Michael Mandarino ✉

Michael Mandarino is an experienced litigator who provides effective legal advice and advocacy. Michael takes a pragmatic yet strategic approach to problem solving and addressing the needs of his clients.

Michael practices in the areas of civil and construction litigation, labour and employment, and administrative law.

Michael’s construction practice is multifaceted and includes representation of claimants and defendants in various construction disputes in court and adjudication, as well as other stakeholders in the construction context including sureties. Michael has appeared as counsel at trial and appellate level courts in Ontario. He regularly appears before mediators, arbitrators and various administrative tribunals.

He also provides employment advice related to rights and obligations under the Employment Standards Act, 2000. Prior to joining Rousseau Mazzuca, Michael was a partner at a leading labour and employment law firm in Toronto.

Outside of his legal practice, Michael enjoys spending time with his family, playing soccer, reading and listening to music.  He is also a dedicated hockey fan with an enduring support for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

He is a member of The Advocates’ Society and the Ontario/Canadian Bar Association.

Representative Work:

  • Represented large institutional clients on complex multi-party construction disputes involving lien actions, contract disputes and surety bond claims

  • Successful litigation of a surety’s right to assert and enforce its security interest pursuant to an Indemnity Agreement over an Ontario Dispute Adjudication (ODACC) for Construction Contracts Award

  • Successful litigation of an ODACC matter for payments under the contract pursuant to the Construction Act

  • Obtained successful judgments at the Superior Court and Court of Appeal on a duty to defend application against a national insurer

  • Defended health professionals in privacy litigation including the tort of intrusion upon seclusion

  • Successfully defended a judicial review at the Divisional Court on a hospital privileges dispute

  • Successfully defended a health professional in a defamation suit

  • Obtained an arbitration award defending against an abuse of process motion

Michael is also named in Best Lawyers in Canada in Administrative and Public Law and Construction Law.