Michael Taylor

Michael practices in commercial litigation with a particular focus on infrastructure, construction and information technology law. He practiced at the London Commercial Bar for over 15 years at a leading construction and IT set, before joining Russell McVeagh. He was recognised by the Best Lawyers® New Zealand Guide 2022 in Arbitration and Mediation, and ranked as Leading Junior Counsel in The Legal 500 UK and Chambers & Partners UK.

Michael is a member of the Committee of the Society for Construction Law. He is a thought leader in construction and infrastructure disputes, and recently presented at the annual conference of the Society of Construction Law and published and presented on a construction law update paper with the New Zealand Law Society. He has spoken at the Building and Construction Regulation and Law Conference in October, the Digital Innovation and Delivery to Improve Construction Productivity in November 2019 and Construction Law Masterclass in March 2020. 

Adjudication:

Michael regularly acts for principals and contractors bringing or defending adjudication claims under the Construction Contracts Act 2002. He also has extensive experience with cases involving professional negligence claims against construction professionals including architects, engineers, project managers and quantity surveyors.

Michael also acts on adjudication enforcement proceedings, and was sole counsel in one of the first cases in which the English High Court granted an injunction to restrain adjudication proceedings pending payment of sums due (Mentmore Towers v Packman Lucas Limited [2009] EWHC 3212 (TCC)) and [2010] EWHC 457 (TCC)).

Michael publishes and speaks regularly on all aspects of adjudication.

Michael's experience includes:

• Arrow International (NZ) Limited v Bethell & ors [2019] NZHC 1326, counsel for the successful property developer in calling on Contractor's Performance Bond.
• Counsel for New Zealand property fund in substantial arbitration with building contractor under NZS 3910.
• Acting for the receivers of the Orange H (formerly Hawkins) group of companies,
• Advising a major New Zealand company in relation to a cross border infrastructure construction dispute.
• Advising a utilities company in relation to a dispute arising from seismic strengthening works.

Oxford University: BA (Hons) (First Class, Scholar)
City University, London (Dip Law) (Scholar)

Michael was admitted to practise in New Zealand in 2016.
Michael was called to the UK Bar in 1996.