Michael Clark

Full Profile

Michael acts for leading law firms, solicitors, barristers (including King’s Counsel) and other professionals, and their insurers, in relation to complex, sensitive and sometimes high-profile professional negligence and malpractice claims and regulatory matters. 

Michael regularly conducts in-depth investigations for law firms, advising on reporting obligations, compliance and risk management issues, and represents clients (including non-lawyers) facing SRA and other regulatory investigations and disciplinary proceedings.

He is mentioned in The Legal 500 for his work in Professional Discipline and Professional Negligence and writes and speaks on liability, risk management and regulatory issues affecting the legal sector.  He is a contributor to a compliance manual for inhouse counsel and has written for The Lawyer. 

Michael has also acted in one of the largest valuation claims ever brought in the UK.  He has advised financial institutions, high net worth individuals and corporates in relation to complex, high-value and multi-jurisdictional commercial disputes and has been seconded to a major private equity house. He trained and qualified with Clyde & Co. 

Experience

• Advising solicitors, non-lawyers regulated by the SRA and law firms in relation to regulatory issues, including AML, conflicts of interest, use of client account, equality, diversity and inclusion, and dealings with third parties 
• Defending professional liability claims against barristers, including specialists in construction, divorce, professional negligence and tax
• Defending professional negligence and malpractice claims against law firms arising from advice given in relation to ATE insurance, commercial litigation, medical negligence, IP, corporate transactions, aviation finance and tax. 
• Acting for solicitors contesting an application for permission to bring committal proceedings for alleged contempt of court
• Advising in relation to disciplinary and regulatory proceedings brought by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors
• Defending an international firm of valuers in relation to one of the largest valuation claims ever brought in the UK
• Advising and defending a major US bank against a USD 35 million claim arising from the investment of cash collateral pursuant to a securities lending programme, which resulted in a 6-week trial in the High Court
• Acting in relation to a dispute regarding the financing of a multi-billion pound public-to-private takeover