People
Michael O'Brien
Senior Associate (New Zealand)
London
Michael is a Senior Associate in the firm’s Construction, Engineering and Infrastructure group. He is a UK-Registered Foreign Lawyer, having qualified in New Zealand.
Michael has over 12 years of experience, specialising in contentious construction matters. He acts for consultants, architects, contractors, and their professional indemnity insurers across a variety of claims and contractual disputes,
His practice involves high-value, multiparty disputes, both within the UK and internationally, particularly in relation to fire and building safety. He has considerable experience of litigation in the High Court and all forms of alternative dispute resolution, including mediation, adjudication, and arbitration. In recent times, Michael’s experience includes acting for an AJ100 architect (and its insurers) in a £40m+ multiparty claim arising from a care home fire at a PFI project, successfully defending an international practice of architects in Dubai proceedings (claim value £250m+) arising from a fire at a luxury hotel, and defending a multinational consultant in a substantial claim concerning MediaCity in Manchester.
Before joining Beale & Co in 2017, Michael worked for 6 years at a national law firm in New Zealand, where he gained experience (including courtroom advocacy) on a wide range of contentious matters, including acting for insurers and construction professionals in a number of High Court proceedings arising from large earthquakes and other natural disasters.