Michael McNally

Michael’s particular area of expertise is in advising rural clients and in particular landed estates, stately homes, grouse moors, major shooting agencies and bodies, rural businesses, farms, country sports and countryside bodies, hunts and shoots in relation to a wide variety of disputes and other matters. These matters typically include disputes over sporting rights, boundaries, access rights and trespass. Michael also advises not only rural clients but also commercial clients and regulatory bodies over employment matters of all kinds, both contentious and non-contentious. His employment work includes handling redundancy programmes, TUPE related transfers, buy-outs and reorganisations. His contentious employment work includes handling employment claims of all kinds, including all aspects of discrimination. Michael has handled many employment tribunal claims both for employers and employees. Michael’s equestrian work includes handling disputes over the purchase and sale of horses, the bringing on of horses, equestrian joint ventures and contract and misrepresentation disputes over equestrian equipment and premises, as well as non-contentious agreements over the loan, sale, grazing and livery of horses. Michael acts for defendants in country sports, countryside and animal related personal injury claims, in particular accidents in the shooting field and accidents involving animals both on and off the road. Michael is a leading expert in the application of the strict liability provisions of the Animals Act 1971. Michael also advises countryside and country sports clients on health and safety matters in relation to shooting and riding/hunting – for example, over wearing of hunt caps and safety hats. Michael also handles professional negligence claims mostly for those involved in farming and land management. Michael also acts for commercial clients in commercial disputes over breach of contract, frustration of contracts, breach of commercial agreements and breach of post-termination covenants. Michael has extensive experience of handling court cases in the County Court, High Court, Court of Appeal and the House of Lords (now the Supreme Court).