Michael Smith is a senior international corporate lawyer with extensive expertise in capital markets, cross-border M&A, fund formation, and Islamic finance. Michael is uniquely qualified in New York, England, and Ontario, Canada and is a pioneer in the provision of general counsel fractional services.

Michael’s career includes practicing at premier firms, including Clifford Chance in London and Skadden Arps in New York, advising major private equity firms, financial institutions, sovereign wealth funds, and natural resource companies in North America, Europe, and the Middle East. Michael’s career also includes helping to open the New York office for Patton Boggs, where he developed a significant practice focused on transactions in and out of the MENA region, and became a recognized leader in Shariah-compliant finance. He also served as Head of the SPAC Advisory Group at Nixon Peabody and has held senior roles at Baker McKenzie and Kaye Scholer with a focus on Canada-US transactions.

In addition to his transactional work, Michael frequently advises boards, senior management, and ultra-HNW individuals on corporate governance and global strategy. Michael serves as trustee to the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award International (USA) and has served as a director or trustee on numerous other profit and not-for-profit boards.

Michael holds a B.A. (Honors) in International Relations from Trinity College at the University of Toronto and earned his LL.B. from Queen's University Law School. He also served as a Warfare Officer in the Royal Canadian Navy.