Michael Werner Burokas

Michael Burokas has been practicing civil and administrative law for over ten years.

Michael completed his Juris Doctor at the University of British Columbia, Faculty of Law where he focused his studies in criminal and administrative law. During this time, Michael obtained early litigation training by working for volunteer clinics including the Innocence Project where he advocated for convicted individuals asserting their innocence. Prior to attending law school, Michael received an honours degree at the University of Manitoba in Political Science focusing on human rights.

Michael has the rare experience of working both for regulator and private individuals facing criminal charges. These dual roles allowed him particular insight into how a regulator decides to take administrative action against a registrant/licensee/member or prosecute charges. This enables Michael to be highly effective for clients facing a threat to their livelihood and/or criminal or regulatory charges.

Michael has extensive experience at the License Appeal Tribunal as an OMVIC lawyer on the issue of whether an individual or business should be able to work, or continue to work, in their chosen profession. He has prosecuted industry specific offences, offences under the Consumer Protection Act, and conducted appeals on sentence and conviction. In addition, Michael has appeared at discipline committees on the issue of whether an individual breached their professional code of ethics.

Before working for a regulator, Michael worked at RGZ Law under experienced criminal defence lawyer Graham Zoppi where he “learned the ropes” of representing clients in court facing serious threats to their livelihood and freedom. He developed extensive litigation expertise defending individuals charged with everything from sexual/domestic assault, robbery, and impaired driving to drug and weapon possession.