Barrister - Called July 2014
An experienced barrister, with a practice in civil and family disputes.
CivilMichael has a busy civil practice across a wide array of matters. He is regularly instructed in fast track, intermediate track, and multi track trials and disposal hearings, as well as matters involving out of court dispute resolution such as mediations and arbitrations. He has a particular interest in personal injury claims, TOLATA claims, contract claims, and contested probate and Inheritance Act claims. Michael is experienced at dealing with multi track claims with values exceeding £500,000, and some of his recent matters include:representing a claimant in a contract dispute relating to the hire of a venue for and catering at a community networking event;representing a claimant on an unjust enrichment claim relating to the production of a Bollywood movie;representing a claimant in a claim against the police where the claimant was struck repeatedly around the back of the head by a police baton;representing a claimant who suffered lifelong personal injuries as a result of improper lifting equipment being provided at work;representing a claimant who fell through an improperly installed temporary floor on a construction site;advising a claimant in relation to injuries sustained at a private members’ club of which she was a member;representing a defendant in a claim involving possession of two properties (one owned solely by the defendant and one owned jointly by the claimant and the defendant) and surrounding issues of misrepresentation, mistake, and/or common intention; andrepresenting a claimant in relation to a claim for the supply of machinery and connected services from a British company to an American company (including issues of jurisdiction).Michael is currently also building a practice in coronial cases and inquests, and welcomes instruction in this area. He has undertaken the Coronial Law Course run by the University of Bolton (now the University of Greater Manchester).
FamilyMichael is frequently instructed in financial remedy matters, and regularly represents clients in First Appointments, FDRs, and final hearings. Whilst most of Michael’s cases have been in the Financial Remedies Court, he has experience of financial remedy cases dealt with in arbitration. Some of his most recent matters include:representing a husband in a case where the wife denied that a Help to Buy loan or various home improvement loans in respect of the former matrimonial home were marital debts;representing a wife whose house had significant adaptations for her disabilities, with the aim of retaining the former matrimonial home and financial assets earmarked for her lifelong care;representing a husband in a claim where the sole marital asset was obtained during the marriage by way of the wife’s inheritance from a friend;representing a wife who lacked capacity due to psychiatric illness and likely would continue to do so for the rest of her life;representing a wife who suffered from early onset Alzheimer’s and whose care needs would entirely deplete the marital assets;representing a wife in a case where the husband sought 100% of the marital assets because he had been the breadwinner and she had been a homemaker; andrepresenting a husband in a case where marital assets had been diminished as a result of a Confiscation Order made under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, where it was said that the wife knew of and benefited from the criminal activity engaged in by the husband during the marriage.Michael also frequently represents clients in private law children cases, including FHDRAs, DRAs, fact finding hearings, and final hearings. He has experience of acting on behalf of parents, local authorities, extended family members, and Children’s Guardians. Since joining chambers, Michael has been instructed on a wide array of matters, including cases involving issues of capacity, parental alienation, international relocation, deprivation of liberty, and sexual abuse involving and also between children, and has been instructed in matters up to and including the High Court.In the past, Michael has been instructed in non-molestation and occupation order cases, and he continues to accept instructions for these cases.
