Michael transferred to the Bar in 2017 having been a Director of a national law firm. He enjoys a general civil practice, with particular emphasis on clinical & professional negligence, personal injury, breach of contract claims, debt recovery, product liability and media law (particularly music). Michael offers a reliably proactive, down to earth and friendly service. He is based in Manchester but is happy to travel nationally for appropriate cases.
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;
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.
Other Personal Injury Work:-
Michael’s personal injury practice covers all areas including;
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.
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:
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.
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;
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.
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