
Doughty Street Chambers is delighted to announce twenty-f...Read more
Michael’s expertise covers public law and human rights, immigration, inquests, and personal injury. He is regularly instructed in civil claims, tribunal appeals and judicial review claims, including in urgent applications for interim relief. He is particularly strong on the intersection between immigration law and social welfare issues and has appeared in a number of significant test cases in the higher courts. Michael draws upon his previous experience as a human rights solicitor working in the asylum and social security sectors.
Michael also has a busy civil law damages practice, specialising in personal injury and actions against public authorities. He is an effective trial advocate and represents Claimants in High Court and County Court proceedings, as well as in damages claims transferred from the Administrative Court.
Leading Juniors, Ranked Tier 4
“Michael has a clear case strategy, and he is analytical in his approach.”—Legal 500, 2025
“Mike is very knowledgeable of immigration law. He is thorough in his consideration and preparation and produces high-quality and compelling submissions. He gives clear and concise advice.”—Legal 500, 2025
“Michael is very thorough. He brings new insight and thoughtful points to cases, and is very considered in his approach. He has a great manner with clients, who easily put their trust in him.”—Legal 500, 2024
Michael’s public law practice covers immigration, discrimination, children’s rights, social security, and community care law. He has a particular expertise in issues involving the intersection between immigration and social welfare law, including asylum support, community care, age assessment, and retained EU law.
Prior to coming to the bar, Michael was the legal officer for the Child Poverty Action Group, where he conducted test case challenges to cuts to welfare entitlement, including in Case C507/12 Saint Prix v United Kingdom; R(Rutherford) v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions [2016] UKSC 58; SG and Others v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions [2015] UKSC 16; and R(Winder) v Sandwell Borough Council [2014] EWHC 2617 (Admin).
Michael’s immigration practice covers all areas of asylum and immigration law, including tribunal and judicial review proceedings. He is particularly valued for his expertise in asylum support and appeals under the EU Settlement Scheme. He also regularly represents claimants in claims for damages for unlawful detention and other related breaches of human rights.
Michael regularly acts for claimants and defendants in personal injury claims, including clinical negligence, industrial disease, and employer’s liability cases. He has appeared in County Court and High Court proceedings up to and including trial. He is frequently instructed to draft pleadings and to advise in conference on liability and quantum. Michael was seconded to a leading claimant clinical negligence firm, where he gained experience in high-value catastrophic injury claims.
Michael accepts instructions in claims against public authorities, including actions for damages against the police and social services and unlawful detention claims. He is an author for the most recent edition of the Legal Action Group Police Law Handbook.
Combining his immigration and civil law expertise, Michael acts in professional negligence claims involving sub-standard immigration advice, including claims for loss of earnings as a result of losing immigration status. His work includes a successful judicial review challenge against a decision of the Legal Ombudsman concerning negligent OISC-regulated advice and securing high-value damages for loss of earnings against a solicitor’s firm.
Michael is an experienced inquests practitioner, having represented families and other interested persons in a variety of inquests, often in cases involving prison deaths, healthcare issues, and police failures.