People | Michael Clinch
Michael is a Partner in our Litigation Practice, specialising in large and complex commercial litigation. He deals with issues such as contractual disputes, commercial recoveries, negligence claims, shareholder and partnership disputes, claims under the Commercial Agents Regulations and brand protection. He is hugely experienced in running aggressive litigation and also in resolving claims commercially by mediation or negotiation, according to the commercial objectives of his clients. He regularly deals with urgent court applications, including injunctions, freezing and search orders. Clients range from private individuals to public companies across a broad range of industry sectors.
Michael also handles all types of intellectual property disputes, including copyright, trade mark and patent infringement, and passing off cases. His clients include publishers, software developers, brokers and traders, brand owners, licensed distributors sporting clubs and charities, as well as sports and entertainment personalities. He deals with brand protection and reputational issues, including seizures of goods, injunctions to restrain infringement, claims for damages and accounts of profits, and Trading Standards investigations.
In addition Michael advises on issues of commercial and personal insolvency, restructuring and recovery. He deals with both contentious and non-contentious matters - acting for insolvency practitioners and private individuals in relation to administrations, liquidations and bankruptcies - on issues of appointment, claims (wrongful trading, preferences, misfeasance) the sale of assets or businesses, and directors' disqualification.
Michael began practice in Australia, qualifying in Queensland in 1988. He practised there until 1996, when he received the Spanos Melrose Award for 1996 (a scholarship then awarded annually to work in the UK). Michael worked for three years with Wilde Sapte in their London office, before establishing himself in practice in the UK permanently. He is member of Australian Business, and regularly advises Australian companies on their legal issues in the UK, including the establishment of European operations.
Michael is a solicitor of the Supreme Court of Queensland and the High Court of Australia. He is a registered foreign lawyer in England. Michael joined Harbottle & Lewis as a partner in 2008.
