Year of call 2006
Instructing Michael
For further information or to instruct Michael please contact one of our following clerks:
“He had an ability to think on his feet and creatively problem-solve.” “He is user-friendly, responsive and a strong advocate.”
Chambers UK 2022
“Michael is operating well above his level. He provides brilliant advice that commits to what approach should be taken, which instructing solicitors and lawyers love. Michael is very professional, works brilliantly with all members of the team, and rigorous in his analysis of the law, but also very tactically astute as to how to take the advantage in cases.”
Legal 500 2022
“He’s a strong advocate, he’s quick and accessible and he’s very good to work with. Knowledgeable, commercially focused and pragmatic.”
Chambers UK 2021
“Responsive, bright, user-friendly and a tenacious advocate.”
Legal 500 2021
“Easy to work with and commercially minded.” “He has developed particular skills in complex possession claims and protesters and he is user-friendly.”
Chambers UK 2020
“A robust advocate, user-friendly and extremely helpful.”
Legal 500 2020 (Property Litigation)
“Commercially minded and great in his dealings with clients – he’s very personable and good at putting people at ease.”
Chambers UK 2019
“Easy to work with and gets straight to the point.”
Chambers UK 2019
“Clear-thinking, responsive, personable and efficient. He offers practical advice and he is good on his feet.”
Chambers UK 2018
“He is bright and quick-thinking, and a pleasure to work with.”
Legal 500 2017
“He rose to the challenge at short notice and got a fantastic result for our client.”
Chambers UK 2017
“A very confident advocate and always fully prepared.”
Legal 500 2016
Clients told Legal 500 2022: “Michael is operating well above his level. He provides brilliant advice that commits to what approach should be taken… Michael is very professional, works brilliantly with all members of the team, and rigorous in his analysis of the law, but also very tactically astute as to how to take the advantage in cases.”, The Chambers Bar Guide 2022 says “He had an ability to think on his feet and creatively problem-solve.” and “He is user-friendly, responsive and a strong advocate.”
Previous editions of the directories have described Michael as “Knowledgeable, commercially focused and pragmatic.” and “Responsive, bright, user-friendly and a tenacious advocate.”
Michael frequently appears in the Court of Appeal, High Court, County Court and Tribunals in connection with his expertise in all aspects of the law of property and commercial chancery work. He also advises on a wide range of professional liability matters. Recent work includes acting for the claimant against a firm of solicitors for negligent advice in connection with a development project, where the loss suffered was in excess of £48million.
Previous editions of the Chambers Bar Guide say Michael is “easy to work with and commercially minded” and that “great in his dealings with clients”, “clear-thinking, responsive, personable and efficient.”
He receives regular instructions in cases and projects where development finance, securities, planning and compulsory purchase intersect with the law of real property. Michael draws on his broad expert knowledge to advise clients on how to best achieve their strategic goals in complex cases and transactions.
He frequently advises in difficult mortgage and security related disputes where the lender is enforcing either by itself or through receivers. He appeared for the successful appellant in the leading decision on the powers of receivers in mortgagor occupied properties: Menon & Menon v Pask & Goode [2020] 2 W.L.R. 43.
Michael has significant experience of commercial and contractual disputes across a variety of sectors, including financial services, leisure, hospitality and industry.
He has extensive experience advising both landlords and tenants in disputes under the Pubs Code 2016.
Chambers UK Bar Guide 2020 highlighted Michael’s track record of success in seeking urgent injunctions and possession orders in cases of unlawful interference with land, saying “He has developed particular skills in complex possession claims and protesters and he is user-friendly.”
On 1 September 2021, Michael was appointed by the Attorney General to his A Panel of Junior Counsel to the Crown. Members of the A panel deal with the most complex government cases in all courts and tribunals, including the Supreme Court. They will often appear against Queen’s Counsel. Recent work includes advising on the construction of an overage agreement in respect of land formerly owned by a Government department and a large and complex arbitration in connection with Government property. Michael’s appointment to the A Panel follows his five-year appointment to the B Panel between 2016 and 2021.
Developers and other non-lawyers may instruct Michael under the Bar’s direct public access scheme.
He is also a visiting lecturer in the law of property at King’s College London.
Michael regularly appears before the High Court, Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber), County Courts and in the First Tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) in interim applications (including interlocutory injunctions) and trials.
He has extensive experience in the following areas of real property litigation and advice:
Michael has acted in many cases involving allegations of dishonesty, forgery and fraud, both in property and commercial matters. He has particular expertise in mortgage fraud and commercial transactions involving disputed documents and dishonesty.
Michael has extensive experience of commercial disputes including agency, the supply of goods and services, the construction of contractual terms and agreements, sale and purchase of shares and guarantees and indemnities.
Michael has acted for clients in a wide range of company and partnership disputes, including shareholder disputes, the duties of directors, matters relating to the constitution of companies and corporate insolvency.
Michael specialises in property matters relating to the agricultural sector and frequently acts in cases involving farm business tenancies, agricultural holdings and securities over agricultural businesses.
He has extensive experience of commercial leasehold matters, enfranchisement, service charge and long-lease disputes. Michael’s experience in residential and commercial landlord and tenant matters includes:
Michael acts for both claimants and defendants on a wide range of professional liability actions, specifically in relation to solicitors, valuers and other property professionals. He is frequently instructed by some of the UK’s largest professional indemnity insurers to advise and represent their insured clients.
Michael acted for the successful Respondent in a highly significant case about whether payments made under a management order under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1987 are service charges within the meaning of section 19 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985.
The Court of Appeal’s decision also addresses what happens to service charge debts on the termination of a management order and whether the manager can assign them at law.
The Court decided that: