Michael Blatchford
Partner
Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP
Related services and key industries
Related services
Key industry sectors
Biography
Michael Blatchford works with charities, not-for-profit organizations, associations, clubs, social enterprises and other entities in the voluntary sector and advises on all aspects of their operations and governance, helping them to effectively carry out their programs while complying with regulatory obligations.
Mr. Blatchford's clients include registered charities and non-profit organizations in every area, from healthcare, education and social services to arts and culture, environmental and recreation and athletics. He also assists professional bodies, associations, clubs and religious and faith-based organizations. Mr. Blatchford advises these clients on governance, meetings, fundraising and tax matters, as well as legal compliance. He represents organizations in their dealings with regulators, including the Canada Revenue Agency. He advises on fundraising and receipting issues for charities and has helped numerous charities carry out their work abroad. He also provides advice to charities and not-for-profit organizations that carry on a social enterprise or other revenue-generating activities.
In addition, Mr. Blatchford works with organizations of every type as a parliamentarian, meeting advisor and independent chair, using tools such as Robert’s Rules of Order to capably facilitate complicated or contentious meetings.
Mr. Blatchford works with donors to plan and implement charitable gifts and other structures for effective philanthropy.
Professional experience
Collapse allLL.B., University of British Columbia, 2008
B.A., Simon Fraser University, 2005
- British Columbia 2009
Matters in which Mr. Blatchford has acted include:
- Drafting or revising governance documents, bylaws, resolutions, related policies for non-profit and First Nations organizations
- Helping a number of charities with complementary purposes and activities to merge staff and operations into a single, more efficient organization
- Advising charities operating outside Canada on how to properly structure their relationships and service delivery
- Working with charitable organizations to create “parallel” foundations
- Acting as parliamentarian for contentious or complex general meetings
- Assisting charities with business activities to “spin” the business out into a wholly owned subsidiary company
- Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory, 2020: recommended in Charities/ Not-For-Profit Law
- Chambers Canada, Nationwide: Charities/Non-profits, Chambers and Partners, 2019-2021
- Best Lawyers in Canada: Charities/Non-profit Law "Lawyer of the Year", 2021
- Canadian Bar Association
- Canadian Association of Gift Planners
- Co-chair, Canadian Bar Association, Charities & Non-for-Profit Law Section
- Canadian Bar Association - Wills & Trusts Section, Vancouver, National Charities & Not-for-Profit Law Section
News
Knowledge
Canada: Avoid planned giving pitfalls – Smart strategy in a post-pandemic Canada
Webinar | June 25, 2020
Canada: Protecting Canada’s charities and non-profits in unpredictable times
Webinar | May 21, 2020
Canada: Helping Canada’s not-for-profit sector weather the storm
Webinar | April 23, 2020
Wealth and private client
Publication | June 2019