Michael Williams
Called to the Bar in 2024 (England and Wales)
and 2015 (South Africa)
Michael joined chambers in August 2024. Prior to joining chambers, Michael worked as a County Court advocate and as a barrister at the Johannesburg Bar. Michael focuses on commercial law and personal injury law.
AREAS OF PRACTICE
- Personal Injury
- Commercial
Michael appeared in a range of civil proceedings as a County Court advocate, particularly in the fields of personal injury and credit hire. These included fast track and small claims trials, Stage 3 hearings, applications, dispute resolution hearings, costs and case management conferences, and infant settlement approval hearings. Michael also drafted numerous advices on quantum.
In Johannesburg, Michael practised in civil, commercial and administrative law. He has appeared in most major courts and tribunals in South Africa. Michael emigrated to the UK in 2023, but remains a member of the Johannesburg Bar and is able to appear in South African courts and to advise on South African law.
Recent examples of Michael’s work in South Africa include the following:
- Advising in conference on revenge porn laws in South Africa (sole counsel);
- Representing a bookmaker in a 5-day disciplinary hearing before the disciplinary committee of the Gauteng Gambling Board (sole counsel);
- Representing the claimant in a 12-day trial in the High Court and 1 day appeal in the Supreme Court of Appeal in South Africa’s leading case on whether there is a duty on conveyancers to communicate their bank details in a safe manner to third party non-client payors (junior counsel);
- Representing the City of Johannesburg in various High Court civil proceedings relating to investigations by the City into tender fraud and irregularities (junior counsel).
Michael practised as a solicitor at a major international law firm in Johannesburg prior to joining the Bar there. In September 2022, he was admitted as a solicitor of the senior courts of England and Wales through the Qualified Lawyers Transfer Scheme.
Michael enjoys writing about the law and was a regular contributor to Advocate, the magazine of the Johannesburg Bar. He also contributed a chapter to the book “South Africa’s Constitution at Twenty-one”, published by Penguin Random House.
Michael is currently only able to accept instructions from solicitors and professionals.
As a County Court advocate Michael represented both claimants and defendants in numerous personal injury and credit hire matters, including Stage 3 hearings, small claims and fast track trials, applications and infant settlement approval hearings. Michael also drafted many advices on quantum for use in infant settlement approval hearings.
Michael is building on his South African experience to develop a practice in commercial law. As a barrister in South Africa, Michael gained extensive experience in commercial law, including in banking, contractual disputes, shareholder disputes, and insolvency.
QUALIFICATIONS
QUALIFICATIONS
- Ba (Hons) University of Cape Town
- MA University of the Witwatersrand
- LLB University of the Witwatersrand
MEMBER
- Honourable Society of Gray’s Inn