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Practice:
Chancery
Commercial Litigation
Commercial Fraud
Company and Insolvency
Property Litigation
Professional Indemnity
Profile:
Michael works exclusively on commercial and chancery matters with a strong emphasis on litigation, particularly trials, although also undertaking advisory work.
Michael's areas of practice includes company and insolvency, partnership, property, civil fraud, breach of trust and fiduciary duty, banking, professional negligence, general commercial litigation (including that with a scientific or technical content) and breach of confidence/infringement of copyright. He has been involved in a number of cases relating to the internet both as regards the nature of sites (passing off and trade mark infringement) and their content (defamation, malicious falsehood and infringement of copyright). He has lectured for the Chancery Bar Association on money laundering (session presided upon by Lord Justice Lloyd) and has also presented training talks for solicitors on this topic. He has undertaken numerous trials, and has also appeared in various appellate cases both in the Court of Appeal and before the Law Lords. He is equally at home making legal submissions in complex legal matters or conducting cross-examinations with a variety of witnesses.
His practice has taken him to the Caribbean, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man, the Channel Islands and Belgium, as well as all parts of England.
His naturally combative but persuasive style is well-suited to all types of litigation and arbitration. However, as an effective and pragmatic negotiator he is also suitable for mediation and other types of settlement meetings.
As well as being able to conduct the cases themselves, Michael relates well to both solicitors and clients and the issues they have to deal with, and is very good at making sure that counsel, solicitors and client work as a unified team.
Michael has his own website containing items of interest both lawyers and the general public, at http://www.leadingcounsel.co.uk
Significant Reported Recent Cases:
Mount Murray Country Club Ltd and another v Department of Transport of the Isle of Man (PC). [2004] All ER (D) 379 (Dec) [2004] UKPC 57
Parker v Snyder and others - [2003] All ER (D) 07 )
Ministry of Defence v Country and Metropolitan Homes (Rissington) Ltd Times Law Reports 7th November 2002
B&Q plc v Liverpool and Lancashire Properties Ltd 81 P & CR 246
Greenwich Ltd v National Westminster Bank plc [1999] 2 Lloyds Rep. 308
Dale Farm Dairy Group Ltd v Akram [1998] ICR 349
R v Chief Rabbi, ex p. Wachmann [1992] 1 WLR 1036
Recommendations:
Chambers UK 2009:
"...an awesome advocate - he is so focused and dedicated to winning that he presents and delivers submissions in a way which destroys the other side."
"...powerful advocate " who applies his "fine analytical mind" to matters including commercial litigation in the court centres of England, the Cayman Islands, the Isle of Man, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands and Belgium.
"...personable approach and supreme intelliigence;" clients are reassured by his " relaxed yet persuasive manner."
Chambers UK 2008:
Leaders in their field recommendations for Chancery, Commercial Dispute Resolution and Insovlency / Corporate Recovery)
"...has a broad ranging practice focusing on contentious areas, especially in the commercial sphere." (Chancery)
"... has enjoyed a busy year. He is currently acting in highly significant directors' disqualification proceedings arising from the collapse of The Accident Group. He also recently succeeded in obtaining special leave to the Privy Council in the case of Oakley v Osiris, an Isle of Man case regarding the proper law of a trust." (Commercial Dispute Resolution)
"...an imposing advocate who has extensive experience in Insolvency Bar. Recently the liquidators of Aqua Designs called upon his services, as did the claimants in an action against the former director of an insolvent legal support outfit. He has also bee in structed by the principal ongoing director in suits arising out of the high-profile collaps of the Accident Group." (Insolvency / Corporate Recovery)
Chambers UK 2007:
"Clients praised Michael Booth QC as 'a superb and tremendously hard-working silk,' as peers owned that he 'is an extremely robust advocate - you have to be prepared when facing him!' His Chancery practice centres on insolvency and commercial disputes, and he is also noted for his trusts expertise."
In the 2006 Chambers Guide to the Bar he is described as follows: "a "formidable opponent" in the courtroom and "second to none" in cross-examination."; "Resolute and direct," ... applauded by solicitors for his "stress-free handling of even the most convoluted of cases." "streetfighter" Michael Booth QC takes a "direct, practical approach to cases" that "endears him to clients."
Legal 500 2007:
"an absolutely first-rate commercial litigator"
Memberships:
Chancery Bar Association
Northern Chancery Bar Association
Northern and North Eastern Circuits
Career and Education:
University: Cambridge (Trinity College) (Open Scholar)
President of the Cambridge Union Society, Michaelmas 1979
Degree: Law (MA)
Year of Call: 1981 (Lincoln’s Inn)
Appointed Silk: 1999
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