36 Crime
Michael primarily practises in criminal law and extradition. Michael appears most frequently in the Crown Court, where he both defends and prosecutes. He has been instructed in several cases involving allegations of serious crime, including murder, s. 18 GBH with intent, and conspiracy to supply large quantities of Class A drugs.
Michael regularly appears in the High Court, on judicial review cases and extradition appeals. He has appeared in the Court of Appeal, where he successfully overturned a conviction on the grounds that the trial judge’s conduct deprived the defendant of a fair trial (R v Myers [2018] EWCA Crim 2191). That was a case where the judge, during the defendant’s trial, threatened to send the defendant’s fourteen-year-old daughter - who was not accused of any crime – down to the cells.
Michael has been instructed in several cases raising human rights issues. He appeared successfully in a High Court terrorism-related case (Re M, 2019). The Court was asked to determine whether the Article 6 ECHR right not to self-incriminate should bar disclosure of confidential material from family law proceedings to the police.
Michael aims to promote the legal norms that underpin sustainable development. He acts as a consultant for Protimos, an NGO that works to build the rule of law across Africa. Protimos conducts litigation on behalf of indigenous communities displaced from their land or deprived of their rights under domestic and international law. It also works proactively with private industry and investors. As part of his work at Protimos, Michael has made written and oral representations to the World Bank on behalf of communities in Lesotho comprising over 10,000 people (the World Bank is a major funder of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project).
Call: 2017.
Areas of experience: Serious & Complex Crime Judicial Review Extradition Financial Crime
English
Education:
BPP University, London – Bar Professional Training Course (Outstanding) Columbia University, New York – LLM (Stone Scholar) City University, London – GDL (Distinction) Oxford University – Philosophy, Politics and Economics (2.1)
Prizes and awards:
Major Scholar (Inner Temple) Advocacy Exhibitioner (BPP University) Awarded first prize for written brief in the Americas Round of the International Criminal Court Mooting Competition 2015