Michael Crane QC
Call date
1975
Silk date
1994
Summary of Practice
All areas of commercial law, particularly aviation, insurance and reinsurance, international arbitration, banking and finance, professional negligence, private international and conflicts of law. Also has extensive experience in aviation and transport related public law and regulatory work.
Recommendations (Practitioners' Guides)
Recommended in the current edition of Chambers UK as a leader in commercial dispute resolution (commercial litigation), international arbitration, aviation, insurance and reinsurance and travel law and in the current edition of the Legal 500 as a leader in the fields of commercial litigation, product liability, aviation and insurance and reinsurance. Also listed in the current editions of Chambers Global, the Guide to the World’s Leading Aviation Lawyers and Legal Experts. Described as:
“incredibly clever and very thorough with excellent judgment” (the Legal 500, 2007/8 – Commercial Litigation)
““Super-brainy but also a hard worker” solicitors noted that “he’s someone you can work closely with and who’ll grasp the detail”” (Chambers UK, 2008 – Insurance)
A “brilliant, charming advocate” who is considered by clients to be “first choice for any significant aviation matter” (the Legal 500, 2008/9 – Aviation)
“Undoubtedly the leading barrister in aviation” (Chambers UK, 2009)
Education
BA Jurisprudence (Oxford University)
MA English Literature (Oxford University)
Recent Practice
Michael has a challenging and diverse commercial litigation and international arbitration case load. His recent experience includes acting for:
- a law firm sued by an investment bank in connection with the structuring and documentation of a $2 billion CDO;
- for the Civil Aviation Authority in connection with changes to the design of controlled airspace over southern England;
- for various London, US and European insureds, insurers and reinsurers on a variety of major professional indemnity, D&O and product liability disputes and on a range of coverage and avoidance issues;
- for a major oil and gas exploration contractor in connection with a serious accident off the west coast of Africa;
- for the insured in an arbitration involving $3 billion worth of cover under a complex financial risk transfer programme;
- for an airport authority in connection with claims for breach of contract and abuse of a dominant market position.
Reported Cases
R (on the Application of the Association of British Travel Agents Ltd.) v Civil Aviation Authority [2007] 2 Lloyd’s Rep. 249 (CA)
HSBC Rail (UK) Ltd v Network Rail Infrastructure Ltd (Formerly Railtrack plc) [2006] 1 WLR 643 (CA)
Amiri Flight Authority v BAE Systems Plc [2004] 1 A.E.R. (Comm) (CA)
European International Reinsurance Co. v Curzon Insurance [2003] Lloyds Rep. I.R. 793 (CA)
Cable & Wireless Plc v IBM United Kingdom Ltd [2002] 2 A.E.R. (Comm)
Agnew v Lansforsakringsbolagens AB [2001] 1 A.C. 223 (HL)
Western Digital Corp v British Airways Plc [2001] Q.B. 733 (CA)
R. (on the application of Jet Services Ltd) v Civil Aviation Authority [2001] 2 All E.R. (Comm) 769 (CA)
Clef Aquitane Sarl v Laporte Materials (Barrow) Ltd [2001] Q.B 488 (CA)
Deutsche Ruckversicherung AG v La Fondaria Assicurazioni SpA (formerly Societa Italia di Assicurazioni SpA) [2001] 2 Lloyd's Rep. 621
Hertfordshire Investments Ltd v Bubb [2000] W.L.R. 2318 (CA)
R. v Airport Coordination Ltd Ex p. Aravco Ltd [1999] Eu. L.R. 939 (CA)
R. v Airport Coordination Ltd Ex p. States of Guernsey Transport Board [1999] Eu. L.R. 745 (CA)
Airbus Industrie GIE v Patel [1999] 1 A.C. 119 (HL)
Martinez v Ellesse International SpA [1999] C.L.Y. 861 (CA)
Interallianz Finanz AG v Independent Insurance Co Ltd [1997] E.G.C.S. 91
Gunns v Par Insurance Brokers [1997] 1 Lloyd's Rep. 173
Milor Srl v British Airways Plc [1996] Q.B. 702 (CA)
Berriman v Rose Thomson Young (Underwriting) Ltd [1996] L.R.L.R. 426
DR Insurance Co v Central National Insurance Co of Omaha (In Rehabilitation) [1996] 1 Lloyds Rep. 74
Bates v Robert Barrow Ltd [1995] 1 Lloyd's Rep. 680
Simner v New India Assurance Co Ltd [1995] L.R.L.R. 240
Brown & Sword-Daniels v KMR Services Ltd & Ors. [1994] 4 All E.R. 385
Other Experience
Has sat as an arbitrator both in the UK and abroad and as a Deputy High Court Judge in the Commercial Court. Has also given evidence in foreign courts as an expert on English law. Elected as a bencher of the Middle Temple – 2002.