Michael Cochrane joins Brauti Thorning Zibarras LLP

Michael Cochrane is a partner with Brauti Thorning Zibarras LLP and head of the family and estates law practice. Michael brings over 30 years of experience to the firm and, as author of several family law texts including the bestselling "Surviving Your Divorce (5th Ed)", is considered one of Canada’s most respected family lawyers. His practice at Brauti Thorning Zibarras LLP focuses on family law, estates law, mediation, civil litigation and public policy law. Michael is trained in Negotiation and Advanced Negotiation at Harvard University Law School, is on the Executive of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Section of the Ontario Bar Association, and is a well known mediator/facilitator of public policy issues.

Publications

Michael has authored numerous publications including Surviving Your Divorce: A Guide to Canadian Family Law (5th Ed), Strictly Legal II: Things You Absolutely Need to Know About Canadian Law, Do We Need a Marriage Contract, Do We Need a Cohabitation Agreement?, and Class Actions: A Guide to the Class Proceedings Act. He is also a regular columnist for magazines and newspapers. Between 2001 and 2005, Michael was co-editor of the Annual Review of Civil Litigation.

Speaking and Teaching Engagements

In addition to his many publications, Michael has hosted the Business News Network’s Strictly Legal for three seasons and has appeared as a legal expert on numerous other television and radio programs, including CTV’s Canada AM, CBC’s CounterSpin and MoneyTalk. Michael has also lectured at the University of Ottawa, Law Faculty, in the areas of Property and Wills, at Osgoode Hall Law School in the area of Public Law and at Ryerson University. He is a frequent speaker on legal issues across Canada and a frequent commentator on contemporary legal issues in the media.

Appointments

Michael was the Chair of the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee on Class Action Reform, whose recommendations formed the basis of Ontario’s Class Proceedings Act. He was also Chair of the Task Force on the Environmental Bill of Rights (which led to the introduction and passage of Ontario’s Environmental Bill of Rights) and other multi-party stakeholder consultations in Ontario.