Michael Ward

About

Michael is a results-driven and creative dispute resolution lawyer. He typically acts for corporates, entrepreneurs, private equity houses and UK Government agencies in organisation critical disputes.

He advises in High Court (including at appellate level), magistrates’ court and arbitration proceedings, specialising in three main areas.

• Business ownership disputes – Michael acts for shareholders, partners, LLP members and directors on unfair prejudice petitions, derivative claims, breach of director duties, breach of partnership obligations and LLP agreements. Michael has published an overview of shareholder disputes which is available here.
• Civil fraud – Michael has extensive civil fraud experience including obtaining and defending freezing injunctions and document preservation orders. He often acts in multi-jurisdictional asset recovery cases, and his work has spanned international jurisdictions including India, Dubai, Switzerland and the Seychelles, amongst others.
• Proceeds of crime/anti-corruption litigation – Michael heads the firm’s market leading team acting for the UK Government in civil recovery and account forfeiture claims under the Proceeds of Crime Act. He has over 10 years’ experience litigating such claims, and has successfully obtained multiple Unexplained Wealth Orders, Property Freezing Orders and Account Freezing Orders.

Michael is a member of the firm’s Strategic Board and previously sat on our Operations Board. He is also Chair of the Diversity & Inclusion organisation Lawyers Who Care, which promotes access to the legal profession for members of the care experienced community.