Michael has extensive experience advising clients in international commercial transactions, subject to English, French and Swiss law or international conventions. Michael joined the firm in 2007 and was based in HFW's Singapore office for about 7 years.

Michael is the head of our Geneva office where he relocated to in January 2015 and has worked in London, Singapore and Geneva. As a native French and German speaker, Michael practices in English, French and German. He is qualified as an English solicitor as well as a French Avocat.

Michael specialises in international litigation and arbitration and commercial contracts, with a particular emphasis on commodities and shipping. His practice has taken him all over the world and he has acted on behalf of clients in arbitrations in numerous jurisdictions, including London, Geneva, Zurich, Paris, Dubai, Singapore and Hong Kong. Michael has run over 50 international arbitrations in the past 10 years under various rules (ICC, LCIA, Swiss Rules, LMAA, GAFTA, FOSFA, SIAC, SCMA, UNCITRAL and HKIAC) and subject to both civil and common law procedural and substantive laws. Michael's commercial common sense and focused approach to assist his clients in achieving their commercial ambitions has been applauded by clients.

As part of his commodities practice, Michael advises commodity traders, producers, financiers and insurers on all aspects of their business, including international sale of goods, commodity trading contracts for most soft and hard commodities, transportation and letters of credit issues. He has particular experience of disputes involving grain and fertiliser cargoes as well as oil, mineral ores and coal shipments.

As part of his shipping practice, Michael advises shipowners, charterers and P&I Clubs on all aspects of dry shipping litigation and arbitration, including charterparties, bills of lading, ship sale and purchase, marine insurance (hull, cargo and P&I) and contracts of affreightment.

Michael has been nominated in the 2024 edition of Legal 500 EMEA as a Leading individual in Transport.