Michael is a highly experienced lawyer having previously led Meredith Connell’s public, regulatory and insolvency law group before joining the independent bar in 2021.
Michael has extensive and wide ranging experience in public law and inquiries, professional standards and disciplinary proceedings, regulatory practice and compliance, private and public law compensation claims and claims for injunctive relief, and general civil litigation.
Michael provides practical, outcomes-focused advice to clients on how to ensure they comply with their regulatory obligations in managing their business risk. He has also advised Crown entities and other regulatory bodies on regulatory systems, policies and practices.
Michael regularly appears in judicial review proceedings in the High Court and Court of Appeal. He has represented clients in professional standards and disciplinary proceedings across all of the professional services (lawyers, financial advisors, accountants), real estate, construction, health, sport, and education sectors.
Michael has been appointed to act as amicus curiae in litigation in the Court of Appeal and the High Court, as counsel assisting the Coroner in coronial inquiries, and assisting the IPCA Inquiry into Police Investigations of Child Abuse.
Prior to joining Sangro Chambers Michael was a partner of Meredith Connell for over 10 years and was Chair of the firm’s Board from 2017 to 2020.
Professional standards
Judicial review
Inquiries
Regulatory and compliance
Civil litigation
New Zealand Law Society
Chair, Collaborative Marketing Committee Kiwifruit NZ
New Conduct & Client Care Rules NZLS CLE May 2021
Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal in New Zealand Tribunals: Law and Practice
Winner of the Auckland University Law Prize for Legal Writing 2000
Keene v LCRO – acting for NZLS as amicus curiae in judicial review proceedings before the Court of Appeal
Barfoot & Thompson v REA – counsel for the REA in the leading Court of Appeal decision on conflicts of interest under the Real Estate Agents Act
Prescott v Police – successful defence of NZBORA compensation claim in the Court of Appeal
J v ASC1 – counsel for the Committee in the Court of Appeal successfully opposing appeal against disgraceful conduct finding in professional disciplinary proceedings
Real Estate Authority v A – leading authority on fit and proper person test
White v Attorney-General – successful defence of tort proceedings in High Court and Court of Appeal
Dunn v MSD – superannuation entitlements litigation relating to UK pension funds
Barfoot & Thompson v Campbell – leading authority on disclosure requirements relating to non-physical defects/property issues
Perpetual Trust v Capital + MerchantFinance – Trustee Act litigation relating to Public Trust obligations
MBIE v Nair – successful appeal against interim relief orders made in judicial review proceedings under the Immigration Act
Anquandah v Attorney-General – Declaratory Judgment proceedings relating to customary adoption rights
Attorney-General v Unitec – counsel in the Court of Appeal in judicial review litigation of Ministerial decision making relating to the establishment of a new university
PGDB v Rickard – successful High Court appeal establishing parameters of licensing requirements in gas fitting work
Davis v PGDB – successful defence of judicial review proceedings in High Court and Court of Appeal relating to occupational disciplinary processes
Quin v Barras – leading authority on availability of financial relief under the Real Estate Agents Act
EdinburghRealty v Scandrett – High Court litigation about alleged misleading conduct in trade
Michael is a highly experienced lawyer having previously led Meredith Connell’s public, regulatory and insolvency law group before joining the independent bar in 2021.
Michael has extensive and wide ranging experience in public law and inquiries, professional standards and disciplinary proceedings, regulatory practice and compliance, private and public law compensation claims and claims for injunctive relief, and general civil litigation.
Michael provides practical, outcomes-focused advice to clients on how to ensure they comply with their regulatory obligations in managing their business risk. He has also advised Crown entities and other regulatory bodies on regulatory systems, policies and practices.
Michael regularly appears in judicial review proceedings in the High Court and Court of Appeal. He has represented clients in professional standards and disciplinary proceedings across all of the professional services (lawyers, financial advisors, accountants), real estate, construction, health, sport, and education sectors.
Michael has been appointed to act as amicus curiae in litigation in the Court of Appeal and the High Court, as counsel assisting the Coroner in coronial inquiries, and assisting the IPCA Inquiry into Police Investigations of Child Abuse.
Prior to joining Sangro Chambers Michael was a partner of Meredith Connell for over 10 years and was Chair of the firm’s Board from 2017 to 2020.
Professional standards
Judicial review
Inquiries
Regulatory and compliance
Civil litigation
New Zealand Law Society
Chair, Collaborative Marketing Committee Kiwifruit NZ
New Conduct & Client Care Rules NZLS CLE May 2021
Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal in New Zealand Tribunals: Law and Practice
Winner of the Auckland University Law Prize for Legal Writing 2000
Keene v LCRO – acting for NZLS as amicus curiae in judicial review proceedings before the Court of Appeal
Barfoot & Thompson v REA – counsel for the REA in the leading Court of Appeal decision on conflicts of interest under the Real Estate Agents Act
Prescott v Police – successful defence of NZBORA compensation claim in the Court of Appeal
J v ASC1 – counsel for the Committee in the Court of Appeal successfully opposing appeal against disgraceful conduct finding in professional disciplinary proceedings
Real Estate Authority v A – leading authority on fit and proper person test
White v Attorney-General – successful defence of tort proceedings in High Court and Court of Appeal
Dunn v MSD – superannuation entitlements litigation relating to UK pension funds
Barfoot & Thompson v Campbell – leading authority on disclosure requirements relating to non-physical defects/property issues
Perpetual Trust v Capital + MerchantFinance – Trustee Act litigation relating to Public Trust obligations
MBIE v Nair – successful appeal against interim relief orders made in judicial review proceedings under the Immigration Act
Anquandah v Attorney-General – Declaratory Judgment proceedings relating to customary adoption rights
Attorney-General v Unitec – counsel in the Court of Appeal in judicial review litigation of Ministerial decision making relating to the establishment of a new university
PGDB v Rickard – successful High Court appeal establishing parameters of licensing requirements in gas fitting work
Davis v PGDB – successful defence of judicial review proceedings in High Court and Court of Appeal relating to occupational disciplinary processes
Quin v Barras – leading authority on availability of financial relief under the Real Estate Agents Act
EdinburghRealty v Scandrett – High Court litigation about alleged misleading conduct in trade
