PROFESSIONAL BIOGRAPHY

Michael Pickering is our most senior solicitor employed in the Melbourne Branch of LAC Lawyers Pty Ltd.   He deals with a wide range of matters.  He has nearly 20 years experience as a lawyer which he applies for the benefit of clients whether large or small.

Michael has a broad practice which encompasses: - Building & construction, Business & Commercial Law, Civil & Commercial Litigation, Criminal Law, Defacto & Family Law, Employment Law for employers and employees, Insurance Law, Intellectual Property, Professional Negligence and Trade Practices.

As well as being a skilful litigator, Michael has extensive experience in alternative dispute resolution.  He is an Approved Mediator with the Law Institute of Victoria, and has worked and been trained as an Arbitrator and Mediator both in Australia and overseas. 

Some of matters in which Michael has been involved are:

• Obtaining a $100 million plus settlement for Bougainville Copper Limited arising from the closure of its Panguna Copper Mine on the island of Bougainville.
• Criminal Law - appearance and advice on summary and indictable offences for DUI, BAC, assault, sexual assault, wrongful death & homicide, fraud and theft charges.
• Property Law - conveyancing, mortgages, retail leasing and liquor licensing problems.
• Building & Construction - Michael has qualifications in building construction and building design from R.M.I.T. which he uses to advise a wide range of building professionals including architects, designers, building surveyors/building inspectors, quantity surveyors, engineers and registered builders on issues from building contract drafting and interpretation to advice on security of payments, as well as representation and appearance work at VCAT and Victorian Courts and the Building Appeals Board.
• Business & Commercial Law - advising on duties and responsibilities of private and public company directors and senior officers, franchising, and choice of business structure.
• Taxation, Superannuation & Estate Planning - advising on estate planning and taxation treatment of business ventures.
• Wills & Probate - preparation and drafting of wills and obtaining grants of probate and the administration of estates.
• Defacto & Family Law - advising on pre-nuptial agreements under State Law, financial agreements under Commonwealth Law, distribution of property, financial settlements, separation and divorce and the consequences for spouses or partners with or without children.
• Employment Law - advice for employers and employees concerning employing and dismissing staff, drafting contracts of employment, advising on unlawful termination and unfair dismissal, discrimination and harassment.
• Intellectual Property - advice on patents, trademarks, copyright and designs, breach of confidence and protection of privacy, doing business through the internet and enforcing clients' rights or defending clients against criminal and civil liabilities for alleged breach of property rights.
• Insurance Law - advice to re-insurers, insurers, insureds and brokers on all types of insurance product including drafting and interpretation of insurance policies, defending insureds against third party suits, and obtaining subrogated recoveries.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Arts
• Bachelor of Laws with Honours
• Master of Laws
• Advanced Certificate in Building Construction
• Associate Diploma of Applied Science (Building & Construction)
• Diploma of Building Design & Drafting
• Graduate Certificate in Australian Immigration Law
• Participant at Program of Instruction for Lawyers & Program on Negotiation (Harvard Law School)

Memberships

• Law Institute of Victoria

Fellowships

• Australian Institute of Building
• Australian & New Zealand Institute of Insurance & Finance
• Australasian Institute of Chartered Loss Adjusters  

Admitted to Practice in

• Victoria
• NSW
• ACT
• Tasmania

Language Skills 

• Italian