Michael Adkins > Collas Crill > St Peter Port, Guernsey > Lawyer Profile
Collas Crill Offices
GLATEGNY COURT, PO BOX 140
GLATEGNY ESPLANADE
ST PETER PORT
GY1 4EW
Guernsey
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Michael Adkins
Work Department
Financial Services and Regulatory
Position
Michael is global head of the firm’s Financial Services and Regulatory team and has previously acted as Head of Litigation and Managing Partner of the firm’s BVI Office.
He is a litigation lawyer, specialising in insolvency, regulatory/ public law, trust and other financial services disputes.
Michael is a qualified Guernsey Advocate and BVI Attorney and maintains an active litigation practice in both jurisdictions.
Since joining Collas Crill in 2009, Michael has taken a leading role in a number of significant and high profile matters, including advising the liquidators of Landsbanki Guernsey Limited in relation to all aspects of the liquidation of the £120 million Guernsey subsidiary of the failed Icelandic Bank, and Sark Electricity Limited in its challenge to the implementation of pricing regulation. Michael is frequently instructed for individuals and companies in disputes with regulatory bodies and state agencies.
In 2019, Michael was appointed to a four year term as Chairman of the Complaints Panel of the Administrative Decision Review Board.
Career
Qualified 2004, Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC) advising and representing ASIC in relation to a range of contentious matters in the financial services, insolvency and corporate governance spheres; joined Collas Crill 2009, admitted as advocate of the Royal Court and promoted to partner in 2014.
Memberships
ARIES, Insol, R3, IBA (Insolvency), RISA BVI (Associate) and The International Academy of Financial Crime Litigators.
Education
Deakin University (2003 BA, LLB); University of Melbourne (2007 LLM); University of Caen (2014 Certificate d’études Juridique Français et Normandes).
Lawyer Rankings
Guernsey > Capital markets
Collas Crill is instructed by clients looking to list securities on TISE, and is also able to advise shareholders in regard to IPOs. Under the broad purview of Michael Adkins and Wayne Atkinson, the group is known for providing regulatory advice regarding the listing of companies in a variety of sectors, including the burgeoning cannabis industry. Simon Heggs handles a range of debt and equity transactions, including IPOs, derivative programs and the delisting of securities.
Guernsey > Dispute resolution
(Leading partners)Collas Crill has ‘real expertise in trust litigation,’ advising on issues concerning the conduct of trustees and their removal, with further expertise in high value commercial disputes. Christian Hay
takes the lead on trust disputes and is a qualified mediator for financial services and other commercial disputes. Gareth Bell is the key contact for disputes grounded in insolvency and restructuring processes and is also able to advise on cases concerning directors’ duties, with Michael Adkins handling regulatory matters in addition to trust litigation. Ben Havard oversees a strong contentious trusts caseload, while James Tee is frequently instructed by insolvency practitioners and creditors across a range of insolvency-related issues.
British Virgin Islands > Dispute resolution
Coming under the umbrella of an insolvency and corporate disputes department, the dispute resolution offering at Collas Crill ‘particularly excels at cases which intersect between multiple practice areas‘. BVI-related work is overseen by Stephen Leontsinis and Michael Adkins, who are based in the Cayman Islands and Guernsey respectively, while on Tortola the key contacts are Dave Marshall, promoted to counsel in January 2024 and a recent advisor on a large, cross-border unlawful means conspiracy claim; and Fay O’Halloran, who is familiar with the day-to-day work on cross-border disputes. In December 2023, the team saw the departure of David Harby to CANDEY.