Michael is happy to accept instructions on a broad range of civil, commercial, and family cases. He is able to be instructed across England and Wales, and is open to discussing instructions further afield.
Before joining East Anglian Chambers, Michael worked in financial compliance at a boutique high net worth asset management company in London; as a paralegal in a specialist clinical negligence department of a leading firm of solicitors in Leeds (where he assisted in the running of complex, high value claims in the High Court); and as a teaching fellow and guest lecturer in contract, tort and family law at SOAS, University of London.
Michael is able to accept matters on a direct access basis, and will happily consider suitable civil matters from solicitors on a CFA basis.
Michael is currently ranked as a leading Junior in the Legal 500 in Personal Injury (Band 2), Financial Remedy (Band 4), and Private Children (Band 5) cases.
Civil
Michael has a busy civil practice across a wide array of matters. He is regularly instructed in fast track and multi track trials and disposal hearings, as well as matters involving out of court dispute resolution such as mediations. He has a particular interest in personal injury claims, TOLATA claims, contract claims, and contested probate and Inheritance Act claims. Michael is experienced at dealing with multi track claims with values exceeding £500,000, and some of his recent matters include:
- representing a claimant in a contract dispute relating to the hire of a venue for and catering at a community networking event;
- representing a claimant on an unjust enrichment claim relating to the production of a Bollywood movie;
- representing a claimant in a claim against the police where the claimant was struck repeatedly around the back of the head by a police baton;
- representing a claimant who suffered lifelong personal injuries as a result of improper lifting equipment being provided at work;
- representing a claimant who fell through an improperly installed temporary floor on a construction site;
- advising a claimant in relation to injuries sustained at a private members’ club of which she was a member;
- representing a defendant in a claim involving possession of two properties (one owned solely by the defendant and one owned jointly by the claimant and the defendant) and surrounding issues of misrepresentation, mistake, and/or common intention; and
- representing a claimant in relation to a claim for the supply of machinery and connected services from a British company to an American company (including issues of jurisdiction).
Michael is currently also building a practice in coronial cases and inquests, and welcomes instruction in this area. He has undertaken the Coronial Law Course run by the University of Bolton (now the University of Greater Manchester).
Family
Michael is frequently instructed in financial remedy matters, and regularly represents clients in First Appointments, FDRs, and final hearings. Whilst most of Michael’s cases have been in the Financial Remedies Court, he has experience of financial remedy cases dealt with in arbitration. Some of his most recent matters include:
- representing a husband in a case where the wife denied that a Help to Buy loan or various home improvement loans in respect of the former matrimonial home were marital debts;
- representing a wife whose house had significant adaptations for her disabilities, with the aim of retaining the former matrimonial home and financial assets earmarked for her lifelong care;
- representing a husband in a claim where the sole marital asset was obtained during the marriage by way of the wife’s inheritance from a friend;
- representing a wife who lacked capacity due to psychiatric illness and likely would continue to do so for the rest of her life;
- representing a wife who suffered from early onset Alzheimer’s and whose care needs would entirely deplete the marital assets;
- representing a wife in a case where the husband sought 100% of the marital assets because he had been the breadwinner and she had been a homemaker; and
- representing a husband in a case where marital assets had been diminished as a result of a Confiscation Order made under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, where it was said that the wife knew of and benefited from the criminal activity engaged in by the husband during the marriage.
Michael also frequently represents clients in private law children cases, including FHDRAs, DRAs, fact finding hearings, and final hearings. He has experience of acting on behalf of parents, local authorities, extended family members, and Children’s Guardians. Since joining chambers, Michael has been instructed on a wide array of matters, including cases involving issues of capacity, parental alienation, international relocation, deprivation of liberty, and sexual abuse involving and also between children, and has been instructed in matters up to and including the High Court.
In the past, Michael has been instructed in non-molestation and occupation order cases, and he continues to accept instructions for these cases.
Background
Outside of work, Michael is a fan of tennis and enjoys watching the Wimbledon Championships live at the All England Club in London (although plays tennis relatively poorly!). Michael enjoys travelling, and over the years has also developed an interest for all things related to Italy and Poland.
Within chambers, Michael is the Mini-Pupillage Coordinator and is a member of the Pupillage Committee. He is also a registered Pupil Supervisor.
LLB (Hons) – First Class Honours – Keele University
LLM – Merit – University College London
BPTC – Very Competent – City University London
Princess Royal Scholarship – Inner Temple
The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple
The Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn
Personal Injuries Bar Association
Family Law Bar Association
South Eastern Circuit
SEC Representative, Inner Temple Bar Liaison Committee
“I have instructed Michael on several civil cases, and found that he has a very measured approach in complex civil and commercial litigation. He has good advisory skills on paper, but also when speaking with the client. I would describe him as eloquent, but with a down to earth approach with clients. In my experience, he is robust in court and able to hold his own against more senior barristers.”
Martin Fraiel, Markel Law
“I instruct Michael Allin on a regular basis in family proceedings. I find he is very knowledgeable in all aspects of family law. Michael is very approachable and I have found he is a favourite of clients who have described him as down to earth when speaking to them but also very forceful in court putting their position forward.”
Charlotte Fedarb, BTMK
“Michael is one of my go-to barristers for TOLATA, matrimonial finance and private child cases. He is a sharp and punchy advocate in court, who is equally forceful in his written advocacy. Michael has a keen eye for detail, and is well liked by clients with his personable approach in conference. He knows when to turn on “rottweiler mode” or when to take a more subtle or gentle approach in cross-examination.”
Marija Markovic, Setfords