Profile
Work Department
Position
Michael is a specialist in the defence of corporate financial crime and regulatory investigations and prosecutions. He has represented senior executives and other professionals in many high-profile domestic and international investigations and prosecutions conducted by the SFO, FCA, NCA and other prosecution/regulatory agencies. Michael also regularly advises and represents senior financial services personnel facing FCA/PRA and other regulator investigations and disciplinary action. He also advises and represents high-net-worth individuals facing revenue investigations and potential prosecutions.
Michael has also been extensively involved in advising clients facing financial sanctions both domestically and globally with experience of sanctions regimes in a range of countries. His most recent experience includes representing high-net-worth individuals that are the subject of sanctions imposed by OFAC, OFSI and other foreign regulators, including challenging the 'designated' status of several high-profile Russian Oligarchs, and advising various Russian companies in a range of industry sectors on potential exposures arising from the evolving EU, US and UK sanctions regime.
In addition, Michael advises both companies and professional firms on their anti-money laundering compliance. Michael is a Solicitor-Advocate (Higher Courts Criminal and Civil Proceedings).
Career
Trained Titmuss Sainer Dechert 1995-97; qualified 1997; assistant solicitor 1997-2003; partner Byrne and Partners 2003 and Managing Partner from 2012 and later Senior Partner. He is a member of the Consulting Editorial Board of Lexis PSL Corporate Crime.
Languages
Memberships
Education
Maidstone Grammar School (1985-90); Lincoln College, Oxford (BA Hons Jurisprudence 2(1)); College of Law, Chester (Legal Practice Course Commendation).
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Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘What makes this team truly unique is their combination of sharp legal expertise and genuine empathy. From the start, they were incredibly responsive, clear, and strategic, making a complex and stressful process feel manageable. Their deep knowledge of fraud and white-collar crime, along with their calm, confident approach, really set them apart.'
‘Sara Teasdale was exceptional in every respect. Professionally, she is sharp, strategic, and incredibly knowledgeable; her expertise in fraud and white-collar crime is clear from the outset. What really sets her apart, though, is the way she combines that professionalism with genuine care and humanity. Her calm confidence was incredibly reassuring during a difficult time, and I always felt that I was in the best possible hands.'
‘PCB Byrne has evolved into a highly specialised, elite unit of practitioners who deliver a product of exceptionally high quality with the minimum of fuss.’
‘Emma Brooks is a complete star. Her unusual blend of great intelligence, deep experience and utter tenacity has made her one of the very few stand-out forces in the white-collar arena. No one fights harder for their clients than Emma, and she always delivers.'
‘Very responsive to client needs. Legally innovative and determined.’
'Emma Brooks is a legal innovator and master of the detail in complex fraud cases.'