Michael Dougherty

Michael Dougherty

  • Called in 2017

Michael accepts instructions in personal injury (including accidents abroad), credit hire, employment and education.

He has a busy court/tribunal and paperwork practice. He appears in court and tribunals frequently, including in multi-track and fast-track matters, costs and case management and application hearings.

He has a particular interest in vulnerable parties, disability, discrimination, reasonable adjustments and special education needs.

His paperwork practice includes drafting opinions, statements of case, questions to experts and schedules/counter schedules.

Michael is also currently instructed by the London Fire Brigade as part of the Public Inquiry into the Grenfell Tower tragedy.

Client Reference:

At Curzon Green, we have instructed Michael across a range of areas including personal injury, commercial litigation and education. In each case, he has provided prompt and thorough advice which has been well received, whilst always offering empathy to the client’s individual circumstances. Michael is personable and always happy to discuss the nuances of each case in detail. We would not hesitate to instruct Michael again.”

Personal Injury

Michael has a busy PI practice on both the Fast Track and Multi-Track, and acts for both Claimants and Defendants. He is regularly instructed in claims arising out of road traffic accidents, Highways Act claims, and occupiers, public and employers’ liability claims. His PI work involves both representation at trial, and also drafting work, including schedules of loss and counter-schedules.

He further advises in conference, drafts pleadings and acts in proceedings involving allegations of low velocity impact and / or fundamental dishonesty.

 

Clinical Negligence

Michael is developing his clinical negligence practice, and is happy to accept instructions to draft pleadings, schedules and counter schedules, and to advise on liability, quantum, offers and procedural matters.

He has experience of dealing with experts and clients in conference, and with expert evidence in a range of settings. Michael is happy to accept instructions on behalf of both claimants and defendants.

Travel & International Law

Michael has a keen interest in disputes with a cross jurisdictional aspect, in areas including Personal Injury, and Commercial and Consumer contracts. He is a member of the European Circuit of the Bar.

Michael recently acted for the successful claimant in a contract dispute arising from a substantial wedding holiday involving over 50 guests in the Caribbean.

Michael appears regularly in Fast Track trials, and acts for both Claimants and Defendants providing familiarity with arguments for each. He has a busy paperwork practice drafting pleadings, and advising on prospects, quantum and / or tactics.

Michael has an interest in injuries arising out of accidents abroad and related issues of jurisdiction. His article considering the judgment in Carmelo Labbadia -v- Alitalia (Societa Aerea Italiana S.p.A) [2019] EWHC 2103 (QB), as published in the Personal Injury Law Journal, can be accessed here.

Civil Fraud

Michael is frequently instructed in cases involving allegations of low velocity impact and fundamental dishonesty more broadly. He provides thorough and critical analysis in conference, drafts pleadings, and acts for both Claimants and Defendants at trial.

You can read about one of Michael’s successes in obtaining a finding of fundamental dishonesty and disapplication of QOCS here

Employment

Michael accepts instructions to represent Claimants or Respondents in the Employment Tribunal. He has a particular interest in disability and discrimination related issues.

Credit Hire

Michael is regularly instructed in proceedings involving claims for Credit Hire. He acts equally for Claimant and Defendant, and consequently has substantial experience of the arguments advanced by both in litigation.

Education

Michael accepts instructions to advise generally or to appear in the Special Education Needs and Disability Tribunal for Claimants or Respondent local authority and private schools. He has particular experience and sensitivity in dealing with matters involving autism spectrum condition and sensory and auditory processing disorders.

Away from the Bar, Michael is currently researching and writing a book, contemplating strategies and coping techniques to support children, young people and parents / professionals with challenges arising out of neurodiversity and / or anxiety.

Public Access

Michael is qualified to accept instructions directly from members of the public under the direct access scheme.

He does so in employment and education matters, and is always prepared to undertake a short initial consultation to assess the most appropriate approach to a potential client’s circumstances and issues.

Insurance

Michael is regularly instructed by insurers to defend claims involving questions of RTA insurance cover, and for property damage, with examples including a claim for damage arising from the collapse of a scaffolding structure, and a claim for damage caused to underground utility cables.

If you would like to instruct Michael Dougherty or would like help or advice in doing so, please call and talk to our excellent clerking team, led by Chief Executive/Director of Clerking, Paul Cray. Our phone number is +44 (0)20 7583 9241. Alternatively, please email us at chambers@farrarsbuilding.co.uk

For more information about our clerking team, please click here for the clerks page.

Appointments & Memberships


  • Personal Injury Bar Association
  • London Common Law and Commercial Bar Association
  • Employment Law Bar Association
  • Advocate (Bar Pro Bono Unit) Volunteer Panel
  • Gray’s Inn

Education & Qualifications


  • Bar Professional Training Course (2017)
  • LLB (Hons), First Class, University of Central Lancashire (2015)

Awards

  • Routledge Prize for Outstanding Performance, Graduate Prize for Meritorious Performance

Previous Employment


Michael transferred to the Bar following a 20+ year career in sales and marketing.

Personal Interests


Michael is married with 3 sons and 1 grand-daughter, and lives in Sevenoaks, Kent.

When not working or travelling back to his native north to see his eldest son and granddaughter his spare time is spent trying – largely unsuccessfully – to maintain parity with his 14 year old’s science knowledge and his 13 year old’s football skills.