Michael Brown
Michael is a partner in Penningtons Manches Cooper's commercial dispute resolution team. He advises clients on a wide variety of financial services and complex commercial disputes as well as on regulatory investigations, enforcement actions, and civil fraud claims.
Michael also has a specialism in group litigation, and acts for SMEs, shareholder and investors in group claims. He has acted in international arbitrations and litigation in a number of high profile cases. His clients include funds, investor groups, banks and other financial institutions, high net worth individuals, SMEs and corporates, particularly real estate investment and development businesses. Sectors involved in the disputes have included renewable energy, oil and gas, real estate, hospitality and financial services.
Michael is ranked as a Leading Individual for commercial litigation in Legal 500. He is also a solicitor advocate.
Practice Area
Panel
- Contributing Author
Qualified Year
- 1993
Qualifications
- Law Society Finals (1991)
- Common Professional Exam (1990)
- BA Hons (1989)
Education
- College of Law, London (1989-1991)
- Selwyn College, University of Cambridge (1986-1989)
2 Contributions by Michael Brown
PRACTICE NOTES
Group litigation in England and Wales: choosing and managing joint, sample and GLO proceedings, representative actions and Financial List test cases—requirements, opt-in/opt-out, advantages, costs
More than one claimant can feature in a civil action, for instance where a defendant’s supposed misconduct has caused loss to several claimants in the same or a comparable manner. At times, the damage experienced by a single claimant is too limited to make the case economically worthwhile. Yet, when pursued by a cohort of claimants, it may become feasible because of the efficiencies that approach delivers. Where claims stem from the same or similar facts, or have produced the same or similar loss for multiple parties, it may likewise be prudent for the court to manage them collectively. Group claims (sometimes called class actions or multi-party claims) can be brought before the English courts using a number of procedural mechanisms. This Practice Note briefly sets out the criteria for each mechanism, and the guidance on suitability found in case law. It also weighs the advantages and disadvantages of each approach and gives practical guidance on handling such claims. For guidance concerning litigation against multiple defendants and/or multiple tortfeasors more generally, see Practice Notes: Bringing a civil claim against multiple defendants—considerations for the claimant and defendants and Multiple tortfeasors—liability issues. This Practice Note should be read in conjunction with the...
Dispute Resolution
PRACTICE NOTES
Group litigation in England and Wales: comparison of joint claims, GLOs and CPR 19 representative actions
This Practice Note
It sets out a high-level comparison of the alternative procedural mechanisms available to claimants bringing civil group claims in England and Wales, outlining the principal routes.
adding multiple parties to a single claim form;
pursuing a sample or chosen set of lead claims;
applying for the claims to be managed through a group litigation order (GLO) under CPR 19; or
proceeding by way of a representative claim pursuant to CPR 19 where the individuals share the ‘same interest’ in a claim.
It goes on to examine the principal distinctions between issuing one claim form for many parties (a ‘joint claim’) and managing multi-party litigation under a GLO under CPR 19...
Dispute Resolution
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