Michael Axe > Gardner Leader LLP > Maidenhead, England > Lawyer Profile

Michael Axe

01628 502448 m.axe@gardner-leader.co.uk View profile View profile View profile

Work Department

Commercial litigation

Position

Michael Axe is a Senior Associate in the Dispute Resolution Team based in Maidenhead.

Michael is a senior litigator with over 15 years’ experience of resolving Commercial Disputes for his clients, with particular expertise in relation to Professional Negligence, Franchising Disputes, Intellectual Property Disputes & Brand Protection, Tax Disputes, Insurance Disputes, and Commercial Agency Disputes. His clients range from multinational corporations, PLCs and SMEs, to high net-worth individuals involved in national or international commercial disputes against professionals and corporations.

Michael specialises in helping potential claimants or defendants to resolve their commercial disputes, either through court proceedings (including proceedings in the Court of Appeal), or through alternative dispute resolution processes, such as mediation, arbitration or informal negotiations. His focus is always on achieving his clients’ objectives in as cost effective and proportionate way as possible.

Michael also advises on strategies for avoiding disputes, and helps clients manage their risks effectively, including in relation to cyber-security and data protection/GDPR issues.

In addition to general commercial, contractual and tortious disputes, Michael also has particular specialist expertise in the fields of: professional negligence (where he has acted against solicitors, accountants, tax advisors, architects, and surveyors); intellectual property disputes and brand protection (where he has acted for various well-known national and international brand-owners, in relation to trade mark infringements, passing off claims, and domain name disputes); tax disputes (acting for private and corporate clients in a variety of disputes with HMRC, including in relation to EBT/EFRBS investigations, MTIC frauds, and import duty classifications); and franchise disputes (where Michael was an Affiliate Member of the British Franchise Association, acting for franchisors and franchisees).

Michael has also acted for clients with insurance disputes relating to coverage and denial of claims, and with claims for compensation under the Commercial Agents Regulations.

In addition to UK-based disputes, Michael also advises clients involved in international disputes and arbitrations, particularly in connection with cross-border contractual relationships, and international IPR protection and enforcement.