Mike spent his early years living in Nova Scotia, but his father was a member of the Canadian Armed Forces so he “grew up all over the place.”
After he graduated from high school outside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Mike chose to return to his roots in Nova Scotia and attend Dalhousie University for his undergraduate degree. He ended up staying at Dalhousie for law school, and decided to build his career in Nova Scotia upon graduation.
Mike joined Burchell MacDougall LLP’s Truro office in 1984 and began working from the Halifax office a few years later. When the firm opened an office in Wolfville in 2002, he and his wife opted to relocate to the Annapolis Valley and continue with his practice out of the Wolfville office.
“Wolfville is a great town to raise kids in, so, we moved our family here.” His practice is a provincially based practice and although he frequently travels, “Wolfville is home.”
Mike’s main focus is on personal injury and insurance law, and he brings a unique perspective to his practice. “I started off working exclusively for plaintiffs, which gave me insight into the issues injured people deal with on a daily basis. Over time, I began working with insurers as well and I believe the combined experience has given me a solid understanding of the particular issues that both sides must consider when attempting to resolve a case.”
Most lawyers who represent insurance companies have never represented an injured party, so Mike’s experience gives him the “ability to assess things reasonably and fairly; I understand the needs of both parties and am able to effectively advocate on behalf of whichever party I am representing in that particular case.”
In 2020 Mike was recognized in The Best Lawyers in Canada for his work in insurance law and personal injury litigation.
As for his time outside of the office, “our children are now grown up so we currently spend time on our own interests which include home improvement projects and gardening.”
Michael Brooker, KC was recognized by The Best Lawyers™ in Canada 2023 as Lawyer of the Year for his practice in Personal Injury Litigation and Insurance Law.