Experience

• 

  The Bar of Ireland

  • Barrister-at-Law

    • Oct 2017 - Present

• 

  The Bar of Northern Ireland

  • Barrister-at-Law

    • Oct 2005 - Present

    Scope of Practice - Chancery and General Commercial litigation; Interim applications and urgent injunctions; Bankruptcy and Insolvency; Trusts; Intellectual Property Rights Infringement; Real Property; Partnership Law; Sale of Goods and Consumer Law; Banking and Finance related law; Construction and building disputes; Defamation; Professional Negligence litigation; Bookmaker Licensing; Personal Injury; Dispute Resolution/Mediation/ADR.Certified Mediator and Part-time tutor at the Insitute of Professional Legal Studies (QUB).Examples of cases:Northern Bank Ltd v Nigel Stuart Patrick Allen [2012] NIMaster 5 - whether the Bank had a mortgage or charge over premises by reason of a solicitor’s undertaking or an alleged contract to execute a mortgage. McKenzies (NI) Limited and Alucra Developments Limited v David Graham Structures [2013] NIQB 17 - successful dismissal of an application under section 68 of the Arbitration Act 1996 challenging part of an Arbitrator’s award.Irish Bank Resolution Corporation Limited (formerly Anglo Irish Bank Corporation Limited) v Jacqueline Dolan [2014] NIMaster 12 - successful application for default judgment for £31,659,571 on foot of a joint personal guarantee, to be set aside and for leave to defend on the basis of an arguable defence based on undue influence.Luigi Savarese v Fraser Homes (NI) Ltd [2015] NICh 2 - concerned the exercise of judicial discretion to grant an interlocutory injunction where essential facts not in dispute.

• 

  Johnsons

  • Belfast, United Kingdom

  • Solicitor

    • Jan 1991 - Dec 2004
    • Belfast, United Kingdom

    In the course of Michael's thirteen years with Johnsons, litigation conducted by him included:High Court and County Court actions on behalf of various insurers (including Norwich Union (now Aviva), and Groupama (now Ageas)), arising out of employers’ and public liability incidents, and road traffic accidents.Intellectual Property Rights Infringement litigation – representing Microsoft Corporation (through its UK Department of Law & Corporate Affairs) between 2002 and 2004 in pursuing legal redress (injunctions, damages and/or account of profits) against distributors and retailers of infringing Microsoft software in Northern Ireland.Holiday litigation – representing a number of major tour operators (including Panorama, Budget Travel, MyTravel, and Thomson Holidays) and/or their insurers in relation to personal injury and other claims brought by holiday makers (including class actions).Consumer/Sale of Goods litigation – acting for the Isaac Agnew Group (since acquired by the Sytner Group) of companies (including Bavarian Garages, Isaac Agnew Volkswagen, Mercedes Benz, and Audi, and SMW Volvo and Suzuki) comprising one of the largest car dealerships in Northern Ireland, in relation to consumer disputes and litigation arising out of the sale and purchase of new and used motor vehicles.Sports litigation – acting in Northern Ireland for various Insurers covering the British Parachute Association risk, and handling a number of significant personal injury claims.