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Michael Harper

Call 2016

“Michael is a future star with exceptional ability, dedication and commitment to the cause.” “A seriously talented junior.”
(Chambers & Partners, 2025 and Legal 500, 2025)

Insurance & Reinsurance

Insurance work, both litigated and advisory, forms a core part of Michael’s practice and Michael is identified as a leading junior in Legal 500.

Michael has extensive experience of a wide range of issues across coverage, policy interpretation and recovery claims. This includes a secondment with a specialist insurance firm.

Michael is particularly at ease with technical points, having contributed towards the Insurance Act 2015 at the Law Commission and with a depth of academic background in this field.

Litigated cases

Examples of Michael’s litigated work include:

  • World Challenge v Zurich [2023] EWHC 1696 (Comm) and subsequent appeal to the Court of Appeal: £10m insurance coverage dispute arising from Covid. Acted at the 4-week trial and on appeal, with the parties settling days before the 3-day appeal began. Led by Daniel Shapiro KC.
  • David Wood Baking v QBE & ors: £100m claim for machinery & plant and business interruption following a fire; settled weeks prior to a 3-week trial, following an expedited timetable. Led by Daniel Shapiro KC and managing a team of junior counsel.
  • Markerstudy Insurance Services v H: strike out of a six-figure claim by an insurers managing general agent under a motor policy; described by the Judge as an “unusual set of proceedings” for turning, in part, on whether the insurer would consent to substitution as claimant.
  • Quality Pack v Lloyd’s Syndicate 1991: £10m claim for property, business interruption and public liability cover; disputed on the basis of alleged non-disclosure.
  • Mamancochet v Aegis [2018] EWHC 2643 (Comm) and subsequent appeal to the Court of Appeal: acting for 30 Lloyd’s syndicates; defended a £4m claim in a highly expedited trial on a novel issue of coverage.
  • Shaik v Go Skippy Insurance: motor policy claim relating to the scope of cover under the standard wording and so of wider significance to the insurer.
  • Spire Healthcare v RSA [2018] EWCA Civ 317: as a pupil, Michael assisted on the appeal, concerning the proper interpretation of an aggregation clause. Assisting Michael Harvey KC and Daniel Shapiro KC.

Advisory work

Examples of Michael’s advisory work include:

  • £22m claim on a public liability policy, arising from hot works.
  • £10m claim on a public liability policy (comprising a global master policy and local policies) arising from a fire at Alicante airport.
  • £0.4m claim on professional indemnity policy for allegedly defective design and/or installation of generators.
  • £1m claim on public and products liability policy, arising from flooding.
  • £0.6m claim on professional negligence policy arising from allegedly defective M&E works, as part of overall design and construction works.
  • £4.5m claim on property damage and business interruption policy, arising from a fire.
  • Regarding breaches of warranty relating to a warehouse fire.
  • Drafting tripartite settlement agreement between insured and insurer market to compromise a dispute on policy construction, following a cyber (ransomware) attack.
  • Advising in relation to and drafting declinature and recovery correspondence in relating to the refusal of a jewellery claim on the basis that it was a fraudulent claim.
  • Advising in relation to and drafting declinature correspondence for non-disclosure.
  • Regarding potential liability under a motor policy, in circumstances of car hire and multiple insurers.

Selected Cases

View full profile »

Recommendations


“Michael is a future star with exceptional ability, dedication and commitment to the cause.” “Michael is a go-to counsel for a range of professional negligence claims. He brings a reassuring calm and insight to all matters.”

Chambers & Partners, 2025

“Michael has a real eye for detail and immerses himself in the case. A seriously talented junior, excellent in both his drafting and ability to engage with clients.” “Michael is a tenacious barrister. He is incredibly diligent and leaves no stone unturned. He makes even the most difficult issues digestible for clients.”

Legal 500, 2025

“Technically brilliant and very able in complex matters.”

Legal 500, 2024

“Michael is enormously talented and enthusiastic in equal measure. He consumes the facts voraciously and applies the law surgically.”

Legal 500, 2023

“Michael is enormously talented and enthusiastic in equal measure. He consumes the facts voraciously and applies the law surgically.”

Legal 500, 2022


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