EXPERIENCE & EXPERTISE
Michael has practiced exclusively in the workers compensation area for more than 35 years. During this time, he has achieved outstanding outcomes across entire workers compensation portfolios.
Michael has developed longstanding relationships with all relevant stakeholders and his advice is regularly sought in major and novel claims. He has also been involved in implementing innovative claims and risk management for insurers and employers to reduce risks and drive down costs through effective portfolio management.
Michael has demonstrated that he is a recognised leader in this area and is a trusted first in line and out of hour’s legal support for employers faced with disasters or catastrophic injuries to workers or members of the public. As a high profile matter example, Michael was sought by a client to provide advice within 10 minutes of the 2003 Waterfall train disaster.
Michael has also been retained on large matters potentially involving fraud where his advice has been sought on those matters.
Having only practiced in this area throughout his entire career, Michael has a thorough knowledge and understanding of the challenges constantly being faced by all relevant stakeholders in this area and regularly works with these stakeholders to achieve optimum outcomes. This can often involve stakeholders whose challenges may not necessarily be aligned, however, Michael’s experience enables a collaborative and collegiate approach to achieve an optimum outcome.
Michael’s approachability and pragmatic approach to his practice has enabled him to consistently achieve outstanding outcomes across entire workers compensation portfolios. His knowledge across multiple jurisdictions is unique in this area and has been pivotal in this success along with his drive to reduce costs through alternate dispute resolution. Michael uses the outcomes in his cases as a blueprint for future knowledge and as a risk management tool.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
In recent times, Michael has been retained by icare to defend a number of claims in the ride sharing industry which could have scheme wide ramifications should the parties involved be considered to be ‘workers’ or ‘deemed workers’. Michael has successfully defended each case to date.
Michael has been involved in several pilot projects for insurers and government departments. One particular project for a government department ran over four years and resulted in an average saving of more than 15% on the average cost of a common law claim in the first year alone.
RECOGNITION
Ranked as a Leading Lawyer – Workers Compensation (Defendant) in NSW by Doyle's Guide 2024.
Ranked in the peer-reviewed Best Lawyers® in Australia list for:
- Personal Injury Litigation since 2022
- Alternative Dispute Resolution 2025
- Insurance Law 2025