E-mail: mdliptonqc@aol.com

Michael D. Lipton established the firm of Elkind & Lipton LLP in 1970 where he is Senior Partner and Chair of the firm’s Gaming Practice Group. Michael was educated at the University of Toronto and Osgoode Hall Law School and appointed as a Law Clerk to the Chief Justice of Ontario in 1967. He was called to the Bar of the Law Society of Upper Canada with honours in 1967 and the Bar of New York State in 1985.

Mr. Lipton was certified as a specialist in civil litigation by the Law Society of Upper Canada in 1989 and recertified as a specialist in civil litigation in 1994, 1999 and 2004. Mr. Lipton has been engaged as senior counsel on numerous regulatory matters on behalf of the Ministry of Consumer and Commercial Relations of Ontario. He advised and drafted regulations and legislation relating to consumer and public law, and has extensive dealings with several ministries of the government of Ontario on behalf of clients in respect to various regulatory matters.

Professional Experience

Additionally, Michael has been engaged as senior counsel on a wide range of gaming law matters including advising on:

• Requests for Proposals from government to operate commercial and charitable casinos and supply gaming equipment and services to agencies of government.
• Applicant registration with the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario, Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission, Atlantic Lottery Corporation, Manitoba Gaming Control Commission, Gaming Audit and Investigation Office of British Columbia, Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority, Alcohol and Gaming Authority of Nova Scotia and the Regie des Alcools, Courses et Jeux of Quebec.

Mr. Lipton’s experience includes:

• Engaged as senior counsel in advising gaming license holders in various jurisdictions throughout North America in respect to a wide range of gaming compliance and policy issues.
• Advise charitable organizations, associations, public and private corporations and institutions in respect to the provisions of the Canadian Criminal Code relating to gaming.
• Advise public and private companies in relation to their dealings with the Canadian Pari-Mutuel Agency.
• Counsel to the Ontario Charitable Gaming Association and numerous equipment software gaming suppliers.
• Counseled the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario on Canada’s new Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act.
• Conference chairperson, panel member and speaker at numerous gaming & travel/tourism seminars conducted under the auspices of the International Bar Association, International Masters of Gaming Law and other world-wide organizations.
• Chairperson and participant speaker on the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act at numerous seminars conducted for various financial institutions and governmental bodies.
• Acted as senior counsel on behalf of numerous clients before administrative tribunals and courts including Divisional Court and Court of Appeal in respect to matters dealing with the conduct and fitness for registration of travel agents and travel wholesalers, and the protection of consumer funds paid under the Travel Industry Act.
• Acted as counsel for the Registrar of the Travel Industry Council of Ontario who regulates over 3,500 travel agents and travel wholesalers in Ontario.
• Engaged as private prosecutor in respect to offences under the Ontario labour legislation.
• Engaged in civil and commercial litigation, business law and quasi-criminal matters at all levels of courts in Canada.
• Acted as senior counsel in a wide range of suits including matters relating to administrative law, air transportation, bankruptcy and receivership, construction lien, charter law, criminal law, defamation, estate and trust law, fraud and oppression, family law, gaming law, intellectual property, professional negligence, wrongful dismissal, real estate law, tourism and travel law.
• Since 1991 engaged as general counsel by the Public Accountants Council of Ontario for prosecutions of public accountants relating to disciplinary matters under the Public Accountancy Act, including prosecutions of non-licensees under the Act throughout Ontario.
• Member of the editorial board of the Gaming Law Review, World Online Gambling Law Report and the International Travel Law Journal.
• Author and co-author of several papers in relation to aviation, bankruptcy, gaming, human resources, tourism and travel, and money laundering matters and lectured extensively in these areas.
• Instructed at Osgoode Hall Law School for several years in the Bar Admission Course under the auspices of the Law Society in Creditors’ Rights and Family Law.

Mr. Lipton is a founding member of the International Masters of Gaming Law and currently its President. He is a member of the International Association of Gaming Attorneys, Canadian Bar Association, American Bar Association, New York State Bar Association and Advocates Society. He is a Past Chair of Committee Y, Tourism and Travel Law of the International Bar Association.

Michael was awarded the Medal of Service by the City of Toronto and awarded the Commemorative Medal for the 125 Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada by the Government of Canada. He also serves as a director of the Responsible Gaming Council of Canada and the Interactive Gaming Council.