After a fantastic career spanning almost 50 years, Micha Menczer has retired from active practice.
Micha leaves a considerable legacy behind. He was called to the Ontario Bar in 1975 and to the British Columbia Bar in 1987. He was legal counsel on several historic Aboriginal law cases that are still important today, including the Nowegijick and Gull Bay Development Corporation tax cases, and the Mitchell case on Aboriginal trade rights.
He was recognized for his work in Aboriginal Law in Best Lawyers in Canada every year since its inception in 2006, and in the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory every year since 2016. Micha was also named by Best Lawyers in Canada as Lawyer of the Year in Aboriginal Law for Vancouver Island in 2015, 2021 and, fittingly, for 2024.
He was generous in sharing his knowledge in Aboriginal law. He taught at community colleges, delivered papers at numerous conferences, and was a contributing writer in the BC Assembly of First Nations publication of the “Governance Toolkit: A Guide to Nation Building”. He also worked with Indigenous peoples in Central America and Vietnam.
Micha was general counsel to the First Nations Finance Authority and was involved in the development of the First Nations Fiscal Management Act, to which more than half of the First Nations in Canada are now scheduled.
Perhaps his biggest contribution was in the area of self-governance and Nation-building. He worked with Westbank First Nation for more than 30 years and was instrumental in negotiating and implementing their self-government agreement. He assisted many communities with developing their laws and Constitutions and was generous in sharing his knowledge and experience with colleagues.
Micha will be available as a consultant on a limited basis. Please direct all enquiries to our Office Administrator, Marion Harding-Soare [link email and phone].
Micha, we have all enjoyed the great privilege of getting to work with you and benefit from your knowledge, wisdom and humour, and we wish you all the best on your well-deserved retirement from the practice of law.