Associate Solicitor
Michael attended Edinburgh University where he obtained an MA (hons) in Economics & Politics. Following University, he attended BPP Law School in London and completed the Law Conversion Course (GDL) in 2004 (Commendation) and completed the Bar Vocational Course in 2005 (Very Competent). He was called to the Bar by the Middle Temple in July 2005.
Michael joined Lockharts in August 2005 and was admitted as a Solicitor in September 2007. Since admission as a solicitor Michael has been a member of our litigationa regulatory team.
Michael has been heavily involved in assisting practices on dispensing and Pharmacy matters and is our lead solicitor in Pharmacy work. In particular, Michael advises dispensing practices on
- Challenges to dispensing in the form of pharmacy applications
- Making their own applications
- Joint ventures between practices and pharmacists and all associated questions.
In contentious work Michael has a broad experience in advising partnerships over disputes; both internally (partnership disputes and expulsions) and externally (breach of NHS contract and associated regulatory law). Michael has advised partners in Arbitration and Court proceedings, as well as in assisting practices to mediate settlements in both formal and informal mediations.
Michael, alongside Andrew Lockhart-Mirams, was involved in the Crouch case where Lockharts successfully represented the British Dental Association as interested parties in a Judicial Review over the meaning of the termination provisions in the dental PDS Agreements.
In addition to partnership disputes, Michael also advises partnerships on employment matters (such as discrimination claims) and in general employment law matters.
Judicial Review continues to grow in importance in the field of health law. Michael, as a part of the litigation team, has experience advising clients in relation to challenging the decisions of Primary Care Trusts and the NHSLA in the High Court. Michael has advised individual practices and LMCs on the appropriateness, or otherwise, of bringing challenges to adverse decisions of public bodies.
