Michael Shortt Email & Phone Number

I am a bilingual lawyer qualified in both common law and civil law, as well as a registered trademark agent. My practice focuses on three main areas: • Intellectual property (patents, copyrights, and trademarks)• Litigation (I've argued cases everywhere from the Copyright Board to the Supreme Court of Canada)• Contract drafting/negotiation (especially in the videogame industry)I am co-Chair of Fasken's videogame industry group and advise gaming companies on a wide range of legal and business issues (from the legality of lootboxes to the right revenue split in publishing deals to French language requirements in Québec). I draft and negotiate publishing contracts, help developers protect their IP, or handle their demand letters and litigation if disputes escalate and it's time to lawyer up.Another aspect of my practice is advising public institutions and businesses on their language rights obligations under the federal Official Languages Act and the Québec Charter of the French Language. I also provide Consumer Protection Act and computer program installation (CASL) advice to companies operating in Québec and Canada.One of my passions is writing, especially legal writing. My work has been cited by the Federal Court, the Superior Court of Ontario, the Ontario Court of Appeal, and twice by the Alberta Court of Appeal. I've also written "The Common Law of Ghosts", which is based entirely on real cases, and which contains many ghost-related puns. I would be very worried if it was ever cited by a court.Before joining Fasken Martineau, I clerked at the Ontario Court of Appeal and the Québec Superior Court. I also worked as a research assistant for a well-known commercial arbitrator. This extensive judicial experience allows me to bring a unique perspective to both litigation and contract-drafting work.