Insurance & Reinsurance
Michael has experience of a wide range of issues across coverage, policy interpretation and recovery claims. This includes a recent 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.
Selected Cases
- Mamancochet v Aegis [2018] EWHC 2643 (Comm). Acting for 30 Lloyd’s syndicates, defended a £4m claim in a highly expedited trial on a novel issue of coverage.
- Advising on issues arising from a seven-figure insurance claim, including subrogated recovery against a fraudulent co-insured.
- Successfully obtaining the strike out of a claim against insurers on the basis of coverage.
- Successfully defending a claim against motor insurers at trial on an issue of policy interpretation.
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.
- Advising on coverage issues concerning public liability and the distinction between property damage and pure economic loss (the principle in Tesco Stores). Assisting Daniel Shapiro QC.
- Advising on a strategic decision as to whether to proceed by subrogated claim or assignment. Assisting Michele de Gregorio.
- Advising on the scope of employer’s liability coverage. Assisting Matthew Boyle.
- Advising on issues of double coverage and notification. Assisting Matthew Boyle.
Articles
- DIPT v Sanglier v Apollo: the importance of assessing the evidence, settling reasonably, and understanding the terms on which you contract
- Hindsight is 20/20: Assessment of damages in light of Covid-19
News
- DIPT v Sanglier v Apollo: the importance of assessing the evidence, settling reasonably, and understanding the terms on which you contract
- Carlo Taczalski and Michael Harper successful in forcing discontinuance after 5 week trial
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
Recommendations
“Michael is enormously talented and enthusiastic in equal measure. He consumes the facts voraciously and applies the law surgically.”
Rising Star, Legal 500 2022