4PB

International Children Law; Private Children Law; Non-court dispute resolution; Inquiries and Inquests; Sports Law

Overview

Michael has a broad practice ranging from international children law to public inquiries and cases involving national security.

Michael has appeared in many of the leading international children cases over the past 5-10 years. In private law, Michael specialises in leave to remove and cases with allegations of domestic and sexual abuse.

Michael is the head of the Public Inquiries and Inquests team at 4pb. He is currently instructed in the Afghanistan Inquiry (for the MOD), the Covid Inquiry (for UKHSA) and the Omagh Bombing Inquiry (for the Intelligence and Security Committee). Michael is a member of the AG’s B Panel (previously a member of the C Panel for 5-years).

Michael also has judicial experience. He is a Recorder of the Family Court and child law arbitrator. In 2022, he was appointed to a 3-member judicial panel to determine the asylum claims of Sri Lankan Tamils present on British Indian Ocean Territory.

Michael is a Special Advocate and acts in cases of national security in Closed Material Proceedings.

Michael has also appeared in many of the leading cases on the validity of marriage, including Akhter v Khan [2020] EWCA Civ 122 and AP and JP v Secretary of State for Justice [2024] EWHC 1197 Fam

Michael has developed a practice in sports law and sits on disciplinary panels for Swim England and The FA.

Publications/Training

Michael is the Co-Editor of International Family Law, the leading journal on international family justice.

Appointments

Panel appointments: 2016: Attorney General’s C Panel of Junior Counsel to the Crown 2018: Special Advocate 2021: Attorney General’s B Panel of Junior Counsel to the Crown

Judicial: 2021: Deputy District Judge 2024: Recorder

Arbitration: 2022: Child Law Arbitrator

Sports law: 2018: Swim England Judicial Panel 2022: The FA Judicial Appeal Panel 2024: Swim England Judicial Appeal Panel

Pro bono family 2023: Trustee, Temple Legal Advice Centre (provider of pro bono family law advice)

Professional Memberships

FLBA Association of Lawyers for Children Resolution Chartered institute of Arbitrators Inner Temple

Education & Qualifications

University of Bristol, History (BA Hons) (First Class) City University, GDL (Distinction) BPP Law School, BVC (Very Competent)