"He is an extraordinarily bright junior who is very diligent." "User-friendly and easy to work with, he stays calm and unflustered at all times."
Michael has a broad practice covering all aspects of commercial litigation and arbitration. He appears regularly in the High Court in a wide range of commercial cases. He has worked on a number of very high-value and complex civil fraud claims and joint venture disputes in recent years, in addition to insurance, professional negligence and jurisdiction disputes. Recent cases on which Michael has been instructed include: the FCA test case concerning business interruption claims based on Covid-19; a claim in the BVI for around US$1 billion concerning a joint venture relating to Russian energy assets; a high-value ICC arbitration claim relating to the sale of an interest in an oil field, involving claims for breach of contract and deceit; and a claim against a City law firm for damages of over US$500 million for alleged breaches of duty owed to a former client. Michael has also been instructed in a number of major competition law disputes.
Michael has also provided confidential advice in relation to numerous insurance coverage disputes and allegations of misrepresentation and non-disclosure. In particular, Michael has provided advice in relation to several marine insurance policies and also advised in relation to a multi-million dollar claim under a contractors’ all risks insurance policy relating to the construction of a motorway in Qatar.
Notable cases
Aikens, R. Lord, R. and Bools, M., Bolding, M and Toh, K.S. Bills of Lading, (3rd ed.), Informa Law
Aikens, R. Lord, R. and Bools, M. Bills of Lading, (2nd ed.), Informa Law, contributor
Competition Litigation: UK Practice and Procedure (2nd ed.), Oxford University Press, contributor
Administrative Court Digest, Sweet & Maxwell, contributor
2017: Called to the Bar of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (BVI)
2012-13: Judicial Assistant to Lords Clarke and Carnwath, UK Supreme Court
2011-12: Pupillage, Brick Court Chambers
2010-11: LLM, Harvard Law School
2009-10: BVC, BPP Law School (Very Competent)
2009-10: Non-stipendiary lecturer in law, University College, Oxford
2008-09: BCL, Lincoln College, Oxford (1st class, 1st in year)
2004-07: LLB (Hons) (1st class, 1st in year)
Scholarships and prizes:
2009: Queen Mother Scholarship, Middle Temple
2009: Vinerian Scholarship, University of Oxford (for the highest grade on the BCL)
2009: Sir Rupert Cross Prize for Evidence, University of Oxford
2009: Sir Ralph Chiles CBE Award for Human Rights, University of Oxford
2009: Rector's Prize, Lincoln College, University of Oxford
2009: Joint winner of the Holdsworth Society Moot, University of Oxford
2008: Supperstone Law Scholarship, Lincoln College, University of Oxford
2007: Human rights bursary, International Bar Association
2007: Oxford University Press Law Prize
Memberships
ALBA
COMBAR
"Very intelligent and able to immediately grasp complex issues. His drafting is top-notch." (Chambers & Partners 2022)
"An excellent team player, with encyclopaedic knowledge of the case and strong analytical skill." (Legal 500 2022)
"He is an extraordinarily bright junior who is very diligent." (Chambers & Partners 2021)
"User-friendly and easy to work with, he stays calm and unflustered at all times." (Chambers & Partners 2021)