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Qualifications
Michael Connor is a Sydney-based barrister who accepts briefs in all areas of the law. His areas of expertise include commercial law and equity, corporations law, insolvency law, intellectual property, building and construction law, coronial inquests and property law. His clients include major banks, insurers, insolvency practitioners, small-to-medium enterprises and ASX-listed companies.
Michael takes a strategic approach to resolving disputes and works closely with instructing solicitors, experts and clients to forensically analyse and resolve complex issues. He has appeared both led and unled in many jurisdictions, including the Supreme Court of NSW and the Federal Court of Australia.
Michael understands the challenges that face solicitors and clients, and enjoys working collaboratively with dedicated professionals to achieve the best commercial outcome for clients. He has a reputation as a precise advocate, and is well regarded for his commercial approach and meticulous understanding of the factual and legal issues in each matter.
Michael was called to the bar in 2018, after working for eight years as a solicitor at DibbsBarker and Gadens, and as a Senior Associate in MacPherson Kelly’s commercial litigation team.
Outside of chambers, Michael enjoys racing motorcycles, long distance running and water sports, including surfing, stand-up paddle boarding and sailing. He is also passionate about the arts.
Specialisations
In this case, the plaintiff was a former employee who brought proceedings for misleading and deceptive conduct, breach of contract and unconscionability against a company and three individuals, each of whom resided or was registered in the UAE. Appearing for the defendants, Michael brought an application under UCPR reg 11.6, requesting that the court not assume jurisdiction and dismiss the proceedings on the basis that the claim had insufficient prospects of success to warrant putting the defendants to the time, expense and trouble of defending the proceedings. The court held that the principles in General Steel did not apply to r 11.6 UCPR and dismissed the plaintiff’s proceedings.
This matter involved two hearings at first instance and one appeal regarding specific performance of contracts for the sale of land against a company in liquidation, as well as the priority of equitable interests against purportedly secured creditors. Michael helped obtain personal costs orders against the liquidators, who were not parties to the proceedings, for their unreasonable conduct (instructing Mr Knackstredt).
We accept briefs in all areas of commercial practice and in our barristers' other areas of practice. For further information or advice on our barristers and their availability, fees and areas of practice please contact our Front of House team.