Michael is a specialist in complex corporations, domestic and cross-border disputes and restructuring and insolvency matters. He has extensive experience advising on work-out, distressed and special securities investing strategies, and has also advised on disputes both in Australia and off-shore.
Michael acts for a range of major clients including financial institutions, creditors, large corporations and professional trustees. His focus is on contentious restructuring and re-organisation matters and corporate litigation. Michael's expertise across corporate insolvency law, banking and securities law and restructuring has seen him work on complex litigation and investigations. He is also experienced in cross-border insolvency law and restructuring matters.
Michael is a member of the Turnaround Management Association and a member of the NSW TMA Committee Australian Restructuring Insolvency and Turnaround Association (ARITA) and INSOL International.
Key deals
Commercial litigation
Significant dispute resolution experience, acting across a range of high-profile litigious matters in relation to financial services, company law and banking and securities laws.
Senior, mezzanine, stressed and distressed lending and refinance
Experienced in structuring and implementing stressed and highly distressed financing transactions, including DIP style financing and the provision of finance to insolvent or near insolvent companies.
Secondary and traded claims
Experienced in claims trading and secondary debt transactions and associated legal work. This works includes traded bonds, the acquisition of syndicated debt at less than par, claims trading and other secondary investments.
Public Hospitality
Advised Deutsche Bank on the acquisition of, restructuring and successful exit from a position acquisition of syndicated debt at less than par, claims trading and other secondary investments. Subsequently, advised a lending syndicate led by Deutsche Bank on the restructuring of and management multi-tranche lending facility to development projects owned and operated by Jon Adgemis’ Public Hospitality Group.
Prescare
Advised on Australia’s largest aged care collapse including sale and transition of portfolio of aged care homes.
Compagnie de Saint-Gobain S.A.
Advising Compagnie de Saint-Gobain S.A. on its A$4.5 billion acquisition of ASX-Listed CSR Limited by way of a scheme of arrangement.
Slater & Gordon
Advised Allegro on take private and debt trading of Slater & Gordon Ltd culminating in successful take private from the ASX.
Star
Acted for US PP noteholder group on workout and successful refinance of exposure to Star Entertainment Group in 2024.
Virgin Australia
Acting for the lead applicant in a class action against Virgin Australia, two of its directors, and its insurers, in relation to Virgin Australia’s circa $900 million notes issue shortly before it entered voluntary administration in April 2020
AMP Financial Planning
Successfully resolved a multi-million dollar class action in relation to changes to AMPFP’s buyer-of-last-resort policy, including obtaining judgment for the applicant at first instance.