Profile
Year of Call:
2004Year of Silk:
2017Overview
Michael took Silk in 2017 and practises nationally in all kinds of complex commercial disputes. He has a particularly prominent reputation in the areas of competition, class actions, corporate law and financial services. He is ranked by Legal 500 as a leading Silk at the Australian Bar for commercial disputes and competition law, by Best Lawyers® for litigation, public, regulatory and competition law, and by Doyle’s Guide for competition law.
In 2018, he was one of the Senior Counsel assisting the Royal Commission into Misconduct in the Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services Industry. With a strong track record of getting across material in a short space of time, ability to grasp legal complexities and approachable demeanour, Michael is a KC of choice for appearing before or assisting commissions of inquiry and public reviews.
In the fast-developing area of class actions, Michael has established himself as a prominent barrister defending class actions. He has worked with government entities against actions concerning robodebt, climate change disclosure and energy prices.
In competition law, Michael appears for and advises Australian and foreign corporations, and their directors and officers, in relation to investigations and proceedings in respect of allegation concerning mergers, cartels, abuse of market power, and unconscionable conduct.
Experience
Competition & Consumer
Having acted in matters concerning a vast breadth of competition and consumer law, including regularly acting for the ACCC, Michael is regarded as a leading barrister in this area of law. Below are some examples of the variety of issues and industries he has been engaged with.
> Matter concerning the contravention of s 45(2)(a)(ii) of the Trade Practices Act 1974 (now the Competition and Consumer Act 2010) where a supply arrangement for polycarbonate roof sheeting had the likely effect of substantially lessening competition in the market.
> Acting for the ACCC in multiple proceedings alleging Flight Centre attempted to induce airlines to enter into an arrangement to fix, control or maintain flight prices.
> Appearing for the ACCC in an appeal against a cement company in respect of contracts allegedly contravening s76 of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth) and considered whether a contravening contract ought to be separately penalised or treated as a single course of conduct.
> Acting for the ACCC in separate matters against national supermarkets in claims of unconscionable conduct within the meaning of s 21(1) of the Australian Consumer Law.
> Appearing for the ACCC against a goods supplier alleging an “unfair term” within the meaning of s 24 of the Australian Consumer Law.
> Acting for the ACCC against a media company seeking declarations, injunctions and pecuniary penalties for misleading and deceptive conduct.
Regulatory
Michael advises and acts for individuals and companies in respect of regulatory obligations who are party to disputes or subject to investigations. Below highlights some of the variety of matters Michael has previously been briefed on.
> Acting for and advising regulators undertaking investigations or instituting proceedings and assisting and advising companies and individuals involved in or the subject of regulatory investigations or proceedings.
> Dispute concerning mill owner directors appointed to the Board of Queensland Sugar Limited in relation to the Sugar Industry (Real Choice in Marketing) Amendment Act 2015 (Qld).
> Matter where a legal practitioner was company secretary and corporate counsel for Racing Queensland and whether the practitioner breached fiduciary or equivalent duties when instructing legal firms about terms of executive employment contracts including her own.
Inquiries & Investigations
With in depth experience of working as part of Commissions of Inquiry and investigations, Michael is well placed to advise, assist and appear at all stages of inquiries.
> Engaged as part of the Public Inquiry into the Australian dairy industry to establish a long term solution to the dairy crisis, including the legality of milk contracts.
> Advising the Queensland Productivity Commission in relation to a competitive neutrality complaint.
> Appearing in the Royal Commission into Misconduct in the Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services Industry.
> Counsel engaged in the Investigation into the Transport of Waste in Queensland.
> Involved in the Inquiry into Queensland Rail’s train crew practices investigating circumstances associated with the disruptions to the Citytrain timetable.
> Briefed in the Queensland Parole System Review which sought input from victims’ organisations, organisations working with offender, academics and experts.
> Engaged in the Grantham Floods Commission of Inquiry investigating the man-made factors affecting the 2011 flooding of the Lockyer Creek.
Contract
Contractual disputes form a major part of Michael’s practice. He advises and appears for companies, construction entities and individuals at all stages of the dispute resolution process. Below are recent examples of matters Michael has been engaged on.
> Acting for Mackay Sugar against declarations as to the operation of a contract and an injunction to prohibit breach of the contract which was a standard form “Cane Supply and Processing Agreement” (“CSPA”) supply contract between the respondent and growers for the supply of sugar cane by growers to the respondent.
> Dispute arising from a contract between a sugar mill and a logistics company regarding the logistics company’s invoices to transport sugar to a mill.
> Acting for the appellant in a dispute regarding the completion of the construction of a clubhouse.
Recommendations
Chambers & Partners (Asia Pacific)
2023-24 – Competition/Antitrust and Dispute Resolution
Doyle’s Guide (Australia Wide)
2023-24 – Recommended in Class Actions
2018-2023 – Recommended in Competition Law
Doyle’s Guide (Queensland)
2023-2024 – Recommended in Insolvency & Restructuring
2018-2024 – Recommended in Commercial Litigation & Dispute Resolution
Legal 500 (Asia Pacific)
2024
– Commercial Disputes “Michael is an excellent barrister – very intelligent and also very commercial. He creates a very stress-free environment for those in the team. He is relaxed to work with, and he is very open to hearing the views and input of others in the team. His advocacy style is very effective – and clients are always very happy with him.”
– Competition “He is bright, and gets across material and issues quickly. He is a very experienced and agile advocate. He reads the court room well. He is an extremely effective cross-examiner who knows how to destroy an expert witness. Michael has established himself as one of the leading silks in competition law in the country.”
2023
– Commercial Disputes “a new generation of KC that is collaborative, commercial and pragmatic in his approach“.
– Competition “Extraordinarily bright and able to digest very large amounts of complex material in a short period of time, and refine to key issues and clever strategy. Very receptive and approachable, great to work with. Excellent on his feet, attentive to the bench – and a lethal cross-examiner“.
2022
– Commercial Disputes “A high profile senior counsel briefed as counsel assisting on the Financial Services Royal Commission.”
– Competition “Michael is an outstanding advocate and very commercial. He can digest and advocate a position with ease and in the most favourable way for a client. Michael is one of the new generation of leading silks at the Australian Bar.”
Australian Financial Review’s Best Lawyers®
2023 – Listed for Competition, Public and Regulatory Law, as well as Litigation. Listed as Sydney’s Regulatory ‘Lawyer of the Year’.
Member
Member - Corporations Committee, Law Council of Australia
Member - Competition and Consumer Committee, Law Council of Australia
Member - Australian Association of Constitutional Law
Member - Bar Council Association of Queensland
Member - LawRight
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