Michael Skinner Email & Phone Number

Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Examining both individual complaints and larger systemic matters where I may make recommendations for improvement.

Victoria, British Columbia

Responsible for all elements of organizational administration: HR issues, budget, technology, communications, training, rules & procedures of this 24-member quasi-judicial tribunal. Liaise with contract legal counsel on administrative litigation issues. Edit decisions rendered under Part 4.2 of Health Professions Act prior to publication. Coach OIC-appointed members in the art and science of decision writing; organize and host multi-day annual intensive training sessions. Provide leadership to registry staff (case managers, intake and support staff), and maintain relations with diverse stakeholders, including executives and legal counsel at 22 self-regulating health profession colleges.

Led dispute resolution and administrative law training initiatives to tribunal staff and provincial ministries; consulted to tribunals re dispute resolution (DR) process design, rules structures and administrative law processes. Consulted to ministries of Environment, and Aboriginal Relations re DR processes with First Nations; coordinated design of processes for addressing workplace conflict on systemic basis. Consulted on projects relating to tribunal administration (systemic reform) and early dispute resolution in strata property conflicts and police complaint investigations.

While managing large, diverse caseload, established and maintained productive working relationships with senior executives and legal counsel in provincial ministries, school districts, universities, health authorities, Crown and private corporations, municipalities throughout the province, NGOs, and many others. Adjudicated administrative law appeals under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, e.g., Resort Municipality of Whistler: https://www.oipc.bc.ca/orders/727 . Investigated series of high-profile privacy breaches; led collaborative effort with health authority to prepare public report with systemic policy recommendations (2006): https://www.oipc.bc.ca/investigation-reports/1233 .

Provided legal and administrative fairness analyses and negotiated effective, workable solutions in a wide variety of complex resource and environmental complaints. Led sensitive, high-profile investigation involving allegations of political interference in forest management, finding that failures in communication at several levels in the Forest Service bred suspicion both internally and externally (Public Report 20). Conducted complex investigation into land use and resource conflicts in aquaculture: led multi-faceted technical and administrative probe involving all levels of government, first nations, and several provincial ministries; facilitated public meetings in coastal communities; prepared public report with major resource management and consensual dispute resolution recommendations (Public Report 15). Formed joint investigation project teams with public bodies; investigated and resolved complaints re municipal restructuring; broken compensation promises ($2 million settlement), and many others

Vancouver, Canada Area

Personal injury and general litigation, legal research. Member of BC and American Trial Lawyers Associations.

Bachelor Of Laws (Ll.B., J.D. Equivalent)

Bachelor Of Commerce, Economics & Marketing