When Michael Cantwell was young, his parents separated. What stood out to him over the years was how his parents maintained a healthy co-parenting relationship. There was no hostility – just two people working together to raise their child in the best way they could. This experience shaped his understanding of how families can navigate separation with mutual respect, a lesson that would later become the foundation of his career in family law and mediation.
Cantwell, now a partner at CR Lawyers LLP in Campbell River, didn’t initially see himself practicing family law. In fact, when he first entered law school, he told himself it was the one area he would never pursue. But as he gained experience in various legal fields, he found himself drawn to cases that mirrored his own upbringing.
“Once I started dealing with other families in similar circumstances to what I had gone through as a kid, I realized how impactful it was to help them navigate those challenges,” he says. “It made me feel like I could take my lived experience and use it to help others.”
Cantwell's legal career began at CR Lawyers LLP as an articling student in 2017. After being called to the bar in 2018, he spent years working on a variety of civil litigation cases, from contract disputes to personal injury, before focusing on family law. In 2023, he completed his mediation training, further deepening his commitment to helping families resolve conflicts outside of the courtroom.
Mediation, Cantwell explains, allows separating partners to work together to find solutions that serve everyone’s best interests, especially when children are involved. “Traditional court proceedings can be expensive, time-consuming and adversarial,” he says. “Mediation gives parents an opportunity to be the authors of their own future instead of putting their fate in the hands of a judge who only knows them for a few days.”
With an approach rooted in empathy and perspective, he understands that when clients walk into his office, they’re often facing one of the most challenging periods of their lives. His goal is to shift their focus. “This is not just the end of something, but it's also the beginning of something new,” he explains. “It’s about helping people move forward – not just legally, but emotionally as well.”
Having grown up in Campbell River, Cantwell also connects deeply with the community. He understands the unique dynamics of the town – its hardworking families who juggle demanding work schedules in industries like forestry and aquaculture, allowing him to relate to clients in a way many city-based lawyers might not.
“I think growing up here gives me a better understanding of the people I serve,” he says. “I know what’s important to them, and I know how to communicate in a way that makes sense for their lives.”
For Cantwell, family law isn’t just about settling disputes, it’s about guiding families toward a future where they can heal, co-parent successfully and move forward with dignity. And for the families he helps, that perspective makes all the difference.
As one of Vancouver Island’s largest firms, CR Lawyers LLP offers trusted guidance in business law, estate planning, litigation and more. Contact the firm today by phone at (250) 287-8355 or online crlawyers.ca/contact-us.