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About Michael

Michael is the Head of the Global Construction Team. In addition to the management responsibilities this entails, he also maintains an active practice. He advises on all aspects of construction contracts and law, with a particular focus on problems that arise during projects and formal disputes.

He has advised in relation to a wide range of UK and international projects, including oil & gas, civil engineering, transport, renewable energy, offshore, office development and land remediation. In relation to such projects, he has acted for the full range of participants involved in the construction industry, including developers, energy companies, government organisations, contractors and consultants. His work has involved matters in all parts of the world, including Europe, the Middle East, the Americas, Africa and South-East Asia.

Michael has experience of acting in relation to a wide variety of claims, including delay, disruption, variations, defects and termination disputes; and in relation to the full range of forums for dispute resolution including mediation, adjudication, DABs, arbitration and litigation. He has acted for clients in relation to very complex and high value claims, including a number of disputes in excess of US$1 billion.

He worked previously in the highly ranked specialist construction practice at Winward Fearon/Maxwell Winward, at which he was a partner from 2001. The construction team from that firm moved to HFW in April 2013.

Michael is the author of Construction Contract Variations, the only specialist book on the legal issues relating to changes to the scope of work on construction projects which has been described in reviews as “a master guide” (Doug Jones, International Construction law Review) and “an indispensable classic” (Simon Rainey KC, Law Society Gazette). He is involved in a number of industry and academic bodies. He teaches on the Stuttgart University Construction Law Masters course; is a member of the Consultation Board for the Thomson Reuters legal resources website Practical Law, and was on the panel of friendly reviewers for the FIDIC second edition suite. He also regularly speaks at industry conferences.