GLOBAL BARRISTERS

• Michael has carried out failure investigations and dispute resolution for ships and offshore installations with inadequate design, defective materials, defective machinery and equipment, fabrication defects, nonconformity to specifications, vibration issues, accidental damage and operated beyond design limits. He has resolved disputes with values $0.5 million – $3 million.
• He is knowledgeable in negotiating shipbuilding contracts, specifications and refund guarantees, including amending standard form contracts. He has also advised companies on the purchase of vessels for conversion projects.
• Prior to being called to the Bar, Michael spent 11 years with Lloyd's Register specialising in the design, construction and regulatory compliance of ships and offshore installations. There he was a Technical Authority in the development, drafting and implementation of Lloyd's Register's Rules and Regulations for the design, construction and survey of ships and offshore units.
• Michael has extensive practical experience in newbuild, conversion and repair projects for most ship types (inc. yachts, cruise ships, ferries, container ships, naval ships, tankers, crane vessels, pipe-layers) and offshore units (inc. FPSO, FPU, FLNG, MODU). Additionally, he has delivered training courses and provided advice to most of the major shipyards, designers, shipowners and oil & gas companies.

MINING AND METALS

• Michael has advised minerals processing companies for new plant and plant expansion projects.

ENERGY

• Michael has extensive experience in the energy sector and has worked on major energy projects throughout the Americas, Africa, Asia, Australasia, Europe and the Middle East. He has acted as a verifier of safety cases for various jurisdictions and has advised on the regulatory compliance of high capital value (in some cases multi‐billion pound) multinational energy projects.
• Michael is familiar with onshore, offshore, renewable and nuclear energy projects and their regulation.
• He has also undertaken a work placement at Stamford Generators.

BUILDINGS

• Michael has assisted in construction claims in the County Court (liability and quantum).
• He has successfully blocked planning applications under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended).
• He has advised on subsidy controls.
• He has also undertaken a work placement at Laing O'Rourke.
• Prior to being called to the Bar, Michael worked as a project manager for the design, construction and refurbishment of residential properties where he was responsible for design, evaluating tenders for build, planning, procurement of owner-furnished materials, site-supervision, payment, regulatory compliance (Building Regulations 2010, CDM Regulations 2015, Party Wall 1996) and the settlement of claims (delay, extensions of time and variation orders).
• Michael has successfully brought claims through the Financial Ombudsman Service against insurers for the mis-selling of buildings insurance policies.

UTILITIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE

• Michael has represented in adjudication disputes against:
  - Councils in the Local Government Ombudsman;
  - Internet service providers in the Communications and Internet Services Adjudication Scheme (CISAS); and
  - Water companies in the Consumer Council for Water (CCWater) and the Water Redress Scheme (WATRS).

HEALTH, SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENT

• Michael accepts instructions for civil disputes involving health, safety and environmental issues, such as the sale of unsafe goods, personal injury and professional negligence claims.

• Michael accepts instructions for civil disputes in respect of aircraft design, manufacture, maintenance and accidents.
• Prior to being called to the Bar, he spent two years at BAE Systems where he was responsible for failure investigations of flight critical equipment of aeroplanes and helicopters. He is experienced in the design and manufacture of aeroplanes and helicopters including avionic systems.
• He has appeared before and provided submissions to the UK Civil Aviation Authority and the US Federal Aviation Administration.

• Michael has advised companies on the impact of new and upcoming International Maritime Organization (IMO) regulations and interpretations of IMO regulations. He has contributed to international maritime law reform through participation in IMO working groups. He has advised flag states, government agencies and regulators on various technical issues.

• Michael accepts instructions for ship collision and salvage disputes.
• He has carried out ship collision risk assessments for various shipping and energy companies. He is experienced in casualty investigation, collision avoidance and damage to hulls and offshore installations.

• Michael has advised on commercial claims involving breach of contract, bailment of goods, civil fraud, misrepresentation, negligence, loan agreements, and the validity of insurance policies.

• Michael has acted in claims for professional negligence and breach of fiduciary duties against accountants and solicitors.
• He has drafted complaints to the Legal Ombudsman in respect of allegations of poor service against solicitors.

• Michael has represented dentists regulated by the GDC to defend allegations of professional misconduct.
• He has drafted complaints to the Solicitors Regulatory Authority in respect of allegations of professional misconduct against solicitors.

• Michael has advised on the interpretation of contracts of employment, and on whether contractors are to be considered as employees.
• He has acted in claims involving the personal liability of company directors as joint tortfeasors.
• Michael has advised on the incorporation of a law firm with international offices, including advising on corporate structures, insurance, and taxation on worldwide income.
• He has drafted partnership agreements for limited liability partnerships.
• He has acted in disputed bankruptcy petitions and applications to set aside statutory demands.

• Michael has represented in charity litigation in the High Court:
  - In a matter concerning the validity of the election of trustees.
  - For an application for an injunction against trustees.
  - For permission to commence charity proceedings.

• Michael has advised on:
  - Obtaining authorisation from the Charity Commission to commence charity proceedings.
  - The actions of trustees and the interpretation of governing documents.
  - Statutory requirements in relation to applications for subsidies.
  - Charity incorporation structures and charitable purposes for a technology company.
  - Closure of charitable trusts.

• Michael has acted in an inquiry into alleged breach of trust at a charity.
• He has advised on disciplinary hearings in relation to the suspension of membership.

• Michael has a family law practice covering private law child arrangements, and financial remedy proceedings for married and unmarried couples including applications under Schedule 1 of the Children Act 1989 for the financial provision for children.
• He has advised on applications for child arrangements by grandparents without parental responsibility.
• He has represented in applications for non-molestation orders and occupation orders.
• He has advised on applications for contempt of court including breach of an undertaking, breach of a court order, contempt in the face of the court, publication of private law proceedings, making a false statement, interference with the administration of justice, and referrals to the Attorney General.
• He has advised on applications for specific issues and prohibited steps including parent and child relocation, change of school, and holidays outside the jurisdiction.

• Michael has advised on adverse possession of land, boundary disputes, assent, and first registration of unregistered land.
• He has advised on the transfer and disposal of school land under the Academies Act 2010.
• He has advised on commercial and residential leases.
• He has acted in claims for possession and eviction.
• He has acted in claims for disputed service charges, breaches of lease covenants, and forfeiture.
• He has acted in claims for rent increases.
• He has acted in claims for dilapidation.
• He has drafted grounds of appeal for appeals in the Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber).

• Michael has drafted particulars of claim and defences for libel cases in the High Court, and has advised on merits of success.

• Michael has acted in infringement actions in the Intellectual Property List (Chancery Division) of the High Court and in the Intellectual Property Enterprise Court.
• He has advised on passing off, copyright, patents, and trademarks for both contentious and non-contentious matters including joint ownership, assignments, licences, guarantees, registration, and issues between employers and employees, contractors and consultants.
• Reported cases: Munim v Rahman [2022] EWHC 2870 (Ch)

• The City Law School, University of London, English Bar Course (Outstanding)
• Graduate Diploma in Law (Distinction)
• The University of Sheffield, MEng Mechanical Engineering with Italian (First‐Class Honours. Ranked 1st on course and thesis)
• Politecnico di Torino, Italy, Erasmus year studying engineering in Italian
• Università per Stranieri di Perugia, Italian language
• Madrid Chamber of Commerce, Certificate in Advanced Spanish Language for Business
• Macquarie Graduate School of Management, Certificate in Negotiation and Conflict Resolution

• Member of Gray's Inn of Court
• Chartered Engineer with the UK Engineering Council
• Member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers

• Gray's Inn Lord Edmund-Davies Bar Course Scholarship
• Gray's Inn Anthony Bessemer Clark Graduate Diploma in Law Scholarship
• Gray's Inn Hebe Plunkett Award
• The City Law School Scholarship
• Institution of Mechanical Engineers Award for University Best Thesis
• The University of Sheffield Bursary
• British Physics Challenge Commendation Award
• John Hewitt Physics Award

• Italian (working knowledge)
• Spanish (working knowledge)
• Swedish (reading)

• By invitation, Michael has been a keynote speaker at the Royal Institution of Naval Architects, and a guest lecturer at Newcastle University, University College London, Korea Maritime University and Seoul National University.

LAW REFORM

Contributor to international maritime law:

• MARPOL Convention Annexes
• International Code of the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Liquefied Gases in Bulk (IGC Code)

LEGAL JOURNALS

• Journal paper: The Preparedness of Great Britain’s Legal Safety Framework for Offshore Floating Nuclear Power Plants. International Energy Law Review, Sweet & Maxwell
• Journal paper: Carbon Dioxide Emissions from Dynamically Positioned Offshore Construction Vessels. Prospects of a MARPOL concession? Journal of International Maritime Law, Lawtext

LEGAL ARTICLES

• Article: 10 Points to consider in shipbuilding contracts for ships with wind-assisted propulsion. Riviera Maritime
• Article: Floating offshore wind patent owners beware. Riviera Maritime

ENGINEERING JOURNALS

• Journal paper: The Classification of Pipe‐Lay Vessels and Heavy‐Lift Crane Vessels. International Journal of Maritime Engineering, Royal Institution of Naval Architects
• Journal paper: Effects of weld penetration, root gap and misalignment on the fatigue resistance of cruciform structural details fabricated from steel. Practical Design of Ships Symposium
• Journal paper: Effects of plate thickness and corner machining on fatigue strength of EH40 steel thick plates. International Society of Offshore and Polar Engineers

ENGINEERING ARTICLES

• Cover article: When designs outlive designers. The Marine Professional, Institute of Marine Engineering
• Article: Preparing for the next generation of semi‐submersibles. Offshore Marine Technology, Royal Institution of Naval Architects

INDUSTRY STANDARDS AND GUIDANCE

Contributor to engineering and construction standards and guidance:

• Lloyd's Register's Rules for Ships
• Lloyd's Register's Rules for Offshore Units
• Lloyd's Register's Rules for Naval Ships
• Lloyd's Register's Rules for Special Service Craft
• Lloyd's Register's Structural Assessment Procedure for Semi‐submersibles
• Lloyd's Register's Structural Assessment Procedure for Ship Units
• Lloyd's Register's Guidance Notes for Collision Analysis
• Lloyd's Register's Guidance Notes for Vibration Analysis
• Lloyd's Register's Guidance Notes for Fire Loads
• Lloyd's Register's Guidance Notes for Explosion Loads