Recommendations:

“Michael is a first-class practitioner. He has a tremendous ability to foster good relations with judges, juries, and other members of the Bar. He is extremely likeable, hardworking, courteous and…has a phenomenal intellect and great powers of cross-examination.”  Legal 500 (2024)

“Michael is a forensically astute advocate” and “is a good team player who is thorough and well prepared.” Chambers UK (2023)

“Michael is incredibly meticulous in his preparation and one of the best advocates around. You want him on your side.” Legal 500 (2023)

“Michael is first class. He is an obvious choice when dealing with high profile and complex fraud cases. He is exceptionally clever, and is very compelling both on his feet and in his written submissions.”       Legal 500 (2022)

“He is extremely clever and takes a pragmatic approach. He has a great reputation with the prosecution agencies and the court” and “he is a great court advocate who charms juries and judges. He is also very technically skilled.” Chambers UK (2022)

“He has amazing flair in court and outstanding knowledge.” Chambers UK (2021)

“Incredibly thorough in his preparation and leaves no stone unturned.” Chambers UK (2021)

“A well-respected barrister with notable expertise in prosecuting and defending high-value financial crime cases. He has experience in bribery, corruption and tax fraud matters.” Chambers UK (2020)

“Superb. Responsive, a pleasure to deal with, and liked by clients, he’s an all-round excellent advocate.” Chambers UK(2020)

“His work ethic is tireless.” Legal 500 (2020)

“Michael is a serious heavy-hitter in criminal fraud. He combines a powerful intellect with a measured and effective advocacy style.” Legal 500 (2019)

“His calm and measured advocacy style carries authority.” Legal 500 (2019)

“Clever, organised, calm and a class act in the courtroom.” Legal 500: Business & Regulatory Crime (including Global Investigations) (2019)

“He is excellent at organising detailed evidence and has a charming persona with the jury.” Legal 500 (2017)

Notable cases include the following:

• R v S: Instructed to defend a company director charged with carbon credit fraud.

• R v C: Instructed to prosecute a company director and others charged with conspiracy to launder money.

• Instructed to defend a company director and corporate entity in relation to tax fraud charges.

• SFO: Instructed by the Serious Fraud Office to prosecute a complex fraud and money laundering case.

• Instructed by CPS Fraud Division to advise in relation to a fraud investigation. 
• SFO v B: Prosecuted on behalf of the Serious Fraud Office two former employees of Serco Ltd for allegations of fraud.
• SFO v Serco Geografix Ltd: Represented the Serious Fraud Office in proceedings in which the fifth Deferred Prosecution Agreement that was applied for and approved on 4th July 2019 at Southwark Crown Court by Mr Justice William Davis. [PRESS REPORTS [SFO][JUDICIARY][BBC][ITV]]
• R v A: Defended a partner of a top-flight accountancy firm charged in a professional capacity with a multi-million pound corporate tax fraud.
• R v X: Defended a company director in a multi-million pound local government bribery, corruption and money laundering case relating to fire regulation compliance within a London borough’s local council tower blocks.
• Re D: Represented a corporation being investigated for multimillion-pound tax fraud related to offshore tax avoidance planning.
• Re G: Represented a company director being investigated for multimillion-pound tax fraud.
• Re B: Represented a company director being investigated by the Serious Fraud Office into multi-jurisdictional corruption and bribery associated with the trading of Unaoil, and securing international petrochemical contracts.
• Re C: Represented a corporation being investigated for multimillion-pound tax fraud related to player transfers in the premier league.
• Op Solitude: Defended a company director in a £35m conspiracy to launder monies for organised crime groups through a network of Money Service Bureaus.
• Op Bronze: Prosecuted 18 defendants for misconduct in public office, fraud and money laundering in 3 trials, arising from one of the largest local authority private prosecutions ever brought. Press Links: Evening Standard | ITV | Daily Mail.
• R v L: Prosecuted a 7 month trial on behalf of the Serious Fraud Office for a £100m multi-handed banking syndicate fraud described at the time as the “biggest ever banking fraud of its kind”. Press Links: Telegraph | Manchester Evening | SFO
• R v V: Defended a company director in a large scale international immigration fraud and multimillion-pound money laundering conspiracy.
• R v E: Defended in a multi-million pound duty evasion case.
• R v M: Defended a NHS senior manager charged with fraud committed in the course of their employment.
• R v D: Defended an international immigration fraud conspiracy facilitating 70 asylum seekers being smuggled across UK boarders.
• R v S: Defended a senior Metropolitan Police Officer charged with multi-million pound fraud.

• R v I: Defended a £170m MTIC / VAT Fraud representing a company director. Press Links: The Guardian
• R v Y: Defended a pharmacist in a multimillion-pound regulatory fraud case arising from an international conspiracy to distribute and manufacture counterfeit life-saving medicines. The prosecution (brought by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency) centred on the regulation and control of medicine licensing within the EU.
• SFO v Balfour Beatty: Instructed by the Serious Fraud Office in the first civil recovery order being made relating to unlawful conduct arising from inaccurate accounting records. Press Links: Telegraph
• SFO v F: Instructed by the Serious Fraud Office in the prosecution of a global computer supplier company chairman for fraudulent trading.