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Michael Adkins

Michael Adkins 

Partner | Guernsey | BVI

Dispute Resolution

  • Michael provides good commercial advice and is clear in his thinking.
    Chambers UK 2023
  • Michael has a strong presence in the regulatory and director advisory space. He’s a skilled operator with a loyal client list.
  • Michael Adkins: exceptional lawyer; commercially focused and technically excellent.
    Legal 500 2022
  • Michael is a dynamic litigator with a strong presence in the regulatory space.
    Chambers UK 2023
  • Technically very good and a useful lead into the Guernsey insolvency market.
    Legal 500
  • Michael Adkins is a fighter who knows his stuff on insolvency matters.
    Legal 500
  • Michael is very sensible, pragmatic, knowledgeable and approachable. He is great on regulatory and financial services matters in particular.
    Chambers UK 2024
  • Very experienced and extremely capable; my go-to advocate on the island.
    Legal 500
  • A very experienced and commercial lawyer.

Overview

Michael is a litigation lawyer, specialising in insolvency, regulatory/public law, trust and other financial services disputes.

Michael is a qualified Guernsey Advocate and BVI Attorney and maintains an active litigation practice in both jurisdictions.

Michael currently leads the firm's Guernsey Risk and Regulatory and Insolvency teams and has previously acted as Head of Litigation and Managing Partner of the firm's BVI Office.

"I genuinely love what I do. On every matter I look to take the time to really understand a client's situation, so I can give them the legal and strategic advice they need to best achieve their goals. There is no better outcome for me than being able to help a client see through the fog of a complex dispute and help deliver clear and effective solutions."

Experience

Michael qualified in 2004 with ASIC, Australia's financial services and corporate regulator. Since joining Collas Crill in 2009, Michael has taken a leading role in a number of significant and high profile matters, including advising the liquidators of Landsbanki Guernsey Limited in relation to all aspects of the liquidation of the £120 million Guernsey subsidiary of the failed Icelandic Bank, and Sark Electricity Limited in its challenge to the implementation of pricing regulation. Michael is frequently instructed for individuals and companies in disputes with regulatory bodies and state agencies.

In 2019, Michael was appointed to a four year term as Chairman of the Complaints Panel of the Administrative Decision Review Board.

Background

Michael commenced with ASIC as a Graduate Trainee in 2002, before qualifying as a Barrister and Solicitor in Victoria in 2004. During his seven years in ASIC's Enforcement Directorate, Michael advised on and led a number of nationally significant investigations.

Joining Collas Day (as it then was) in 2009, Michael qualified as a Guernsey Advocate and became a Partner of Collas Crill in 2014.

Qualification: Victoria/Australia (2004); England & Wales (2014) (Higher Rights (Civil) - 2019); Guernsey (2014);
BVI (2020)

Education: BA/LLB (Deakin, 2003); LLM (Melbourne, 2007); Certificat d’Etudes Juridiques Françaises et Normandes (Caen, 2011)

Awards

Ranked as a Leading Individual in Legal 500 2024 and in band 2 in Chambers and Partners UK 2024.

Memberships

ARIES, Insol, R3, IBA (Insolvency), RISA BVI (Associate) and The International Academy of Financial Crime Litigators. 

* Executive Assistant
Natalie McLagan

Natalie McLagan

 
My services
Banking Regulation
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In the current climate of increasing regulation we understand the pressures on our clients, both from local regulators as well as international organisations. Our team of dedicated risk and regulatory professionals are on hand to assist. We act for a number of leading clearing and private banks located in our jurisdictions.

Competition Law
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It is important for businesses to understand what constitutes a dominant market position in order to avoid becoming involved in anti-competitive practices, especially during mergers and acquisitions. Penalties can be significant and directors may be disqualified, or worse. In addition to regularly gaining merger approvals, our commercial team also advises a number of major businesses on the practical effect of the competition regimes on their businesses.

Contentious Banking and Finance
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Our dispute resolution specialists collaborate seamlessly with our corporate, banking and finance teams across jurisdictions to advise on litigation, restructuring and risk and regulatory matters. We provide a global perspective, working closely with our clients to ensure that they are best placed to respond to customer issues, fraud risks, rapidly changing market conditions and regulatory demands.

Contentious Risk and Regulatory
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In regulatory disputes there are often fine lines between the usual wrangling with the regulator and something more serious – by matching our mix of experienced contentious and non-contentious lawyers to the particular problem at hand, we achieve better and more efficient outcomes. As regulatory experts, we frequently act on contentious matters and can leverage our experience to help clients achieve the highest regulatory standards and avoid common pitfalls. To find out more click here

Contentious Trusts
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We represent trust corporations, high net worth individuals, individual trustees and beneficiaries, often dealing with novel points of law and creating new and innovative solutions to fit the needs of our clients. We work as a global team and, given the international scope of settlors, investments and assets, clients benefit from the knowledge and depth of experience of our people around the world.

Corporate Governance and Shareholder Relations
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Good corporate governance and a sound understanding of directors duties is critical. Regardless of size, establishing a best practice approach should be fundamental to all boards. The board of directors are responsible for ensuring the company achieves its objectives and the corporate governance framework they adhere to should underpin their accountability to the company and its members. We advise company boards in relation to both the non-contentious and contentious aspects of shareholder relations with a focus on corporate governance to prevent contentious issues arising. We have also advised both boards and activist shareholders in relation to highly contentious general meetings and associated issues arising out of investor actions.

Data Protection and Information Rights
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Data is the most valuable asset for many of our clients and data protection is a growing facet of offshore business. We have advised a number of institutional clients on their commercial obligations in terms of data security and data protection and regularly provide advice on contract terms in this difficult area. We also have significant experience in using the full range of legal remedies available to obtain access to data and information held, and so are ideally placed to advise clients on either side of the data protection equation.

Debt Restructuring and Enforcement
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Knowing what to do and when to act when things go wrong is a key part of our service to our clients on both lender and borrower side. Our clients include banks, funds, directors, shareholders and insolvency practitioners. We undertake security reviews and advise on pre-emptive measures. We appreciate the need to act promptly and decisively, and at the same time are sensitive to potential negative publicity for our clients.

Debt Restructuring, Enforcement and Insolvency
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Knowing what to do and when to act when things go wrong is a key part of our service to our clients on both lender and borrower side. Our clients include banks, funds, directors, shareholders and insolvency practitioners. We undertake security reviews and advise on pre-emptive measures. We appreciate the need to act promptly and decisively, and at the same time are sensitive to potential negative publicity for our clients.

Director and Shareholder Disputes
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Thanks to the depth of our experience and the resources of our team, we've acted on some of the largest pieces of litigation brought against directors offshore. We're well placed to deal with the 'bet the farm' proceedings that can occur in these type of disputes and have represented parties involved in intra-company disputes, including executive, non-executive and independent directors, majority and minority shareholders, companies and liquidators. We understand that shareholder disputes are often not black and white and our team finds innovative and commercial alternatives to those which the Court may offer – taking a collaborative approach with our clients to ensure that the right result is achieved.

Dispute Resolution
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When your business is involved in any kind of legal dispute it's crucial to work with lawyers who are hands-on, cost-effective and flexible enough to respond quickly and intuitively to your unique situation and needs. We know that there are many different ways a dispute can be resolved and work closely with our clients to understand every aspect of their business, priorities and goals. This allows us to find the best way forward for our clients and to advise on the commercial implications of a dispute, ensuring the process remains as stress-free as possible. Our approach is practical, responsive and tailored to the client's interests. Our expertise and reputation means we're first choice for a range of clients, including banks, trust companies, high net worth individuals and top law firms.

Fraud, Asset Tracing and Freezing Injunctions
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At Collas Crill, we're used to working as part of a multi-jurisdictional team, capable of reacting and responding quickly to urgent requests for assistance with locating and freezing assets. As sophisticated defendants become more adept at dissipating assets, we've been involved in cases that created new law in the Channel Islands in relation to a party's ability to trace assets and recover their losses. With their ability to deal with complex issues the team deliver clear, commercial advice on the availability and likely success of recovery methods.

Insolvency and Restructuring
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For financially distressed companies in need of restructuring and reorganisation, or for those where the opportunity to do so has passed or failed, we work to achieve the most beneficial outcome in these difficult situations. 

Our team brings a wealth of experience from a range of diverse backgrounds to give quick, accurate, commercial advice, primarily across the financial services sector. 

Currently working on some of the largest and most complex cross-border insolvencies in the jurisdiction, we frequently advise top law firms from the People’s Republic of China, the US, the UK and other jurisdictions. We are regularly briefed by Sovereign Wealth Funds and Fortune 500 Companies to advise on particular restructurings, as well as investment managers from Europe and the US.

At whatever stage we are engaged, our involvement will assist in identifying the on-going risks facing a client and to enable that client to continue to identify and effectively manage deteriorating relationships with creditors, financiers, investors or other interested parties.

Middle East and North Africa (MENA)
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The demand for professional advisers who understand the needs of clients in the region has never been more important. With Shariah-compliant products and Islamic finance becoming increasingly mainstream and integrated into the global financial system, it is important to partner with a team who understands the complexities of these structures, while also understanding how more traditional structures can be applied to meet the needs of Middle Eastern clients.

Risk and Regulatory
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Collas Crill's multi-disciplinary approach to providing risk and regulatory services ensures that every aspect of our clients' businesses is covered. By drawing on the skills and experience of a highly experienced team of lawyers with expertise from across the firm, we are able to deal with all legal compliance issues that could affect your business, whether contentious or non-contentious. The assistance we are able to provide ranges from strategic matters to specific operational issues.

Solvent and Insolvent Restructuring
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Restructuring takes many forms, and we have broad experience in reshaping businesses to the changing needs and demands of the market. For financially distressed companies in need of restructuring and reorganisation, or for those where the opportunity to do so has passed or failed, we work with our insolvency and restructuring specialists to achieve the most beneficial outcome. At any stage, our involvement will assist in identifying on-going risks and opportunities, as well as managing deteriorating relationships with creditors, financiers, investors or other interested parties. The team brings a wealth of experience from a range of backgrounds to give quick, accurate, commercial advice.

Deal 4 Jul 2023

Limitless: Hunt v Ubhi

The English Court of Appeal (the Court of Appeal) has recently issued a judgment which will be of particular interest to liquidators and those that they pursue in the case...

Insight 10 Feb 2023

New VASP regulations in Guernsey

The Guernsey Financial Services Commission published its final draft of the Lending, Credit and Finance Rules and Guidance, 2023 (the "New Rules") on Thursday 19 January...

Insight 3 Feb 2023

New Guernsey business regulations

The Guernsey Financial Services Commission published its final draft of the Lending, Credit and Finance Rules and Guidance, 2023 (the "New Rules") on Thursday 19 January...

Insight 26 Jan 2023

New LCF regulations in Guernsey

The Guernsey Financial Services Commission published its final draft of the Lending, Credit and Finance Rules and Guidance, 2023 (the "New Rules") on Thursday 19 January...

News 20 Jan 2023

GFSC issues LCF Law legislation

The Guernsey Financial Services Commission (GFSC) has published its feedback paper (19 Jan 2022) on the consultation around the Lending, Credit & Finance Rules, Guidance...

News 13 Jan 2023

Collas Crill in GRR100

Collas Crill has been ranked in the upper echelons of the 2022 Global Restructuring Review (GRR) 100, an annual guide to the world's leading law firms for cross-border...

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Event 23 Nov 2023
Past Event

Breakfast seminar

The first 24 hours dealing with a suspected internal fraud are often the most crucial for any client. While securing and recovering assets are a priority, decisions and...

Event 31 Oct 2023
Past Event

Risk and Regulatory conference

FULLY BOOKED Collas Crill Partners Wayne Atkinson, Michael Adkins and Nin Ritchie along with Sandra Lawrence from Collas Crill Compliance Limited, will be joined by...

Event 20 Jun 2023
Past Event

INSOL International Jersey

We are delighted to be a gold sponsor of the INSOL International's Channel Island Seminar, which is taking place in Jersey on 20 June. Partner Simon Hurry is on the...

Event 23 Aug 2022
Past Event

ThoughtLeaders4 FIRE Summer School

Michael Adkins is speaking at the ThoughtLeaders4 FIRE Summer School. Aimed at the next generation of asset recovery practitioners the two-day event is billed as the...

Event 29 Jun 2022
Past Event

Crypto in Disputes

Partner Michael Adkins will be speaking at the ThoughtLeaders4 FIRE Crypto in Disputes conference on 29 June. Crypto is increasingly prevalent in many areas of law and the...

Event 21 Jun 2021
Past Event

ThoughtLeaders4 | Fire

Crypto, boats, planes, art... shopping malls?  Join Guernsey Partner Michael Adkins and a multi jurisdictional and multi practice panel of experts as they discuss the world...

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