• Município de Mariana v BHP Group (UK) Ltd (TCC); acting for a third party in relation to Part 20 Claims relating to proceedings concerning the collapse of a dam in Brazil, in which over 620,000 claimants are seeking damages of around £36 billion (with Simon Salzedo KC and others).
• Nord Stream AG v Lloyd’s Insurance Company SA (Commercial Court); representing the Defendants in relation to a claim seeking an indemnity of €400 million under primary and excess layer insurance policies arising out of damage to the Nord Stream pipelines (with Simon Salzedo KC and others).
• Veranova Bidco LP v Johnson Matthey Plc (Commercial Court); representing the claimant in a fraud claim worth over £130 million relating to the sale of part of a business listed on the London Stock Exchange (with Simon Salzedo KC).
• Finance Technology Leverage LLC v Munich Re (Commercial Court); representing the defendant in a claim for over US$470 million concerning alleged breaches of duty relating to a consultancy agreement (with Michael Swainston KC).
• Shareholder Representative Services LLC v Silver Acquisition Co Ltd (Commercial Court); representing the claimant in a claim for around US$50 million concerning breaches of contract relating to the sale of a pharmaceutical company (with Daniel Jowell KC).
• FCA v Arch Insurance (UK) Ltd and others (Commercial Court and Supreme Court); representing one of the defendant insurers in an unprecedented test case brought by the FCA to clarify whether and, if so, to what extent certain business interruption insurance policies respond to claims based on Covid-19 (with Simon Salzedo KC).
• Defending a City law firm in a Commercial Court claim for damages of over US$500 million for alleged breaches of duty owed to a former client in connection with a claim concerning certain investments in Ukraine, Russia and the USA (with Helen Davies KC).
• St James Holdings Ltd v Staveley and another (Commercial Court); representing the defendants to a contractual claim concerning a loan agreement and guarantee concluded in connection with the sale of Newcastle United FC (with Mark Howard KC).
• Renova Industries Ltd and others v Emmerson International Corporation and others (BVI Commercial Court); acting for the claimants in a dispute worth around US$1 billion concerning a joint venture relating to Russian energy assets, including a successful application to discharge very substantial freezing orders (with Mark Howard KC and others).
• Advising a listed company in connection with a claim concerning the sale of a business worth around £8 billion (with Neil Calver KC).
• Filatona Trading Ltd and Oleg Deripaska v Navigator Equities Ltd and others (Commercial Court): acting for the claimants in a challenge to arbitral awards relating to a joint venture dispute concerning a Russian textiles company.
• Tullow Oil Plc and another v Eni UK Ltd and another (Commercial Court and Court of Appeal): representing the defendants in a dispute concerning a share purchase agreement relating to an oil field in the North Sea, worth over £20 million (with Simon Salzedo KC).
• Chilcott UK Ltd and another v Patel and another (Commercial Court); acting for the claimants in case involving claims for breach of warranties contained in a share purchase agreement (with Jemima Stratford KC).
• CitizenM LND St Paul’s Properties BV v Chil Ltd and others (Chancery Division and Court of Appeal): representing the claimant in a contractual dispute concerning a joint venture relating to the development of a plot of land in central London for use as a hotel (with Simon Salzedo KC).
• Ardila Investments NV v ENRC NV (Commercial Court): acting for the claimant in a claim for US$285 million owed under a share purchase agreement relating to an iron ore mine in Brazil (with Neil Calver QC and Stephen Midwinter).
• Advising in relation to a claim for over £45 million brought against a commercial property consultancy involving allegations of negligence and breach of contract.
• Advising in relation to allegations concerning the mis-selling of sovereign bonds worth a total of around US$700 million.
• Essar Shipping Ltd v Bank of China Ltd (Commercial Court): an application for an anti-suit injunction to restrain the pursuit of proceedings in China allegedly brought in breach of an arbitration agreement incorporated into a bill of lading contract (with Richard Lord KC).
• Arcadia Energy (Suisse) S.A. and another v Ubah and others (Commercial Court): an application for an interim anti-suit injunction to restrain the defendants from continuing proceedings in Nigeria in breach of an exclusive jurisdiction clause contained in a settlement agreement relating to a dispute concerning the sale of a vessel (with Richard Lord KC).
• LA Leisure Ltd v Fitness Agents Ltd (Mercantile Court): acting for the defendant in a dispute relating to the provision of personal trainers at fitness clubs involving various allegations of breach of contract.
• Brit UW Ltd v F&B Trenchless Solutions Ltd (Commercial Court): representing insurers in a successful claim for a declaration that a contractors’ combined liability insurance policy had been validly avoided on the basis of non-disclosure and misrepresentation by the insured (with Neil Calver KC).
• Sartex Quilts & Textiles Ltd v Henderson Insurance Brokers Ltd (Commercial Court): defending an insurance broker in a claim for negligence concerning the placing of material damage and business interruption cover (with Neil Calver KC).
• Davenport Capital Ltd v EBG (Mercantile Court): acting for the defendant in a claim brought by a consultancy firm for sums said to be owed as a debt and/or as damages, or by way of restitution, for services allegedly rendered in connection with the establishment of a private equity fund.
• Eurokey Recycling Ltd v Giles Insurance Brokers Ltd (Commercial Court): successfully defending an insurance broker in a negligence claim for over £20 million concerning the placing of material damage and business interruption cover (with Neil Calver KC).
• Corbiere Ltd and others v Xu (Chancery Division): representing the claimant in a successful application for a worldwide freezing order against a defendant in a claim for damages for misuse of confidential information (with Michael Swainston KC).
• Advising in relation to a dispute concerning a long-term electricity contract worth several million dollars entered into by the subsidiary of a major Russian commodity company (with Neil Calver KC and Andrew Henshaw KC).
• Acting for the defendant in case involving a challenge to an arbitral award under section 68 of the Arbitration Act 1996 on the basis of a decision by the tribunal not to permit the other party to amend its statement of case shortly before the final hearing (with Andrew Henshaw KC).
• AC Gold Biomass Ltd v Burrows (Commercial Court): acting for the claimant in a challenge to an arbitral award under s.68 of the Arbitration Act 1996.

• Representing reinsurers in an ad hoc arbitration relating to losses arising out of the Covid-19 pandemic (with Roger Masefield KC).
• Advising reinsurers in relation to claims under reinsurance treaties concerning losses arising out of the Covid-19 pandemic (with Simon Salzedo KC).
• Representing the respondents in an LCIA arbitration involving a claim for over US$650 million relating to the sale of a promissory note secured against commercial real estate (with Jasbir Dhillon KC).
• Representing the claimants in an LCIA arbitration involving fraud claims worth over US$200 million relating to the sale of shares in a joint venture company (with Simon Salzedo KC).
• Acting for the claimant in a significant ICC arbitration relating to the sale of an interest in an oil field, involving allegations of breach of contract and deceit (with Tim Lord KC and Jon Scott).
• Representing the claimant in an arbitration under the LCIA rules worth several billion dollars involving a shareholders’ dispute concerning contracts entered into by a major Russian commodity company (with Mark Howard KC and others).
• Representing the defendants in an LMAA arbitration concerning a number of long-term contracts of affreightment allegedly concluded by a major Russian fishing company (with Michael Swainston KC and Richard Lord KC).
• Acting for the defendant in an ICC arbitration concerning a multi-million pound claim for an indemnity under a contract relating to the provision of personnel at a gas processing facility in Algeria (with Richard Slade KC).
• Acting for the claimant in an arbitration under the LCIA rules involving allegations of economic duress and breach of contract, worth over US$50 million (with Andrew Henshaw QC).
• Acting for the defendant in case involving a challenge to an arbitral award under section 68 of the Arbitration Act 1996 on the basis of a decision by the tribunal not to permit the other party to amend its statement of case shortly before the final hearing (with Andrew Henshaw QC).

• Renova Industries Ltd and others v Emmerson International Corporation and others (BVI Commercial Court); acting for the claimants in a dispute worth around US$1 billion concerning a joint venture relating to Russian energy assets (with Mark Howard KC and others).
• Acting for the claimant in an ICC arbitration relating to the sale of an interest in a Brazilian oil field (with Tim Lord KC).
• Tullow Oil Plc and another v Eni UK Ltd and another (Commercial Court): representing the defendants in a dispute concerning a share purchase agreement relating to an oil field in the North Sea, worth over £20 million (with Simon Salzedo KC)
• Acting for the defendant in an ICC arbitration concerning a multi-million pound claim for an indemnity under a contract relating to the provision of personnel at a gas processing facility in Algeria (with Richard Slade KC).
• Advising in relation to a dispute concerning a long-term electricity contract worth several million dollars entered into by the subsidiary of a major Russian commodity company (with Neil Calver QC and Andrew Henshaw QC).

• Representing the defendants in an LMAA arbitration concerning certain long-term contracts of affreightment allegedly concluded by a major Russian fishing company (with Michael Swainston KC and Richard Lord KC).
• Essar Shipping Ltd v Bank of China Ltd (Commercial Court): an application for an anti-suit injunction to restrain the pursuit of proceedings in China allegedly brought in breach of an arbitration agreement incorporated into a bill of lading contract (with Richard Lord KC).
• Arcadia Energy (Suisse) S.A. and another v Ubah and others (Commercial Court): an application for an interim anti-suit injunction to restrain the defendants from continuing proceedings in Nigeria in breach of an exclusive jurisdiction clause contained in a settlement agreement relating to a dispute concerning the sale of oil and a vessel (with Richard Lord KC).
• Representing the claimant in an arbitration under the LCIA rules worth several billion dollars involving a shareholders’ dispute concerning contracts entered into by a major Russian commodity company (with Mark Howard KC and others).
• Michael contributed to the second edition of Aikens, Lord and Bools on Bills of Lading and is helping to edit the third edition.

• Apple Retail UK Limited and others v Nokia Solutions and Networks UK Limited (Chancery Division): acting for the defendants in a case concerning allegations that they have failed to offer a licence to standard-essential mobile phone patents on FRAND terms and conditions (with Jemima Stratford KC and Sarah Abram).
• LM Ericsson v Apple Retail UK Ltd and another (Chancery Division): acting for the claimant in a dispute concerning the obligations of a holder of standard-essential mobile phone patents to grant licences on FRAND terms and conditions (with Jemima Stratford KC and others).
• Unwired Planet International Ltd v Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd and others (Chancery Division): acting for the claimant in a dispute concerning the obligations of a holder of standard-essential mobile phone patents to grant licences on FRAND terms (with Jemima Stratford KC and others).

Aikens, R. Lord, R. and Bools, M., Bolding, M and Toh, K.S. Bills of Lading, (3rd ed.), Informa Law

Aikens, R. Lord, R. and Bools, M. Bills of Lading, (2^nd ed.), Informa Law, contributor

Competition Litigation: UK Practice and Procedure (2^nd ed.), Oxford University Press, contributor

Administrative Court Digest, Sweet & Maxwell, contributor

2017: Called to the Bar of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (BVI)

2012-13: Judicial Assistant to Lords Clarke and Carnwath, UK Supreme Court

2011-12: Pupillage, Brick Court Chambers

2010-11: LLM, Harvard Law School

2009-10: BVC, BPP Law School (Very Competent)

2009-10: Non-stipendiary lecturer in law, University College, Oxford

2008-09: BCL, Lincoln College, Oxford (1st class, 1st in year)

2004-07: MMU, LLB (Hons) (1st class, 1st in year)

Scholarships and prizes:

2009: Queen Mother Scholarship, Middle Temple

2009: Vinerian Scholarship, University of Oxford (for the highest grade on the BCL)

2009: Sir Rupert Cross Prize for Evidence, University of Oxford

2009: Sir Ralph Chiles CBE Award for Human Rights, University of Oxford

2009: Rector's Prize, Lincoln College, University of Oxford

2009: Joint winner of the Holdsworth Society Moot, University of Oxford

2008: Supperstone Law Scholarship, Lincoln College, University of Oxford

2007: Human rights bursary, International Bar Association

2007: Oxford University Press Law Prize

Memberships

ALBA

COMBAR

"Michael has excellent drafting skills and has a hands-on attitude to his work." (Chambers & Partners 2025)

"Michael is fast developing into a top senior junior. He is capable of running a large case with minimal input from senior silks."  (Chambers & Partners 2025)

"Michael is a pleasure to work with. He is all over the detail, highly responsive, and totally composed under pressure." (Chambers & Partners 2025)

"Michael has impressive commercial and legal acumen, and is always keen to get to the bottom of the client's drivers."  (Chambers & Partners 2025)

"Michael is very responsive and helpful within tight deadlines." (Chambers & Partners 2025)

"Contributes significantly to the team – fitting in with KCs, solicitors and clients." (Legal 500 2025)

Do not let Michael's calm and understated manner confuse you: he is astonishingly bright and a truly excellent lawyer and litigator. He is a great person to have on your team." (Legal 500 2025)

"Michael Bolding is an incredibly talented advocate. He is very bright, he knows his cases inside and out, and he is sharp on his feet in cross-examination." (Chambers & Partners 2024)

"Michael's preparation for trial was second to none. He was on top of every detail and knew the case back to front." (Chambers & Partners 2024)

"Michael Bolding is incredibly clever. He provides very clear advice and his drafting is excellent." (Chambers & Partners 2024)

"Michael Bolding has a real head for numbers." (Chambers & Partners 2024)

"In a field of brilliant practitioners, Michael stands out for his thorough and accurate analysis of every kind of legal situation." (Legal 500 2024)

"Michael is a fantastic junior, who is extremely bright and user-friendly." (Chambers & Partners 2023)

"He produces excellent, client-ready drafting and is proactive in providing his views and advice." (Chambers & Partners 2023)

"He’s an outstanding junior. He has a brilliant mind, and is always completely on top of both the facts and the law. He has an assurance and presence beyond his years." (Legal 500 2023)

"Very intelligent and able to immediately grasp complex issues. His drafting is top-notch." (Chambers & Partners 2022)

"An excellent team player, with encyclopaedic knowledge of the case and strong analytical skill." (Legal 500 2022)

"He is an extraordinarily bright junior who is very diligent." (Chambers & Partners 2021)

"User-friendly and easy to work with, he stays calm and unflustered at all times." (Chambers & Partners 2021)