Michael has been recognised for the second year in a row as being a barrister who provides Pro Bono services. When he was Solicitor General, Michael championed Pro Bono work, encouraging young lawyers to get involved and volunteer for Pro Bono charities. He also chaired the Attorney General's Pro Bono Committee. Now that he has returned to private practise, Michael is delighted to be able to contribute to this work.
The importance of Pro Bono work is underlined by the comments of the Lady Chief Justice of England and Wales, The Baroness Carr of Walton-on-the-Hill:
I am pleased to thank every lawyer who appears on the 2026 Pro Bono Recognition List of England & Wales, of which I am Patron.
Now in its third year, the List recognises solicitors, barristers, chartered legal executives, trade mark attorneys, patent attorneys and registered foreign/European lawyers who provided 25 hours or more pro bono legal assistance over the last year. The initiative is supported by the Law Society, the Bar Council, CILEX and all the major pro bono organisations under the aegis of the Attorney General’s Pro Bono Committee.
The lawyers recognised on the List follow the long tradition of the legal profession in volunteering their time to provide free legal assistance to individuals and charities. It is therefore particularly welcome to see that a number of lawyers have appeared on the List for multiple years, demonstrating their continued commitment to pro bono.
Pro bono is not a substitute for legal aid, but it is a valuable part of our system of justice, working alongside the advice sector. The judiciary sees first-hand how pro bono advice and representation helps those who might not otherwise receive legal assistance. I hope that recognition on the List encourages the legal profession to continue its commitment to providing pro bono help to those in need.
