Profile description
Michael’s expertise lies in personal injury, clinical negligence and general civil litigation but he is always happy to consider instructions relating to other associated areas. The bulk of Michael's practice falls within the following areas of law:
Clinical Negligence:
Michael is a specialist clinical negligence counsel, with extensive previous experience in this area as a solicitor. During his career he has dealt with the whole array of claims, encompassing but not limited to;
- Cauda Equina Claims
- A&E misdiagnosis and failure to treat
- NHS Trust claims
- Sepsis
- Cerebral palsy
- Informed consent
- NHS complaints procedure and redress
- Coroner’s Inquests
- Medical treatment and human rights
- Duty of Care, Standard of Care and Establishing Breach of Duty
- Causation
- Limitation
- Claims Involving Medical Products
Cyclists & Other Road Traffic Accidents:-
Michael’s practice includes all RTA personal injury work, (particularly cyclist claimants, being a keen cyclist himself), dealing with Advice on liability, quantum (including, loss of earnings, care and infant settlement) and evidence; drafting of pleadings; Part 18 Requests for Further Information and Part 35 Questions to Experts.
- Motorist emerging into path of cyclist from a side road
- Motorist turning into side road across path of cyclist
- Motorist veering into path of cyclist when cyclist and motorist going straight ahead
- Child cycling accidents
- Stationary motorist opens passenger or driver side door into path of oncoming cyclist.
Other Personal Injury Work:-
Michael’s personal injury practice covers all areas including;
- Road Traffic Accidents (Cyclists) (see above)
- Product liability (see above)
- Public liability
- Employers liability
- Animal related injuries
- Criminal injuries compensation
Breach of contract
Michael accepts instructions on contractual disputes on a direct access basis from individuals and businesses alike. Having held a position as the Director of a law firm before joining the Bar, Michael has first hand experience of the realities of what it means to run a business.
- Business-to-business (B2B) contracts
- Consumer contracts
- Sale of goods (domestic and international)
- Supply of services
- Insurance contracts
- Debt recovery claims (unpaid fees and invoices)
Product Liability
Michael has a specific interest in product liability cases and has represented several clients in this area in high-value claims valued at over £1,000,000. Examples of the types of product liability claims Michael has experience of are as follows:
- Medical product liability
- Breaches of common law, statutory and importers duty
- Claims under statute - Consumer Protection Act 1987
- Manufacturing defects
- Design defects
- Sufficient warnings
- Product recalls
- Import issues and how to avoid product liability claims post Brexit.
Professional Negligence
Michael is not afraid to champion those claimants who have been wronged by professionals who hold themselves out to offer a minimum standard of specific professional services. In 2014, Michael brought a claim against former MMR vaccine claimant solicitors in a case which lead to him being featured on the front page of the Times newspaper and in the online pages of the Guardian and the Law Gazette. Michael has successfully fought and won several professional negligence claims in the following areas.
- Previously Under-settled claims for damages
- Loss of legal chance (unwinnable cases taken fought for costs building)
- Missed limitation or other court deadlines
- Financial advice given without correct registration.
Music (and Media) Law
Michael is a keen musician and has shared the stage with such creative giants as the mighty Fairport Convention with his band. During his music career he has established many useful media industry contacts and has a relatively new but growing practice. He is noted for his ability to combine his legal knowledge with his musical experience to put clients at their ease and explain the legal situation in terms that a non-lawyer can easily understand. Michael has assisted clients in the following areas;
- Image rights
- Contracts
- Copyright law
- Recording contracts
- Management
- Publishing
- Digital distribution deals
Scope of work
Michael is happy to accept instructions to provide a range of services to his lay clients, including: assessing cases and advising on merits and strategy, drafting formal court documents (eg. claim forms, defences, applications, case summaries and skeleton arguments) and providing representation in court from initial hearings through to final hearings and appeals.
Qualifications:-
- Management Degree BSc (hons) 2:1 (1987)
- PGDip Law 2005
- Admitted as a Solicitor (2011)
- Solicitor-Advocate (2016)
- Called to the Bar (Middle Temple) (2017)