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Michael is a highly regarded commercial litigator with extensive experience as senior counsel appearing in the High Court and Court of Appeal. Michael also appears before arbitrators and tribunals and regularly represents clients in mediations.
He practises across the full range of commercial litigation but has particular expertise in contractual disputes, civil fraud, corporate law, joint venture/fiduciary duties, finance and securities, insolvency, professional negligence, trust and property disputes, and with extensive experience in the primary sector.
As well as his outstanding advocacy skills, Michael has broad commercial experience and excellent judgment, uniquely combined with his ability to win the trust of his clients and manage the human relationship dynamics of difficult conflicts.
Michael graduated from Victoria University of Wellington and was admitted as a barrister and solicitor of the New Zealand High Court in 1996. He worked as a commercial litigator at Minter Ellison and from 2000 in London at the global firm of Baker & McKenzie, having also been admitted to practise in England and Wales.
Michael returned to New Zealand in late 2004 and from 2007 was the senior partner heading the commercial/civil litigation team at Lowndes Jordan until 2016. He then established the key Auckland office of top commercial boutique firm, Morrison Mallett, now Morrison Partners, and headed the commercial/civil litigation team until he moved to the independent bar, joining Bankside Chambers in October 2023.