Michael has extensive experience of trial, pre-trial and appellate work.
In the IT/telecoms fields, Michael has frequently been instructed to advise on and represent parties to disputes concerning systems and software supply, development, outsourcing and licensing. He has particular experience in disputes over failed, delayed or underperforming IT/business process transformation/outsourcing projects. Some of these projects involved works with a value in excess of £100 million
Michael has acted variously for customers and contractors in relation to commercial and government implementations. These include: local authorities and central government departments; insurance companies; banks; and large global IT companies.
Examples include: representing the successful claimant in the recent Soteria Insurance v IBM case in which the Court of Appeal ruled definitively on the effect of an exclusion clause which is commonly used in IT (and other) contracts and representing a government department in a lengthy arbitration following the collapse of a politically sensitive IT implementation/transformation project. In telecoms he has been instructed by major mobile network operators in relation to complex contractual disputes, often involving multiple jurisdictions.
Michael also has considerable experience of domestic and international commercial fraud and disputes arising out of banking and finance transactions, share and asset sales, sale and supply of goods and services, financial services including group misselling claims, professional negligence, breach of confidence and joint ventures.
In 2023 Michael was listed in the Legal 500 Bar Directory in Tier 1 for IT and Telecoms, Civil Fraud and Commercial Litigation and in Tier 2 for Banking and Finance.
Michael no longer practices as a barrister and does not have a practising certificate but he remains an Associate Member of his former chambers, 3VB.