Commercial
Michael handles a spectrum of commercial work, from smaller disputes concerning the supply of goods or services and general contractual matters through to substantial high-value litigation. Michael’s practice in this area benefits from a depth of academic and practical experience prior to joining Chambers.
Selected Cases
- Advising a major insurer in connection with an eight-figure arbitration against an agent.
- Defending a £5m claim involving two of the largest global banks and a prime brokerage firm, involving issues of contractual interpretation and foreign law.
- Defending a claim brought in contravention of a settlement agreement, with issues of offer and acceptance, interpretation and termination.
- Michael is regularly instructed to act on behalf of major removals businesses in relation to disputes.
- A variety of enforcement proceedings, including relating to charging orders.
As a pupil, Michael assisted on matters including:
- Spire Healthcare v RSA [2018] EWCA Civ 317. Court of Appeal decision concerning the proper interpretation of an aggregation clause. Assisting Michael Harvey QC and Daniel Shapiro QC.
- Court of Appeal proceeding concerning the proper date for the assessment of damages and High Court proceedings concerning the detailed quantification thereof. Assisting Michele De Gregorio.
- Contractual and equitable claims arising out of a joint venture agreement. Assisting Michele De Gregorio.
Michael had significant experience in this area prior to joining Chambers, including:
- During 2016-17, Michael was the Judicial Assistant to Lady Justice Gloster, then Vice-President of the Court of Appeal. Michael’s work typically involved appeals arising from large commercial or common law disputes.
- Hughes-Holland v BPE [2017] UKSC 21. Michael assisted with the appeal in this landmark decision, in which the Supreme Court restated SAAMCO principles.
- Bonhams v Lawson & Ors [2015] EWHC 3257 (Comm). £11m multi-party commercial dispute, in which Michael assisted in the favourable determination of a preliminary issue and settlement on the eve of a six-week trial.
- Michael has previously tutored in Commercial Law at the University of Oxford.
Articles
News
- Crown Office Chambers feature in three of The Lawyer’s Top 20 cases of 2019
- Crown Office Chambers welcomes new tenant
Qualifications
- BPTC
- BCL, University of Oxford
- BA Hons, University of Oxford
- Lord Denning Scholarship, Lincoln’s Inn
- Graduate Fund Scholarship, Oxford Law Faculty
Memberships
- COMBAR