AREAS OF EXPERTISE Civil Defending Professionals Financial Crime & Fraud Health & Safety Inquests International Human Rights Law International Law Police Discipline Prison & Parole Boards Professional Discipline Professional Negligence Public Public Inquiries Regulatory Serious Fraud Sexual Offences Trading Standards Violent Crime

Michael’s advocacy career began when he obtained his Higher Rights of Audience (Criminal Proceedings) almost immediately after qualification as a solicitor in 2013. He initially practised as a criminal defence and duty solicitor, appearing on a daily basis in the Magistrate’s Court and frequently in the Crown Court. From late 2014 to early 2020, he was a Lawyer and then Senior Lawyer at the Independent Officer for Police Conduct (IOPC), where he advised on a wide range of legal issues in cases of the utmost complexity and seriousness. He continued to practice and develop his advocacy while at the IOPC, obtaining his Higher Rights of Audience (Civil Proceedings) in 2017. His range of expertise and experience is impressive: he has appeared in countless cases in criminal and civil courts and before police disciplinary panels, coroner’s inquests and mental health tribunals. His advocacy has drawn judicial praise in the Adminsitrative Court.

Michael's commitment to advocacy at the highest level led almost inevitably to the Bar where he was called in 2020. He now serves on the Attorney General’s C Panel of experts (North Eastern Region).

Since call to the bar in 2020, Michael has a quickly established a substantial private law practice, particularly in the areas of personal injury, credit hire and other insurance litigation. He has also acted in contract, Partnership Act and housing disputes. He acts for both claimants and defendants, appearing regularly in small and fast track trials, applications and other hearings. With his knowledge and experience of police, public and human rights law, he is particularly well placed to assist with civil claims against the police and other public authorities.

Michael also has a growing public law practice. He acts for claimants and public authorities in claims for judicial review. He has substantial experience of litigating such cases and has received judicial praise for his advocacy in the Administrative Court. He has particular expertise in police and regulatory related matters. He also has experience of judicial review and civil damages claims involving human rights issues.

Michael takes instructions from families, public authorities and other interested persons (IPs). He has acted at inquests involving road traffic collisions, mental health patients and prisoners.

He recently acted at a 4-day inquest for the family of a young man with paranoid schizophrenia and Asperger’s syndrome, who tragically took his own life while on informal leave from hospital. The case raised complex arguments around article 2 of the ECHR. Acting initially on a pro-bono basis, Michael successfully argued that article 2 was engaged, thus enabling the family to secure exceptional case funding for the inquest itself. Michael’s cross examination of the Healthcare Trust’s witnesses exposed issues with the Trust’s policies and processes for monitoring and assessing patients following a significant event, suggesting a deterioration in their mental health. It also exposed issues with staff training and understanding of the Trust’s missing person’s policy.

Michael has a developing criminal law practice. As a former duty solicitor, Higher Court Advocate and senior lawyer for the IOPC, he has significant knowledge and experience of criminal law. He has appeared in both the Magistrates and Crown Courts and has advised on complex and high-profile criminal investigations.

LLB (Hons) 2(i), Queen’s University Belfast (2007) LLM International Development Law and Human Rights (Distinction, 1st in year), Warwick University (2008) Legal Practice Course (Distinction), Nottingham Trent University (2011)