Michael Ward Partner

Michael is a results driven and creative dispute resolution lawyer acting for both corporates and entrepreneurs. Playing a lead role in our Dispute Resolution team, Michael works with his colleagues to help clients arrive at the right solution to their issue, minimising impact and maximising success. He is supported by our extensive dispute resolution practice with a proven track record in the highest-profile cases and cross-border, multi-sector expertise.

He advises nationally and internationally on High Court and arbitration proceedings, specialising in company and partnership/LLP law disputes. In particular, he focuses on:

• Unfair Prejudice Petitions
• Derivative claims
• The breakdown of joint ventures
• Breach of director duties
• Breach of fiduciary duties
• Fraud claims/asset tracing

Michael advises on disputes relating to:

• Shareholders’ agreements / articles of association
• Investment fund agreements
• Joint venture agreements / long term relational contracts
• Partnership agreements
• Director services agreements
• SPAs

Michael has published an overview of significant cases in one of his key specialist areas - shareholder disputes. If you are interested in reading more about this subject, please click here.

• Advising an UHNW family in a £150m unfair prejudice claim and associated fraud proceedings in relation to the UK’s largest pharmaceutical distribution company (Krishna Holdco Limited -v- Gowrie Holdings Limited & others)
• Advising an entrepreneur in a £10m misrepresentation claim against a minority shareholder and senior executive in a large private healthcare business (Ludlow Street Healthcare Ltd & Others -v- (1) Andrew Mallett and (2) Ceirios Mallett)
• Advising an entrepreneur in a breach of contract claim relating to an asset swap agreement with a former business partner (Allan Jones & another -v- Andrew McCarthy)
• Advising an UHNW Russian businessman in unfair prejudice proceedings relating to one of his UK investments (Mulgride Business Limited -v- (1) Gary Holmes and (2) Synchronisedlife Ltd)
• Advising a Swiss private office in ICC arbitration proceedings relating to the breakdown of a property joint venture with a Lebanese family (including acting as sole advocate in an application for Emergency Measures)
• Advising a hedge fund manager in a multi-million pound claim against his former business partner relating to a Cayman Master Feeder fund
• Advising a renewables PLC in a pre-action dispute with its joint venture partner relating to a large renewable energy facility
• Advising a Saudi national on a pre-action dispute concerning his investment in a Cayman fund
• Advising a cyber-security start-up on a pre-action dispute with a founding shareholder