Michael has represented both claimants and defendants in travel litigation on all three tracks, from the small claims track to the multi-track. He has gained significant experience in dealing with road traffic accidents occurring in Europe, including in claims for hire / loss of use and fatal accidents. In addition, he has experience of dealing with package tour claims, holiday sickness claims and public liability claims. Aside from claims with an injury element, Michael has also acted for and against air carriers in flight delay claims pursuant to Regulation (EC) 261/2004.
In practice, Michael has gained significant experience of advising on a range of jurisdictional and choice of law issues. This has included advising insurers and their representatives on issues such as challenges to jurisdiction and what law is likely to apply to claims. He has worked closely with clients to assist in bringing and defending proceedings arising from accidents abroad, including giving advice on insurance issues, particularly policy coverage.
Michael has been called upon by various clients to advise on the impact of Brexit on travel litigation. The advice he has provided includes strategic advice. He has spoken and written on the subject and is well placed to advise on a range of Brexit related issues in connection with claims for personal injury as well as claims for insured and uninsured losses with a foreign dimension.
Michael has provided regular training on a full range of issues relating to travel litigation. This has included advising foreign insurers on domestic, procedural and substantive law. He spoke at the inaugural foreign claims event of a leading European insurance group in June 2018, being the only external lawyer to speak from across the group’s European partners.
Having acted for several foreign hoteliers, tour operators and foreign insurers across a wide range of claims, Michael is aware of commercial sensitivities and of the need to balance a robust approach against the need to achieve a commercially sound outcome.
