Atty. Michael Shortt

Atty. Michael Shortt

Michael Shortt is a partner at Fasken’s Montreal office, where he practices as a lawyer and trademark agent. His practice focuses on both litigation and transactional work, with an emphasis on the videogame and life science industries.

Montreal Montreal 12 yrs experience 12 year
Call (514) 397-7400 Book Appointment

Profile Summary

About Michael Shortt at a glance

Michael Shortt is a real estate, ip, and internet attorney based in Montreal, Quebec, practicing at Fasken. They have 12+ years of legal experience, licensed to practice since 2014. Admitted to practice in Quebec, Barreau du Québec (2014). Recognitions include Best Lawyers in America — Biotechnology and Life Sciences Practice (2026), Best Lawyers in America — Communications Law (2026), and Best Lawyers in America — Information Technology Law (2026). Serands clients in Montreal, QC and the surrounding metropolitan area.

Verified attorney profile · Updated June 2026

About

  • Michael Shortt is a partner at Fasken’s Montreal office, where he practices as a lawyer and trademark agent
  • His practice focuses on both litigation and transactional work, with an emphasis on the videogame and life science industries
  • A member of the Québec and Ontario bars, he advises clients on common-law, civil-law, and federal matters
  • As a litigator, Michael represents clients in intellectual property, commercial, and public law disputes
  • He has represented clients before the Supreme Court of Canada, the Federal Court and Federal Court of Appeal, the Ontario and Québec superior courts, and the Copyright Board
  • His litigation philosophy is based on obtaining cost-effective results through creative legal arguments
  • Michael clerked at the Ontario Court of Appeal and the Quebec Superior Court, and worked as a research assistant for a well-known commercial arbitrator, allowing him to bring a unique perspective to litigation and advocacy
  • In his transactional work, Michael drafts and negotiates a range of commercial contracts, including intellectual property licences, service agreements, consumer contracts, confidentiality agreements (NDAs), and videogame publishing contracts
  • As a trademark agent, Michael assists clients in obtaining trade-mark registrations in Canada and manages their global trademark portfolios
  • His trade-mark practice covers a broad array of industries, including software, videogames, and consumer goods ranging from pharmaceuticals, to food, to fashion
  • Michael co-founded the firm’s videogame industry group and works for videogame development studios and publishers of all sizes
  • He reviews, negotiates, and drafts contracts in the videogame industry, as well as providing compliance advice for consumer protection law, language laws, and other regulatory issues

Practice Areas Explained

Michael Shortt's Areas of Practice

Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Michael Shortt handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.

Real Estate Law

Real estate attorneys handle home purchases, sales, commercial transactions, title disputes, and landlord-tenant matters.

Michael Shortt is one of 316,149 real estate attorneys indexed nationally. Browse real estate attorneys in Quebec →

Intellectual Property

IP attorneys protect inventions, brands, and creative work through patent prosecution, trademark registration, copyright, and trade-secret enforcement.

Michael Shortt is one of 106,079 ip attorneys indexed nationally. Browse ip attorneys in Quebec →

Internet & Cyber Law

Internet and cyber lawyers for data breaches, online defamation, privacy law, and cybersecurity matters.

Michael Shortt is one of 17,958 internet attorneys indexed nationally. Browse internet attorneys in Quebec →

Jurisdictional Context

Why local counsel matters in Quebec

Practicing law in Quebec. Legal matters in Quebec are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in Montreal are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate Quebec state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in Quebec brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this andnue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in Quebec courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.

Looking for additional Quebec attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Montreal or all attorneys in Quebec.

Frequently Asked

Common questions about Michael Shortt

Where is Michael Shortt's law office located?
Michael Shortt's law practice is located in Montreal, Quebec. The firm is Fasken. You can contact the office directly through this profile page.
What practice areas does Michael Shortt handle?
Michael Shortt focuses on real estate, ip, internet. Each practice area listed reflects experience handling cases of that type in Quebec.
How long has Michael Shortt practiced law?
Michael Shortt has 12+ years of legal experience and has been licensed since 2014.
How can I contact Michael Shortt for a consultation?
You can contact Michael Shortt directly through this profile page. Click "Ask the Attorney" to submit a question, or "Schedule a Consultation" to book a meeting. Most claimed-profile attorneys respond within one business day.
What awards or recognition has Michael Shortt received?
Michael Shortt's notable recognition includes: Best Lawyers in America — Biotechnology and Life Sciences Practice; Best Lawyers in America — Communications Law; Best Lawyers in America — Information Technology Law; Best Lawyers in America — Intellectual Property Law; Best Lawyers in America — ™.

Awards

Best Lawyers in America — Biotechnology and Life Sciences Practice
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Communications Law
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Information Technology Law
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Intellectual Property Law
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — ™
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — from 2022-2022 for work in:
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Intellectual Property Law - 2022
- 2026

Bar Admissions

Quebec, Barreau du Québec
Admitted: 2014

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