Kings Chambers

Michael practises in the areas of town and country planning and compulsory purchase law, environmental and agricultural law, highways, local government and public and administrative law.   He accepts instructions under the Direct Public Access provisions

Michael is also a Fellow of the Geological Society and has academic qualifications in geology, physics and advanced engineering geology.  Before being called to the Bar Michael spent fourteen years in the development industry, initially as an Engineering Geologist before moving into the field of Planning and Environmental Consultancy.  He was employed by a number of major engineering contractors and international consultancies providing advice on foundation design and construction, highways design and construction, contaminated land and ground water assessment and remediation, dewatering solutions, flood risk assessments, and carrying out environmental impact assessments

He advised on such developments as the Channel Tunnel Rail Link, Heathrow Terminal 5, the Canary Wharf Development, Chapelcross and Sellafield nuclear power stations and designed the innovative foundations for the Huddersfield Town Football Club stadium.  He has particular experience of deep level drilling for the purposes of the installation of complex groundwater monitoring and sampling installations.

Planning and Environmental Bar Association

United Kingdom Environmental Law Association

Fellow of the Geological Society (FGS)

Part-time lecturer at Birmingham School of Architecture

Michael grew up in the North West and attended the University of Keele where he studied Physics & Geology (BSc(Hons)).  He then went on to the University of Durham where he studied for an MSc in Advanced Engineering Geology (Distinction).  After working for a number of years he attended the University of Kent where he studied Environmental Law (LLM - Distinction).  He then converted to the Bar, attending City University (CPE) and the Inns of Court School of Law (BVC).

Between 1988 and 2002 Michael was employed by a number of major engineering contractors and international consultancies providing advice on foundation design and construction, highways design and construction, contaminated land and ground water assessment and remediation, dewatering solutions, flood risk assessments, and carrying out environmental impact assessments.