Overview
As global head of the firm’s Capital Markets practice, Michael is widely acknowledged as an authority on derivatives law and practice. He advises on sophisticated financial products, including repackagings, securitised, OTC and exchange traded derivatives, investment fund products (including CPPI products), collateralised debt obligations, regulatory capital raising for financial institutions, and note and warrant programmes.
Michael’s particular specialisms include clearing of derivatives, regulatory capital treatment of derivatives, equity derivatives (including investment fund derivatives), longevity derivatives, hybrid (multi-asset class) derivatives, proprietary financial indices/benchmarks and synthetic products.
Michael led the firm’s derivatives and structured products practice between 2002 and 2010 and was also the firm’s global knowledge and learning partner for four years until 2012. Michael developed the firm’s knowledge and thought leadership relating to the Eurozone crisis.
Michael has led on many market-leading derivatives-related activities. These include advising:
- on OTC and exchange traded derivatives clearing relating to numerous central counterparties (CCPs) as well as the ISDA/FIA Client Cleared OTC Derivatives Addendum, the FIA Module and proprietary client clearing documentation
- Benchmark reform, Brexit and UK bank ringfencing
- as the lead partner on the development of the CCP Risk Review for FIA
- ISDA on the 2011 ISDA Equity Derivatives Definitions
- on the drafting of the claim resolution agreement between Lehman Brothers International (Europe) (in administration) and certain of its trust asset creditors
Professional experience
Michael sits on the global board of the Futures Industry Association.
He regularly speaks at ISDA and FIA conferences.
Education and qualifications
Michael studied law at Worcester College, Oxford University, and then at the Inns of Courts School of Law, London.
