Michael specialises in regulatory and public law, and disputes involving professional practice.

Michael acts for regulators, businesses, charities and private clients in relation to:

• regulatory investigations
• complex disciplinary proceedings (including statutory appeals)
• judicial reviews
• professional liability disputes
• charity disputes
• data protection and privacy disputes

In addition to his contentious practice, Michael advises on:

• the exercise of statutory powers, drafting procedures and rules, and sustainable public law decision making
• business structures for professionals
• regulatory compliance

Michael's advice is informed by his broad experience in public policy at the Ministry of Justice and Legal Services Board.

Michael has a particularly strong reputation for his experience in legal services regulation, having acted for both regulators and firms and individuals subject to investigation/disciplinary proceedings. Recent examples include sexual misconduct allegations and alleged breaches of anti-money laundering regulations.

Michael also advises on the regulation of accountants, architects, teachers, financial services professionals, healthcare professionals and charity trustees.

He brings and defends judicial reviews, including policy issues affecting the charity sector and in the regulatory context. He has brought public procurement challenges on behalf of charity and commercial clients.

Michael is experienced in advising clients who are required to give evidence to public inquiries (including the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse and the Infected Blood Inquiry).

He has also advised on financial mis-selling, pensions administration and unauthorised payments/cyber fraud cases.

• Baines & others v. Dixon Coles & Gill [2021] EWCA Civ 1211: acting for the SRA as intervener in a case concerning the aggregation of claims against solicitors arising from misappropriations of client money
• R (Authentic Equity Alliance CIC) v. Commission for Equality and Human Rights [2021] EWHC 1623 (Admin): acting for the claimant in a judicial review concerning the EHRC’s guidance on the Equality Act 2010 provisions in relation to separate or single sex services
• Solicitor Z: acting for the Respondent to disciplinary proceedings by the SRA in seeking summary dismissal of the allegations or alternatively a permanent stay on health grounds
• R (Bus & Coach Association) v Secretary of State for Transport [2019] EWHC 3319 (Admin): acting for interested parties in a judicial review posing an existential threat to the community transport sector
• Wingate v. Solicitors Regulation Authority [2018] EWCA Civ 366: acting for the SRA in the leading case concerning the concept of a lack of integrity for professionals and the distinction between a lack of integrity and dishonesty

• Member of the Association of Regulatory and Disciplinary Lawyers (ARDL)
• Member of the London Solicitors Litigation Association

• Contributor to The Law of Legal Services and Practice (Lexis Nexis)
• Lead author of the first two chapters covering the Regulatory Framework and Authorisation