Michael King

Michael King

Call: 1971

" a brilliant mediator who will not allow parties to let matters drift; he is thoroughly effective in achieving a resolution."

The Legal 500

Michael is an accredited mediator and he regularly sits as the appointed mediator. Michael has received recognition for his contribution as a mediator in mediations concerning business, partnership and commercial issues and the legal directories have also picked up on the excellent reputation he has developed as mediator in the complicated and specialist area of trust, probate and estates disputes.

Until his retirement from practice on 31 March 2017 Michael was an experienced commercial and traditional chancery barrister, whose expertise is recognised by the legal directories.  His main areas of practice included commercial disputes, partnership disputes, trusts, probate and estates,  property litigation and advice, and charity law.  Michael also dealt with cases within his core expertise that involve claims for professional negligence.

 

Areas of experience

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  • Mediation

    Michael is an accredited qualified mediator who has completed hundreds of mediations to date.

    He has particular expertise in trust related disputes (often involving estates and probate) as well as partnership disputes.

    Michael has received independent recommendations by ACTAPS (the Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Specialists) to act as a mediator in disputes referred to them by both their members and from more general external enquiries. Recommended as a mediator in The Legal 500, he is said to be: “a mediator characterised as being extremely effective when some of the parties need their heads banging together“. One source is quoted as saying: “I highly recommend him as a mediator – probably the best mediator that I’ve come across.”

Other information

  • Recommendations

    Michael King of XXIV Old Buildings is a distinguished chancery barrister who mediates trust, probate and estate disputes. Clients appreciate his approach in achieving results, remarking: “He is calm, cool and collected. He always manages to get a settlement – he always seems to pull it out of the bag.”(Chambers & Partners High Net Worth 2022)

    Chambers & Partners 2022 recommends Michael as a leading mediator, stating he is “very, very good,” and continues: “He has the technical knowledge and client-handling skills. His judgement is very, very good, and he is highly emotionally intelligent.”

    The Legal 500 2021 recommends Michael as a leading mediator. He is recognised as ‘a brilliant mediator who will not allow parties to let matters drift; he is thoroughly effective in achieving a resolution’.

    Previous editions of The Legal 500 describe him as ‘a very able advocate with a friendly approach’, ‘a trusts and probate expert‘ and a ‘truly an excellent barrister and an absolute pleasure to instruct‘.

    Previous editions of Chambers & Partners have recommended Michael as a leading mediator: “He’s brilliant with clients who need a more gentle approach. He explained the process and made them feel comfortable.” andextremely effective when some of the parties need their heads banging together‘. One client comments: ‘Michael is charming and empathetic and very much prepared to raise difficult points with the parties in an attempt to achieve a settlement. He has seen it all before; his judgement and instincts are second to none in handling people and their expectations‘.

    Michael is consistently recommended in the Citywealth Leaders List as a Prominent Contentious Trusts Barrister.

  • Academic history
    • MA, Christ’s College Cambridge
    • Former Chairman of the Governors, King’s House School, Richmond
  • Appointments
    • 1998: Bencher of Lincolns Inn
    • Accredited Mediator
  • Professional memberships
    • Association of Contentious Trust & Probate Specialists
    • Chancery Bar Association