Michael undertakes a broad range of public law work ranging from major human rights and discrimination cases to challenges to regulatory decisions in the commercial sphere. He also a specialist community care practice, and often acts for vulnerable, legally-aided claimants in extremely urgent applications.

He regularly appears unled, for both claimants and defendants, in the Administrative Court and in a range of specialist tribunals. He also frequently acts as junior counsel in claims raising major points of principle, both at first instance and on appeal. He regularly takes on legal aid work, and acts on urgent cases at short notice.

Cases

Michael’s competition law practice covers litigation and advisory work across the full spectrum of EU and UK competition law.

Michael is ranked as a Leading Junior in both Chambers & Partners (UK and Global) and Legal 500 for competition law, and is instructed on many of the most of high-profile competition claims in this jurisdiction. In 2021, he was appointed Standing Counsel to the Competition and Markets Authority.

Michael is the co-author (with Jon Turner KC and Anneli Howard KC) of the chapter on ‘Litigating Infringements in the National Courts’ in the most recent edition of Bellamy & Child, European Union Law of Competition, and has published a number of articles on competition law in academic journals.

Cases

Collective proceedings

Michael is one of the most experienced junior counsel at the English Bar in collective proceedings. He was instructed for the respondent in its successful resistance of the first ever application for a collective proceedings order in this jurisdiction: Gibson v Pride Mobility Scooters [2017] CAT 9. Since then he has been instructed (for both applicants and respondents) in a large proportion of the collective proceedings cases that are currently pending before the Competition Appeal Tribunal, including: Trucks (acting for Daimler AG), Gutmann (acting for LSER), Qualcomm (acting for the proposed class representative, Which?), Google Play Store (acting for the proposed class representative, Elizabeth Coll), McLaren (acting for WWL).

Private competition law claims

Michael also has a busy private competition law practice, covering both follow-on and stand-alone claims. Notable instructions include:

• Churchill Gowns v Ede & Ravenscroft. Junior counsel for the Defendants (led by Conall Patton KC) in stand-alone proceedings under Chapter I / Chapter II concerning the supply of student gowns. Listed for trial in January 2022.
• Trucks. Acting as junior counsel for Daimler AG in relation to myriad damages claims before the English Courts (led by Paul Harris KC).
• Power cables. Acting (as junior counsel to Marie Demetriou KC) for the “NKT” defendants in relation to damages claims brought by various parties following the European Commission’s Power Cables cartel decision.
• Air cargo. Acting (as junior counsel to Jon Turner KC) for British Airways in relation to the “air cargo” damages claims in the Chancery Division.
• Acting for the successful claimant in a private abuse of dominance claim, culminating in a three-week trial in the Chancery Division: Arriva The Shires Ltd -v- London Luton Airport Operations Limited [2014] EWHC 64 (Ch).

Regulatory appeals

In his role as Standing Counsel to the Competition and Markets Authority, Michael is instructed in a number of major regulatory appeals, including BGL v CMA (price comparison websites), listed for hearing on 1 – 21 November 2021 (led by Marie Demetriou KC).

Michael regularly provides advice, drafting and representation in the field of public procurement, in which context he brings to bear substantial experience of conducting urgent judicial review proceedings, as well as a detailed understanding of EU law.

Cases

Notable instructions include:

• Acting for the Ministry of Defence in a challenge to the procurement process for a major global logistics contract: see MLS (Overseas) Ltd v MoD [2017] EWHC 3389 (TCC). Michael was junior counsel for the MoD in this High Court trial, and conducted the cross-examination of one of the claimant’s key witnesses.
• Appearing as sole counsel for a domestic abuse charity in a “suspension” hearing in the Mercantile Court.
• Acting for two central government departments in connection with a long-running damages claim arising from a terminated procurement for “search and rescue” helicopters.

Michael also has a busy specialist practice in the sphere of information law.

Cases

Significant instructions to date include:

• Acting for the University of Cambridge in successfully resisting disclosure of proprietary information relating to 11+ examination papers.
• Appearing as sole counsel for a local residents’ association in a two-day appeal before the First-Tier Tribunal: Royal Borough of Greenwich v ICO and Brownie. The case involved cross- examination of a number of witnesses as well as detailed legal submissions, and resulted in the Tribunal ordering full disclosure of all information requested by Michael’s client. In light of his success in the Greenwich case, Michael was instructed to act for another requester in an appeal involving disclosure of a viability assessment (Perry v ICO and Hackney), in which Michael successfully obtained full disclosure prior to the final hearing.
• Appearing (as sole counsel) for the Information Commissioner in Worcestershire City Council v ICO, a 3-day hearing involving cross- examination of multiple witnesses.
• Acting (as junior to Ian Wise KC) in Willow v ICO, in proceedings concerning the Ministry of Justice’s refusal to disclose a manual containing detail of the restraint techniques used on children in detention: [2017] EWCA Civ 1876.
• Advising HMRC in connection with subject access requests under the Data Protection Act 1998 in relation to high-profile case of “whistle-blowing”.

Michael has a niche sports law practice (both led and unled), covering arbitration, disciplinary and civil court proceedings. He is ranked as a leading practitioner for sports law by Who’s Who Legal 2021. Sports Law.

Cases

Notable sports instructions to date include:

• Acting (with Paul Harris KC) for nine “Barbarians” players in high-profile disciplinary proceedings concerning alleged contraventions of COVID-19 protocols.
• Acting as sole counsel for a former employee of a major football club in High Court proceedings raising issues of unlawful means conspiracy and fraud;
• Acting as sole counsel for the Italian rugby player Martin Castrogiovanni in disciplinary proceedings concerning alleged misconduct during a “6 Nations” match;
• Acting in Rule K arbitration proceedings in agency dispute involving a major Premier League footballer (as junior to Paul Harris KC);
• Acting in Rule K arbitration proceedings for a director of a major football club in a commercial/company law dispute (as junior to Paul Harris KC);
• Advising a leading European football club on the compatibility of UEFA’s “financial fair play” rules with EU free movement law;
• Advising a Premier League club on the possibility of challenging the fielding of an ineligible player by a rival club in the context of “Rule K” arbitration proceedings;
• Advising a football league club in relation to a contractual dispute with a rival club over a change of mangers;
• Advising a football club owner in connection with a high-value claim against a rival club for sums due under a settlement agreement;
• Advising and representing the coach of a leading European rugby team in disciplinary proceedings in relation to allegations of misconduct during a pitch-side brawl.
• Advising sports teams and companies in relation to potential competition law claims against sports governing bodies.

Michael also has a general commercial practice, covering both litigation and advisory work. Recent instructions include acting unled for a ‘start up’ technology company in a private arbitration concerning the distribution of the proceeds of sale of a major asset.

Cases

Administrative & Public Law: “He is very, very good – he runs challenging points and does it well.” – Chambers UK, 2024

Community Care: “He runs challenging points and does it very well.” “Michael is very good.” – Chambers UK, 2024

Competition Law: “Michael is excellent to work with, collaborative, and collegiate.” – Chambers UK, 2024

Administrative Law and Human Rights: “A junior who provides very good, intelligible advice.” – Legal 500, 2024

Competition Law: “He is super-bright and amongst the best analytical juniors. Michael knows abuse of dominance issues inside-out, also having excellent tactical nous and exceptional drafting.” – Legal 500, 2024

Administrative & Public Law: “He is absolutely excellent; he gets up to speed very quickly and is very collegiate.” – Chambers UK, 2023

Community Care: “Michael is an excellent barrister.” “He has an impressive public law practice.” – Chambers UK, 2023

Competition Law: “A master of the detail and good at bringing across the recent case law to the tribunal. He’s clearly valued by the silks he works with.” – Chambers UK and Chambers Global, 2023

Administrative Law and Human Rights: “Mike is very collegiate and can turn round submissions and advice quickly and well.” – Legal 500, 2023

Competition Law – Legal 500, 2023

Community Care: “Michael is an impressive barrister and is particularly strong in public law.” “Michael is practising in interesting and complex cases.” – Chambers UK, 2022

Competition Law: “Good at grasping the issues and solving the problems, and focusing on what is important.” “He is a real team player; he is very resourceful and hard-working as well.” – Chambers UK and Chambers Global, 2022

Competition Law: “Great to work with, user friendly and a master of the detail.” – Legal 500, 2022

Competition Law: “A very bright barrister, who cuts through to the key issues. He’s been involved in quite a few big cases so his ability to call on that experience is invaluable.” “He was very knowledgeable on the issues, very calm and great with the clients.” – Chambers UK and Chambers Global, 2021

Competition Law: “A strong drafter who is highly regarded by senior QCs.” – Legal 500, 2021

Competition Law: “His attention to detail is good and his drafting is excellent.” “He is practical and willing to work hard, and is someone who gets on very well with clients.” – Chambers UK and Chambers Global, 2020

• Administrative Law Bar Association
• Bar European Group
• British Association for Sport and Law
• Competition Law Association
• Human Rights Lawyers Association

Undergraduate

• BA Philosophy, Politics and Economics, Balliol College, Oxford, First Class Honours
• Ranked 4th in the University overall, and 1st in Philosophy
• Gibbs Prize for outstanding performance in Philosophy
• Fletcher Exhibitioner (Balliol College)
• Coolidge “Pathfinder” Scholarship (Balliol College) – for independent travel and research in the USA

Legal

• Diploma in Law from City University, London (2009-2010), Distinction
• Bar Professional Training Course, City Law School (2010 – 2011), Outstanding (5th in year), including marks of Outstanding in civil advocacy and cross-examination
• Prince of Wales Scholarship, Grays Inn
• Everard ver Heyden Foundation Prize for performance on the BPTC
• Phoenicia Scholarship, Bar European Group (for attendance at BEG conference in Athens)

BA (Hons), Philosophy, Politics and Economics (Oxford) (1st Class);
Graduate Diploma in Law, City University (Distinction)