Michael Wells

Michael has a broad litigation and dispute resolution practice, including contractual disputes, director and shareholder disputes, regulatory investigations, restructuring & insolvency, banking and finance, property, equity and trusts, and wills & estates disputes. He appears and instructs in all Victorian and Federal courts and tribunals.

Michael is skilled at navigating court processes and applying rules of evidence, positioning him to confidently advocate for his clients, and resolve disputes efficiently while minimising disruption to their business.

Prior to joining Cornwalls, Michael was the associate to the Honourable Justice Emerton, the President of the Victorian Court of Appeal, and to the Honourable Justice Kenny, formerly of the Federal Court of Australia. Michael previously practiced as a solicitor in a large national firm, where he acted for leading companies, directors, external administrators, banks and governments, across a variety of sectors including finance, healthcare, technology, construction and education.

Michael’s experience includes advising and acting for:

• Large construction companies in commercial disputes in the Federal Court of Australia, Supreme and County Courts of Victoria;
• Major auto-industry company in contractual dispute involving an essential software agreement;
• Large accounting firm in defending professional negligence claims brought by supermarket chain;
• Creditors and shareholders in court applications to wind up companies (insolvency and just and equitable grounds);
• Liquidator in high-profile public examinations that attracted media attention;
• Liquidator of company in class action and personal injury proceedings;
• Companies, governments and private clients in complex bankruptcy proceedings;
• A Big Four bank in a variety of security enforcements;
• Multi-national United States technology company in restructuring its Australian subsidiaries;
• Voluntary administrators in selling pharmaceutical patents under a Deed of Company Arrangement;
• Executors of $24 million deceased estate defending estoppel and family provision claims; and
• Executors of the estate of a British noble who held an official position under Queen Elizabeth II, in relation to their Australian assets.

Michael actively contributes to the development of legal knowledge and scholarship, and has published papers in leading national and international peer reviewed law journals. He has received academic awards and scholarships, and his work has been commended by Judges of the Supreme Court of Victoria and curated by the Judicial College of Victoria and Law Library Victoria.

Michael acts pro bono for vulnerable people in financial distress, including through referrals from JusticeConnect, Mortgage Stress Victoria, and the Consumer Action Law Centre.

Prior to admission as a lawyer, Michael was a senior public servant and developed public policy reforms under the auspices of senior government ministers. He was also a special needs school teacher, having taught in Sydney and London.