Michelle Marnham

Profile

Michelle is regularly instructed in general commercial and contractual claims and has particular experience in construction and general building disputes. Her commercial work includes commercial fraud, tracing claims and insurance claims.

Michelle is regularly instructed in disputes relating to professional negligence issues, in particular allegations of negligence against construction professionals including structural engineers and architects.

Michelle has extensive experience in all areas of Personal Injury work both procedural and substantive. She acts for both Claimants and Defendants in a wide variety of employers’ liability, Highways Act Claims (appearing extensively for highway authorities in relation to section 58 defences but also for Claimants), building and construction sites and school cases. She has experience in catastrophic injury, occupational disease and psychological injury.

Experience

Business & Commercial

Michelle was Junior Counsel to Geraint Jones QC in multi-million pound litigation, (successfully) defending allegations of commercial fraud arising from the collapse of the Versailles Group.

Personal Injury

Michelle was Junior Counsel to Colin Edelman QC in which they successfully acted for a large corporation (quoted on AIM) against a leading worldwide insurance group in respect of a dispute concerning a Public Liability Insurance Policy in the context of asbestos related disease.

Michelle regularly appears before the Criminal Injuries Compensation Appeals Panel in respect of both eligibility and assessment of compensation.  In one claim, Michelle successfully argued for an award in excess of one million pounds.

Other

Michelle was Junior Counsel to Geraint Jones QC in Blerim Ethemi v Robert Sheils, [2008] EWHC 291 (QB) 22nd February 2008 QBD (Treacy J).  In which they successfully opposed E’s appeal against a decision refusing his application for relief from the sanction of striking out his claim.

Michelle acted (successfully) for the Claimant in Ronald Straub v Cynthia Taylor. The case attracted media attention and was reported in various newspapers including The Times Newspapers 23/02/05. The central issue in the case was whether a sum of £210,000 was a gift or a loan.

Significant Cases

Acting for owner of commercial building concerning alleged defective construction of elevators with technical arguments over construction and claims for loss and expense.

Acting for architect in a dispute raising allegations of negligent design of extension.

Successfully defending Consulting civil and structural Engineers in a claim concerning alleged defective design and construction of extension. 

Junior Counsel to Geraint Jones QC in multi-million pound litigation (successfully) defending allegations of commercial fraud arising from the collapse of the Versailles Group.

Junior Counsel to Colin Edelman QC in which they successfully acted for a large corporation (quoted on AIM) against a leading worldwide insurance group in respect of a dispute concerning a Public Liability Insurance Policy in the context of asbestos related disease.

Reddin v. May  [2007]
Acted for Claimant in a personal injury claim in respect of multiple injuries including head injury, personality change, fractured pelvis and psychological injuries.

Draycott v Drury [2007]
Acted for Claimant in respect of catastrophic injuries sustained in a road traffic accident.  Injuries included a traumatic below-knee amputation through the right leg, a traumatic amputation of the right arm, a significant brachial plexus injury and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder of moderate to severe type.

Blerim Ethemi v Robert Sheils, [2008] EWHC 291 (QB) 22nd February 2008 QBD (Treacy J)
Striking out for failure to comply with order for disclosure. Application for relief from sanction.

In the Media

02.03.2007  New Law Journal, Vol. 7262, published an article from Michelle entitled 'Stressed Out – When Are Employers Responsible For Work Place Stress?' http://www.new-law-journal.co.uk/

Memberships

Member, Personal Injuries Bar Association

Qualifications

LLB Hons (University of Essex)