New Square Chambers

Michael is an experienced barrister with a recognised expertise in advocacy. Michael's speciality is conducting trials in commercial and chancery matters where allegations of fraud, complex questions of credibility and large amounts of money are involved.

"A real streetfighter whose cross-examination is outstanding." (Chambers UK Bar). Michael is particularly strong in handling heavily contested litigation.

He has been described as being "an absolutely first-rate commercial litigator" who is "a ferocious advocate and who has the ability to get to the root of the problem quickly" (Legal 500).

Called 1981, Lincoln's Inn. QC 1999. Michael works exclusively on commercial and chancery matters with a strong emphasis on litigation, particularly trials, although also undertaking advisory work. Michael's areas of practice are company and insolvency, civil fraud, breach of trust and fiduciary duty, commercial contracts and litigation. He has undertaken numerous trials, and has also appeared in various appellate cases both in the Court of Appeal and before the Privy Council. He is equally at home making legal submissions in complex legal matters or conducting cross-examinations with a variety of witnesses. Recently Michael has conducted a fraud claim on behalf of one of a group of companies owned by a prominent Arab Skeikh, defended a claim to a one third share in the profits of one of the flagship skyscraper developments in Dubai, and conducted a trial and various applications in a long-running partnership and fraud case. In the last few years, having travelled to Washington DC, Michael was selected the leader on a $3bn international arbitration claim (which settled before the hearing) and, he obtained a High Court judgment for $4bn in connection witha joint venture agreement regarding substantial proposed developments in the Middle East and the United States. He has lectured for the chancery Bar Association on money laundering (session presided upon by Lord Justice Lloyd) and has also presented training talks for solicitors on this topic. His practice has taken him to the Caribbean, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man, the Channel Islands and Belgium, as well as all parts of England. His naturally combative but persuasive style is well-suited to all types of litigation and arbitration. As an effective and pragmatic negotiator he is also suitable for mediation and other types of settlement meetings. Michael relates well to both solicitors and clients and the issues they have to deal with. He is very good at making sure that counsel, solicitors and client work as a unified team.

Chancery Bar Association; Northern and North Eastern Circuits.

Manchester Grammar School; Trinity College, Cambridge (Open Scholarship, MA, Law; president of the Cambridge Union Society, Michaelmas 1979).