Jean-Michel Dako

Jean-Michel Dako is a bilingual Associate working at the Moncton office of Cox & Palmer.

He earned a Juris Doctor from the University of Ottawa’s French Common Law Program in 2023, after completing a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance at the Université de Moncton in 2019, where he was also a decorated student-athlete and captain of the varsity soccer team. During law school, Jean-Michel distinguished himself as Best Litigator in the PCLF First Year Student Moot Court Competition and participated in competitions such as the Walker Health Law Moot and the Dentons Negotiation Competition.

Jean-Michel articled at Perley-Robertson, Hill & McDougall LLP in Ottawa, where he gained broad experience in litigation, corporate/commercial law, real estate and family law. He has also worked on complex cases before the Refugee Protection Division, co-authored an article on cessation proceedings, and helped present a lecture on economic migration at the University of Ottawa Faculty of Law.

Jean-Michel was called to the Ontario Bar in 2024 and is in the process of finalizing his transfer to the New Brunswick Bar. While he maintains a general legal practice, he is particularly passionate about business immigration and refugee law and is eager to help develop this area of practice at Cox & Palmer.

Outside of his legal work, Jean-Michel is passionate about music, performance and community involvement. He has performed in musicals, played in an Afro-pop/R&B band and volunteers with local organizations such as the New Brunswick Refugee Clinic.

Experience

• Co-counseled on a Cessation case before the Refugee Protection Division (RPD) of the Immigration and Refugee Board
• Co-counseled on an Article 1F(b) Exclusion case before the Refugee Protection Division (RPD) of the Immigration and Refugee Board.