Michael is a Consultant at Watkins & Gunn. He is the Head of Public & Administrative law at Watkins & Gunn and is also a highly regarded personal injury lawyer. Michael has been involved in some of the highest profile cases in Wales in recent years that cover Judicial Review, service closures, education law and personal injury matters
Michael has been ranked as a leading Administrative Law Lawyer and Personal injury lawyer in both the Chambers UK Guide and the Legal 500 Directory –independent guides that gather client opinion and that of other legal professionals to rank lawyers regionally and nationally. Michael is ranked in the Legal 500’s ‘Hall of Fame’. The Hall of Fame is reserved for leading lawyers who are ‘at the pinnacle of the profession’.
For over 20 years Michael has been the principal lawyer in Wales and the West for the Community Union.
Infected Blood Inquiry
Michael acted for hundreds of victims in the infected blood inquiry (2018 -24) and continues to act and advise in respect of the infected blood the compensation scheme.
Inquests & Public Inquiries
Michael had represented families in some of the largest coroners inquests in Wales such as the Port Talbot steel works explosion of 2001 and the Gleision mining disaster 2011.
Hospital & school closure cases
Michael has acted in a number of high profile hospital closure and downgrade cases, for example, Ysbyty Glan Clwyd, fighting the closure of the Neo Natal maternity centre – Bishops Castle, saving the local cottage hospital Michael has acted in a number of high profile school closure cases, for example – Gwernyfed High School – In 2015, this popular mid Wales secondary school was earmarked for closure by Powys County Council – Beaumaris Primary School (2019). Michael acted for campaigners in successfully saving Beaumaris Primary school in Anglesey, North Wales. In 2024 Michael helped to save four primary schools in Ceredigion.
Library closure challenges
Michael has acted in a number of high profile library closure cases. In 2018 Michael helped save 20 libraries in Northamptonshire from closure in a landmark judicial review challenge. Michael has also helped save libraries in other parts of the county such as St Helens, the Rhondda and Church Stretton (Shropshire).
Historic Abuse & Human Rights cases
Michael has acted for a number of victims of historic sex abuse cases, for example, acting for victims of acts carried out by a Newport primary school head teacher in the 1970’s and for victims of abuse allegedly carried out on Caldey Island, Pembrokeshire.
Personal Injury cases
Michael has acted for claimants in some prominent leading personal injury cases which have shaped the law in respect of industrial disease (Brown & Others v Corus – [2004] EWCA Civ 374), fatal accidents (Rogers v National Assembly of Wales – [2004] EWCA Civ 250 & Welsh Ambulance NHS Trust v Williams [2008] EWCA Civ 81), and foreign travel (Akehurst & Others v Thompson Holidays 6 May 2003 (CC Cardiff)).
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