Profile
Work Department
Position
Michael is the head of the Employment and Business Immigration law team and also leads the firm’s HR consultancy practice, CFR HR. Michael has been with Cleaver Fulton Rankin since 2008, having qualified as a solicitor in 1993.
Michael has considerable experience in employment law and HR advisory work and is also involved in education and charity law as well as dispute resolution. Michael is a Chartered Member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development by examination.
Michael acts for a number of public, private and third sector organisations including Invest NI, Catalyst, DailyPay, IceMOS Technology, Sports Council Northern Ireland, National Museums Northern Ireland, Titanic Belfast Limited, Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council, CCEA Northern Regional College, South Eastern Regional College and the Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman’s Office.
Career
Michael qualified 1993 and previously worked for the Equality Commission and PriceWaterhouseCoopers. Currently a Director at Cleaver Fulton Rankin. Michael has published a number of articles, webinars and podcasts on a variety of legal issues in local and national press and business magazines including The Belfast Telegraph and The Lawyer. He has also appeared on television and radio speaking on employment and equality law matters. Michael is also a contributor to ‘International Employment Law’, published by CILS annually.
Memberships
Michael is a member of Law Society of Northern Ireland; Law Society of England and Wales; Belfast Solicitors Association; Employment Lawyers Group NI; Employment Lawyers Association; and Education Lawyers Group. Michael is also a Chartered Member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development.
Education
Michael graduated from Queen’s University Belfast in 1991 with a Law Degree and obtained his Certificate in Professional Legal Studies from QUB in 1993. Michael obtained a Masters in Business Administration from University of Ulster in 1995 and completed a Diploma in Personnel Management (CIPD qualification) in 2000.
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Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Michael Black is eminently approachable, regardless of the complexity or gravity of the matter. Michael offers practical, commercial advice based on real-world experience and a comprehensive understanding of the employee perspective. Michael's approach makes him feel like a partner to our business in such matters, rather than an arm's-length advisor.’
‘The team is very joined up and keeps each other updated on developments, such that as you speak with different team members, they are all up to speed with the case management. They are all subject matter experts in terms of the various employment law matters I have accessed their advice upon.’
‘Michael Black is the employment law partner, and I have found his advice to be particularly insightful and strategic in nature. We have always gotten a successful outcome.’
Key clients
- First Derivatives PLC DailyPay Inc / DailyPay (NI) Ltd Invest NI Bamford Bus Company Holdings Limited t/a Wrightbus Artemis Technologies Limited Causeway Coast & Glens Borough Council National Museums Northern Ireland