Michael Coumas

Michael is regularly instructed to appear in the High Court and County Court on a wide range of matters arising under the Companies Act 2006 and Insolvency Act 1986.

Michael has gained the following experience:

• Assisted Hugo Groves in a nine-day unfair prejudice trial concerning the ownership and control of a multi-million-pound hotel group: Sarwar v Sarwar [2026] EWHC 2104 (Ch);
• Drafted an opinion advising a liquidator on potential misfeasance claims against former directors;
• Appeared for liquidators in an application under section 1029 of the Companies Act 2006 to restore a company to the register;
• Opposing an application to strike out the defence of a director or for summary judgment in a claim concerning breach of directors’ duties.

Michael is a Visiting Lecturer in Company Law at UCL.

Michael is regularly instructed to appear in the High Court and County Court for creditors and debtors, companies, individuals, and insolvency officeholders.

During pupillage, Michael gained extensive experience in winding-up petitions, bankruptcy petitions, and Insolvency Act applications, including administration applications and claims against directors. He has assisted members with the following:

• A claim to unwind a transaction at an undervalue (‘TUV’) under section 423;
• An application under sections 298 to remove and replace a trustee in bankruptcy;
• An application to terminate an administration and move a company with no assets to dissolution.

His recent cases include:

• A liquidator’s application to fix remuneration and approve Category 2 expenses;
• Representing a trustee in bankruptcy in a directions hearing for a TUV claim concerning the possession and sale of a property.

Michael is interested in the interaction of public law and insolvency and welcomes instructions from public bodies on insolvency-related matters. Before pupillage, Michael gained experience at the Office for Students—the regulator of higher education providers in England—advising on the regulatory implications for providers in financial distress.

Michael has experience across a broad range of commercial disputes and welcomes instructions in this area.

His recent cases include:

• Advising on the interpretation and enforceability of a contract and deed of covenant;
• Representing an insurer for the dismissal of a critical-illness policy claim;
• Drafted particulars of claim on implied terms under the Supply of Goods Act 1973;
• Secured an interim third-party debt order;
• Secured a final charging order over beneficial interests in a jointly owned property and entry of a bespoke restriction at HM Land Registry;
• Defending an advertising agency in a small-claims trial regarding a breach of contract and misrepresentation claim.

Michael has a special interest in insurance and construction disputes and welcomes instructions in these areas.

• As a Judicial Assistant, he assisted Sir Anthony Mann in Mulsanne Insurance Company Ltd v Marshmallow Financial Services Ltd [2022] EWHC 276 (Ch)—a £40 million claim for breach of contract and passing off.
• Michael worked as a Legal Assistant at a leading construction law set, where he gained experience in disputes arising under HGCRA 1996 involving construction contracts, construction adjudication, and arbitration.

Michael welcomes instructions across trusts, wills and probate, including matters concerning beneficial ownership, estate administration and claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependents) Act 1975.

During his pupillage, Michael gained experience in a range of chancery matters. Recent cases include:

• Assisted with an application under section 14 TOLATA 1996 concerning the sale of co-owned commercial property at an undervalue;
• Observed a mediation in a dispute between co-executors concerning alleged breaches of section 25 of the Administration of estates Act 1925.

Michael is a Visiting Lecturer in Trusts Law at UCL.

Michael regularly appears in the Business and Property Courts in a wide range of property and property-related matters. He has particular experience in possession hearings on all grounds.

During his pupillage, Michael attended a trial concerning the scope of express and prescribed rights of way and allegations of trespass and private nuisance. Michael also attended a trial of a proprietary estoppel claim concerning a family farm.

Recent cases:

• Preparing an application for relief from forfeiture in respect of a long-lease and a stay of possession proceedings;
• Drafted a defence and counterclaim for occupiers resisting possession after contributing towards the purchase.