Inquests and Inquiries; International Children Law; Private Children Law; Public Children Law; Arbitration; Private FDR and Early Neutral Evaluation; Direct Access

Michael has a broad practice ranging from international children law to public inquiries and cases involving national security.

Michael has appeared in many of the leading international children cases over the past 5-10 years. He also specialises in private law cases, including leave to remove and cases with allegations of domestic and sexual abuse. He is also a child law arbitrator.

Michael has also appeared in many of the leading cases on the validity of marriage, including Akhter v Khan [2020] EWCA Civ 122 and AP and JP v Secretary of State for Justice [2024] EWHC 1197 Fam

Michael is the head of the Public Inquiries and Inquests team at 4pb. He is currently instructed in the Afghanistan Inquiry, the Covid Inquiry and the Omagh Bombing Inquiry. He is currently a member of the AG’s B Panel, having previously been a member of the C Panel for 5-years.

Michael has been a Special Advocate since 2018, which enables him to appear in cases of national security.

Michael has judicial experience, as a Deputy District Judge since 2021 and Recorder since 2024. He has also been appointed to a 3-member judicial panel to review the asylum claims of Sri Lankan Tamils present on British Indian Ocean Territory.

International Children Law

Specialist in child abduction and jurisdiction disputes. Michael regularly appears in the High Court and has appeared in many of the leading cases in the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court (see full case list below).

As a member of the AG’s B Panel, Michael regularly advises and represents government departments on international family law matters.

Private Children Law

Appears regularly in leave to remove applications, cases involving allegations of domestic and sexual abuse and parental alienation.

Non-court dispute resolution

Appointed as a child law arbitrator in 2022. Michael has conducted numerous children arbitrations since his appointment and has given seminars and lectures of the subject.

Michael brings his judicial experience to his role as an arbitrator, having been a Deputy District Judge since 2021 and a Recorder since 2024.

Public Inquiries and Inquests

Head of the Public Inquiries and Inquests team at 4pb.

Current instructions:

–       Afghanistan Inquiry; representing the MOD

–       Covid Inquiry: representing UKHSA

–       Omagh Bombing Inquiry: representing the Intelligence and Security Committee

Previous instructions:

–       Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse; representing Leicestershire County Council

–       Ellie Bulter Inquest; high profile inquest following the murder of Ellie by her father; instructed by the local authority

Sports law

Michael has lectured on child protection in sport, including to the British Association of Sports Lawyers.

He has been appointed to a number of disciplinary tribunals:

–       2018: Swim England Judicial Panel

–       2022: The FA Judicial Appeal Panel

–       2024: Swim England Judicial Appeal Panel

Publications/Training

Michael is the Co-Editor of International Family Law, the leading journal on international family justice.

Year of Call: 2010

Panel appointments: 2016: Attorney General’s C Panel of Junior Counsel to the Crown 2018: Special Advocate 2021: Attorney General’s B Panel of Junior Counsel to the Crown

Judicial: 2021: Deputy District Judge 2024: Recorder

Arbitration: 2022: Child Law Arbitrator

Sports law: 2018: Swim England Judicial Panel 2022: The FA Judicial Appeal Panel 2024: Swim England Judicial Appeal Panel

Pro bono family 2023: Trustee, Temple Legal Advice Centre (provider of pro bono family law advice)

FLBA Association of Lawyers for Children Resolution Chartered institute of Arbitrators Inner Temple

University of Bristol, History (BA Hons) (First Class, placed first in year) City University, GDL (Distinction) BPP Law School, BVC (Very Competent)