Michael Blatchford

Michael works with registered charities and non-profit organizations in every area, from healthcare to education, social services and non-profit housing to arts and culture, environmental causes to religious and faith-based organizations. He also assists professional bodies, member associations, and recreation and athletics clubs.

Creation: Incorporation and structuring, charity registration applications, organizational start-up
Tax Compliance: Obligations under the Income Tax Act, including charitable purposes and activities, granting, fundraising, advocacy, filing obligations, working overseas, structuring and working with private entities.
Governance: Bylaws and governance policies, director fiduciary duties and statutory responsibilities, board-management relations, member-relations, member-discipline, virtual meetings, complex meetings.
Gift-Planning: Gift documentation and policies, certified cultural gifts, gifts of private shares, gifts of art, gifts of interests in real-estate, gifts of life-insurance, charitable remainder trusts
Commercial transactions: restructuring, mergers and acquisitions, amalgamations, service and agency agreements, funding contracts, negotiation of government agreements, operating and transfer agreements, waivers and indemnity agreements.

Prior to Miller Thomson, Michael was a partner with a global law firm advising charities and non-profits.

Michael is a volunteer with a number of causes in his community and is currently a director on the national board of the Canadian Association of Gift Planners.