Michael Harper

Professional Liability

Michael has experience of a wide variety of claims against professionals, including solicitors, surveyors, brokers, agents, consultants, and construction professionals.

Selected Cases

• Mayr v CMS, one of the Lawyer’s Top 20 cases of 2019. Michael defended CMS in a high-value solicitors’ negligence claim involving a fraud (ex turpi) defence, in which the Claimants discontinued during trial. The case involved expert accountancy evidence and a number of procedural skirmishes. Led by Roger Stewart QC and Daniel Shapiro QC.
• Advising and acting for a variety of surveyors, such as building surveyors and marine surveyors, and property consultants. In such cases Michael has provided detailed advice on issues including limitation, quantum, causation and strategy in relation to expert evidence.
• Defending a broker’s negligence case relating to the adequacy of the policy placed.
• Successfully obtaining a strike out on the basis that no duty could have been owed by solicitors.
• Settling a Defence relating to the installation of a domestic boiler.

As a pupil, Michael assisted on matters including:

• Liddle v Atha [2018] EWHC 1751 (QB). Appeal to the High Court arising from solicitors’ negligence. Assisting Daniel Shapiro QC.
• A claim for wasted costs concerning the unreasonable conduct of solicitors and counsel.

Before joining Chambers, Michael assisted the appeal in Hughes-Holland v BPE [2017] UKSC 21, a landmark decision in which the Supreme Court restated SAAMCO principles.

News

• Daniel Shapiro KC, Michael Harper and Alethea Redfern acted for World Challenge Expeditions Ltd in its successful claim against Zurich Insurance Company Ltd
• DIPT v Sanglier v Apollo: the importance of assessing the evidence, settling reasonably, and understanding the terms on which you contract

Read more

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

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