’s top lawyers in the areas of securitization, equipment leasing and finance, and secured transactions, including by such Canadian and international publications as Chambers Canada, Chambers Global, Best Lawyers, Lexpert, Who’s Who Legal: Canada, and Who’s Who Legal: Global. For 2020, he was named by Best Lawyers as its 2020 Equipment Finance Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Toronto, repeating the same honour that he had received for 2015 from Best Lawyers. Since 2016, he has been rated as a “stand-out lawyer by senior in-house counsel” by Thomson Reuters Stand-out Lawyer (formerly known as Acritas Stars: Independently Rated Lawyer). For 2010, he was selected as a “Member of the Year” by the Canadian Finance & Leasing Association (CFLA) for his extensive work in developing the Leasing Law and Leasing Documentation chapters for CFLA’s Certified Education Program. Michael is the longest-serving Chair of the Ontario Bar Association’s Personal Property Security Law Committee, whose submissions have been responsible for virtually all major amendments that have been made to Ontario’s Personal Property Security Act over the last two decades. Since 2018, Michael has been an adjunct professor at University of Toronto’s Faculty of Law, where he co-teaches the secured transactions course and the advanced secured transactions seminar. Contact: michael.burke@blakes.com
