Michael Ryan is a commercial barrister who is “widely endorsed as a rising star at the commercial bar”. His practice encompasses cross-border disputes, banking and finance, contentious company and insolvency litigation, insurance, international trade and professional liability. Many of Michael’s cases involve allegations of dishonesty and Michael has extensive experience of commercial fraud and asset tracing.
Michael is recognised in the directories as a leading junior in the following six fields: Commercial Dispute Resolution, Civil Fraud, Banking and Finance, Insurance and Reinsurance, Energy and Professional Negligence.
Michael’s advocacy has won praise in the directories, he is described as “an excellent advocate – he can outperform silks on the other side”; “a strong advocate who outshines his opponents, including leading counsel”; and “a great advocate, who is calm in a crisis”. He has extensive trial experience and the directories note that he “produces excellent cross examinations that are minutely prepared and strongly delivered”. Michael appears both as sole advocate and as senior junior to leading silks. He has appeared in numerous substantial trials and appeals. He has appeared in all the commercial divisions of the High Court, the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.
Michael enjoys legal analysis: “A real intellectual force”; “Michael is excellent in addressing complex, novel issues”; “A star in the making – in conference with silks present, they will all listen to his views which are considered and researched”; “Michael provides very thorough legal analysis”; “works hard to dig through issues and find solutions”.
Michael works as part of a team and is familiar with the demands of hard-fought commercial cases: “Incredibly user friendly, turns things around quickly, great written work, and very good to deal with”; “Michael is responsive and pinpoints the potential issues in a claim in a clear and concise manner. Easy to work with”; “Very bright and yet also very approachable”; “super bright, very practical and someone who is really nice to work with”.
Michael also has extensive experience of interim relief applications, including on an urgent basis. The directories note that he “is highly knowledgeable in respect of obtaining worldwide freezing orders”. He has experience with freezing injunctions (domestic, worldwide and proprietary injunctions), anti-suit injunctions, Norwich Pharmacal Applications, Bankers Trust Orders and jurisdictional applications. He has also has experience of committal applications to compel compliance with Court orders.
Recent and current instructions include:
Michael is recognised as a leading commercial advocate in Chambers and Partners and Legal 500. In his commercial cases he is recognised as “an impressive oral advocate who holds his own against KCs” and is described as “Absolutely brilliant”. He was also selected by Who’s Who Legal as a Future Leader in Litigation and is described as “an excellent litigator”. The directories note that Michael is “Really practical and commercial, and invariably the first port of contact on the case.” He has extensive experience as an advocate in commercial judgment, from obtaining urgent interim relief (including worldwide freezing injunctions), obtaining summary judgment and fighting heavy trials. His cross-examination wins praise in the directories.
Over the last few years, he has appeared in many of the most high-profile and high-value trials, often as sole junior to senior silks. He is also frequently instructed as sole counsel and has successfully appeared against silks in court. He also appears in arbitrations.
Work includes:
Michael is ranked as a leading junior for Banking and Finance work. The directories note that he is adept at getting to grips with complex matters and that he is “very bright and yet also very approachable”.
Michael acts for major banks and financial institutions in high-profile litigation. He has unrivalled trial experience for a junior of his level of call. He is currently acting for RBS in a dispute worth in excess of £100 million and acted for a Swiss Bank in one of the biggest banking trials in 2017. Michael was previously part of the defendant counsel team in the Cattles Litigation, a claim for £1.7bn – one of the largest claims to arise out of the financial crisis. Michael appears in the new Financial List, the specialist Court in the High Court for Banking and Finance matters (including acting as sole advocate against QCs).
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Michael has a very substantial civil fraud practice, with great breadth and depth of experience of fraud in the commercial arena. The directories rank him as a leading junior in fraud litigation noting that he is a “standout junior” in this field, “offering expertise in civil fraud disputes involving allegations of deceit, bribery, forgery and the misappropriation of assets”. Michael is also noted to be “experienced in the handling of frauds arising in the banking, insurance and commodities sectors.”
Michael is familiar with the demands of hard-fought fraud cases. The directories note that in his civil fraud work Michael “understands the demands placed on solicitors and works hard to dig through issues and find solutions.” He is also described as “Incredibly client-friendly” and “A great team player.”
Michael has consistently been instructed in major cases dealing with deceit/fraudulent misrepresentation, bribery, forgery, banking and trading frauds, commodities frauds, contentious company litigation, joint venture disputes, tax evasion, insurance fraud, misappropriation of trust assets and asset recovery claims.
Michael is very familiar with urgent interim relief including worldwide freezing orders employed upon discovery of fraudulent conduct. He recently obtained an 18 month committal order for breach of a freezing order.
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Michael has extensive experience as an advocate in insurance and reinsurance litigation and arbitration, both as sole counsel and as junior to leading silks. The directories note that in this field, “he punches above his weight comfortably holds his own in the company of KCs”.
Michael undertakes a range of insurance and reinsurance work, including advice on coverage and construction of policies. He has acted in the largest insurance claims ever presented in the Commercial Court, both marine and non-marine. He accepts instructions in both Marine and Non-Marine cases and has experience of property insurance, liability insurance and construction policies.
In line with his Commercial Fraud practice, Michael has experience of fraud in the insurance sphere. He has frequently been instructed by insurers to defend insureds who face fraudulent claims. Michael also has experience in advising insurers on declinature of dishonest claims and claims arising out of dishonest circumstances.
He has recently been appointed to co-author the new edition of The Law of Reinsurance (Oxford University Press) with Colin Edelman KC.
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Michael also has experience of claims against insurance brokers arising out of failures in placing insurance.
Michael is ranked as a leading junior in the field of professional negligence. The directories note that Michael has a “fast-growing reputation in the field. He advises on high-profile negligence issues across a
comprehensive array of professions including solicitors and auditors. He focuses on claims with an element of fraud and those arising out of commercial transactions.” He is described as “A very hard-working and bright junior with a strong eye for detail.” “Definitely going places, he is going to be a star one day.”
Michael acts in claims across the range of professions including solicitors, financial advisors, auditors and accountants, insurance brokers, valuers, surveyors and engineers. Michael’s practice has particular emphasis on claims arising out of commercial transactions and those with an element of fraud.
Work includes:
Michael has extensive experience of interim relief, including freezing orders (worldwide and domestic), proprietary injunctions and other mandatory orders, Norwich Pharmacal relief and Bankers Trust orders. He also has experience of committal proceedings to compel compliance with Court orders and punish contempt of Court. The directories note that Michael “is highly knowledgeable in respect of obtaining worldwide freezing orders.”
Experience includes:
Michael is ranked as a leading junior for Energy disputes. He is noted to be “very bright and yet also very approachable” and “very adept at getting to grips with complex matters”.
Michael has experience of high-value international disputes concerning energy projects, natural resources and commodities, including offshore oil exploitation and trade finance disputes.
Recent work includes:
Michael has a successful commercial practice and appears in many substantial matters in international arbitration. He is ranked as a leading junior in the fields of Commercial Dispute Resolution, Civil Fraud, Insurance and Professional Negligence. Many of his cases are heard by international arbitral tribunals and he has experience of LCIA, UNCITRAL, LMAA and ad hoc arbitrations. Michael also has substantial experiences of cases before the Courts on arbitration matters, including applications for worldwide freezing injunctions in support of arbitrations under section 44 Arbitration Act 1996 and Court challenges to arbitrations.
Recent work includes:
Professional Negligence, Chambers UK Bar 2025
Commercial Dispute Resolution, Chambers UK Bar 2025
Fraud: Civil, Chambers UK Bar 2025
Professional Negligence, Legal 500 2025
Insurance and Reinsurance, Legal 500 2025
Energy, Legal 500 2025
Commercial Litigation, Legal 500 2025
Banking and Finance (Including Consumer Credit), Legal 500 2025
Fraud: Civil, Chambers UK Bar 2024
Professional Negligence, Chambers UK Bar 2024
Commercial Dispute Resolution, Chambers UK Bar 2024
Commercial Litigation, Legal 500 2024
Fraud: Civil, Legal 500 2024
Banking and Finance (Including Consumer Credit), Legal 500 2024
Professional Negligence, Legal 500 2024
Energy, Legal 500 2024
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"An excellent advocate. He punches above his weight and comfortably holds his own in the company of KCs"
Legal 500 2025