Partner
CurrentMichael acts for clients on complex restructurings and insolvency administrations, both in Australia and internationally.Michael has acted for corporations on national and international listed company restructurings in the property, agribusiness, retail, telecommunications, managed investment scheme and energy and resources sectors. Many of these matters have been successfully and confidentially resolved, out of the public's view.Michael also acts for banks and liquidators, administrators and affected creditors in major insolvency administrations, including Waterford Wedgewood (Australia's first truly international pre-pack insolvency and Winner of the Turnaround of the Year, Medium Business - TMA Australia Awards, 2009), Colorado, AED, Viking, Tyrecorp, Cedenco and Bridgecorp. Michael has a significant Trans-Tasman practice, commencing his career in New Zealand, where he acted on numerous high profile insolvency administrations. He also acted as counsel and led court cases in the High Court and Court of Appeal.Michael assists his clients to resolve matters quickly and cost-effectively by developing innovative solutions to enable companies to continue to trade (eg pre-packs, loan to own and introduction of distressed investors). He was the primary author of Distressing Investing in Australia.An international consultant to the Asian Development Bank, Michael managed a major law reform project aimed at promoting insolvency law reform in Asia. He drafted a Model Agreement to Promote Company Restructuring for the 140 member Asian Bankers' Association. He has been appointed by Treasury as an expert on the inter-governmental working group on Trans-Tasman cross-border insolvency law reform.Michael is also a part-time university lecturer for Monash University's corporate insolvency post-graduate insolvency course.
