Michael Parrish is a litigator in Fasken’s Vancouver office. His core areas of practice include product liability, tort, insurance, class action, construction, aviation, maritime, agribusiness and cross-border litigation, regulation and related advice. Michael has significant experience representing companies and insurers in a broad range of industries and matters. Michael is recognized as one of the leading lawyers in his fields in British Columbia.
Michael is a dynamic, strategic and practical litigator with a strong bias for action. He has a proven record of resolving large, difficult, and complex cases. Michael is an expert in litigation project management and can be relied upon to manage large and complex litigation to resolution on time and on budget. He understands his clients, their businesses and their objectives. Michael is an extraordinarily hard worker committed to achieving his clients’ goals. He is personally accountable, and fiercely loyal to his clients.
Michael has particular expertise acting for manufacturers in a wide range of industries including the automotive, aerospace, medical and health products, marine, construction, consumer products, industrial equipment, food and agribusiness, and electronics industries. He regularly advises manufacturers on all aspects of the product life-cycle, including design risk analysis, regulatory compliance, supply chain contracts, labelling, manufacturing, sales and marketing, risk management, warranties, recalls and litigation. Michael has deep knowledge of a wide variety of products and industries, the business and processes of manufacturing and the risks and issues faced by manufacturers. He is Canadian national litigation counsel for numerous international manufacturers.
Michael also regularly advises insurers, insureds, reinsurers, surety and warranty providers, brokers and agents in a broad range of insurance matters and classes including liability, property, casualty, marine, aviation, E&O and speciality insurance. Michael has an in-depth understanding of the insurance industry and the issues faced by insurers and insureds in claims and disputes. He regularly acts as defence counsel for insurers in a wide variety of liability claims.
Michael has acted as lead or senior counsel in many of the largest and most complex product liability, construction and insurance cases in British Columbia over the last ten years including Azuma Foods (Canada) Ltd. v. Versacold Canada Corp.; Great Pacific Industries Inc. v. City of Chilliwack; Seaspan International Ltd. v. Inter-Mtn Testing Ltd.; Cameco Corporation v. Fraser Surrey Docks LP (“MCP Altona”); Premium Pellet Ltd., v. Fibreco Export Inc.; Camosun College v. Levelton et al.; Hotel Grand Pacific v. Alliance Engineering Works Ltd.; CMC Engineering and Management Ltd. v. Pinnacle Renewable Energy Inc.; Swiss Reinsurance v. Camarin Limited; Araya v. Nevsun Resources Ltd. and Sidhu v. Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. Many of these cases involved novel and ground-breaking legal and procedural issues and generated leading court decisions.
Michael’s expertise has been repeatedly recognized by Chambers Canada, LEXPERT and Benchmark Canada. He frequently speaks and writes on topics related to product liability, torts, insurance, risk management, evidence and procedure.
