Who We Are

Steve Michoulas is the founder of Avra Law. Called to the British Columbia Bar in 2003, Steve has nearly 20 years of experience in general corporate commercial law with an industry focus on commercial real estate, aviation and infrastructure. Prior to founding Avra Law, Steve was a partner at a national law firm and he spent 9 years at the Vancouver Airport Authority as Director of Legal Services, where oversaw YVR’s legal affairs. Steve also enjoyed a brief stint at Westbank, a world-renowned real estate developer, as their VP Leasing.

tel: 604.828.0431
email: smichoulas@avralaw.com

General Business Counsel

Steve’s unique in-house counsel experience allows him to understand many of the issues that today’s businesses face and how important it is for business and operational units to have a close relationship with their counsel. In most cases, Steve has the experience and the tools to provide his clients with the reliable, practical advice. If niche issues arise, Steve has the experience and network to make sure that the issue gets taken care of by the best lawyers; he is not beholden to keeping you "in the firm”.

Commercial Real Estate

Steve acts for a variety of land owners, investment firms, developers and ports on a wide range of legal issues related to the acquisition, development, sale, financing and leasing of commercial real estate in British Columbia. Steve has acted on a number of large real estate transactions, such transactions totaling well over one billion since 2018.

Aviation, Transportation & Infrastructure

Steve acts for a variety of airport operators on all aspects of airport matters, including major real estate developments (including, while at YVR, the McArthurGlen Designer Outlet and Canada Post facility), leasing, non-aeronautical revenue projects, terminal concessions, into-plane fueling and tank farm management, procurement of airside operators, procurement processes to find business partners, managing Competition Act issues at two different airports, advice as it relates to airside access, corporate governance and best practices regarding same, jurisdictional/constitutional matters, construction projects, debenture financings, innovation and the commercialization of such innovation both in domestic and foreign jurisdictions and the licensing of third party operators. Steve also acts for lenders and borrowers in aircraft finance transactions.

Memberships and Associations

  • Law Society of British Columbia (Called to the Bar in 2003)

  • British Columbia Aviation Council - Board member and Chair, Governance Committee (2020 - Present)

  • Alberta Aviation Council - Board member (2020 - Present)

  • Airports Council International (North America), Legal Affairs Committee - Member (2016-2021)

  • Canadian Airports Legal Group - Member (2011-2018)

  • Chair, Real Property Section (Vancouver), Canadian Bar Association (2008-2009)

  • NAIOP (The Commercial Real Estate Development Association), Developing Leaders Committee (2008-2010)

  • Land Title and Survey Authority, Stakeholder Advisory Committee (2009-2010)

  • Contributing Editor, CLE British Columbia Real Estate Practice Manual (2006-2009)

Teaching and Speaking Engagements

Steve has spoken and taught at dozens of events, including events hosted by the BC Aviation Council, Alberta Aviation Council, NAIOP, Faskens, Pacific Business and Law Institute, Airports Council International (North America), Worldwide Airport Lawyers Association, and the Colombian Chamber of Infrastructure.

Outside of Work

Steve enjoys spending time with his wife and their two sons. He coaches soccer and baseball with Vancouver United and Vancouver Community Baseball. When he is not working or with his family, Steve will likely be found on his road bike, riding* with his buddies in the Philhellenic Cycling Club, which he founded a few years ago.

*by riding, we mean mostly drinking coffee and telling jokes

 

Raquel Struthers (Brizzi) - Senior Paralegal. Raquel is a senior corporate/commercial and real estate paralegal with over 10 years experience, and a Paralegal Certificate from VCC. She comes to Avra Law to assist with corporate/commercial and real estate transactions. Raquel’s corporate/commercial experience ranges from maintaining client’s corporate records to drafting documents required to complete complicated corporate reorganizations. Raquel’s real estate experience ranges from commercial acquisition and sale, financing, real property due diligence, and Land Owner Transparency Register filings. She takes pride in supporting lawyers and their clients with timely and cost-effective products, all while creating personal relationships with the clients. Raquel works remotely, nestled between the Kootenay mountain ranges in Kaslo, BC, with her three dogs, Tequila, Pippin and Lily. In her spare times she volunteers with animal rescues and helps foster dogs until they find their forever home.

email: rstruthers@avralaw.com

Leah Beer - Corporate Paralegal. Leah Beer knows that busy clients need to get work done. Leah is highly motivated, providing fast, organized, and reliable paralegal services. Leah has a drive to get things done properly—one of her favourite mottos is “work smarter, not harder”. She promptly finishes tasks and can quickly adapt to new tools and systems, saving hours of time in the process. She thrives doing corporate work and also has a background in legal administration and operations.

When she’s not deep in corporate documents, Leah enjoys being outdoors with her dog and running a photography business.

email: lbeer@avralaw.com

 

Millie

This is Millie. She doesn’t profess to run the place, but in actuality she is the boss.