Michael qualified as a Solicitor in 1994 and has excellent experience in all aspects of UK employment law. He has worked both in commerce and industry as well as in private practice. This grounding enables Michael to quickly dissect an employment law issue and quickly identify a strategy, the best outcome and how to achieve it.
This has enabled Michael to get involved in some employment law issues with an international dimension involving Europe, the Middle East, Latin America and the US. Michael is therefore well placed to understand the specific issues affecting businesses and has a good sense of commercial pragmatism.
Michael specifically enjoys project work, for example, the employment aspects of mergers and acquisitions, MBO’s and the disposal of businesses which necessitates undertaking the necessary due diligence and advising on compliance with the Transfer of Undertakings (TUPE). He also enjoys working on large scale redundancy programmes which involve collective and individual information and consultation obligations.
Michael is also keen to ensure that businesses are legally compliant with employment law and that they have up to date best practice policies and procedures in place to protect their long term interests. The aim of which is to avoid disputes and with the aim of retaining staff within the business.
Another area of expertise is employment tribunal litigation which includes class actions, and a career highlight to date was the case of Hare Wines Limited -v- Kaur [2019 EWCA Civ 216] which went to the Court of Appeal and where it was held that a personal relationship could not avoid the applicability of the Transfer of Undertakings.
Michael also has experience in advising businesses in a variety of sectors and industries and of various sizes from startups to multinationals. This often involves working alongside HR professionals, Senior Management and day-to-day decision makers on a wide variety of employment law issues.
On the other side of the coin, Michael also enjoys acting for high net individuals and senior executives where he is often required to negotiate their exit package or to pursue their individual employment rights where the employment relationship breaks down. This often leads to negotiating the terms of settlement agreements.
Other areas that are noteworthy include drafting contracts of employment, Directors Service Agreements, Partnership Agreements, Shareholder Agreements, and advising generally on more non-contentious areas of employment law for example internal performance and conduct issues, and fair processes and procedures and general compliance issues.
In his spare time Michael enjoys foreign travel, visiting the theatre and he also plays clarinet and saxophone.
Experience
Something you didn’t know.
Michael has worked in various sectors during his career including oil and gas, engineering and construction (Halliburton), waste management and environment (the Suez Group), publishing and media (Highbury House Communications), and International risk management (Global Strategies Group).
Accreditation and Honours
