Areas of Practice

• Family Law including commencing and defending legal claims for child support, spousal support and division of property and divorce
• Preparing prenuptial agreements such as cohabitation agreements and marriage contracts
• Employment law and wrongful dismissal for employers and employees
• General civil litigation
• Contract disputes
• Contract drafting and
• Debt collection

Profile

Michael J. Steven has been a litigation lawyer for 45 years having been called to the Bar of British Columbia in 1978. Michael received his undergraduate degree in English literature from UBC in 1973 and his law degree from Cambridge University in Cambridge, England in 1976 (LLM Cantab.)

After articling at Clark Wilson in Vancouver, Michael was a partner in a boutique law firm for 11 years and opened his own litigation practice in 1990. In 1997 Michael joined the law firm of Connell Lightbody and subsequently the law firm of Kerfoot Burroughs in Kerrisdale for 23 years. Michael has now joined Richter Trial Lawyers in Kerrisdale.

Michael was Legal Counsel to the BC SPCA for 25 years and was President of that worthy organization for three years spearheading the structural changes to the governance of the SPCA to serve better the domestic and agricultural animals of British Columbia.

You will not find “legalese” spoken in Michael Steven’s office. He explains issues and the law in plain language. No matter how small or large your case may be, Michael takes the time to work with you in deciding the best course of action. Straightforward advice, thorough preparation, personal attention, meticulous and timely service. These are the ways Michael Steven earns your confidence.

Outside the office, Michael’s life is focused on tennis and physical training but mostly on his two sons who are a medical student and a journalist, both graduates of Carleton University in Ottawa.