Michael Axe
Senior Associate in the Commercial Disputes Team
Direct telephone: +44 (0)1293 558549
Email: maxe@rawlisonbutler.com
Location: Gatwick office
Expertise
I specialise in assisting clients to resolve commercial disputes, whether through court proceedings, mediation or more informal negotiations. I also advise clients on preventative dispute avoidance strategies. I have particular expertise in dealing with professional negligence, intellectual property and construction related disputes.
Profile
I originally qualified as a barrister in 2000, then completed my dual-qualification as a solicitor in 2004. I worked at a firm in the City for several years before I joined Rawlison Butler in 2004, looking for a better work-life balance. I was then promoted to an Associate within the Commercial Disputes Team in 2007 and to Senior Associate in 2010. Combining my original training as a barrister with my years of experience as a solicitor, I can often bring a fresh perspective to matters, from an initial enquiry through, if necessary, to a trial at court.
Memberships
I am a member of the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple.
Public Profile
I regularly contribute legal articles to the firm’s publications, and I am responsible for the Commercial Dispute Team’s "Solve It" e-bulletin. I also produce our periodic updates on legal developments involving professional negligence, electronic evidence and commercial agents.
What others say about me
On LinkedIn, contacts have recommended Michael as being “an expert who understood our requirement to close this issue as swiftly and as simply as possible, then implemented it on our behalf with clear and concise communication”, and as someone who “worked tirelessly to see this case through to a successful win and financial settlement in favour of his client”.
In my spare time …
I am an avid cinema goer (having previously been president of my university’s film society), and prior to the birth of my daughter, I played American football for Sussex in the Premier Division of the BAFL.
What I said when I was asked …
How do you contribute to our Corporate Social Responsibility?
I actively support the firm’s charitable fundraising activities, which have recently raised money for St Catherine's Hospice and Macmillan Cancer Support. I am also a supporter of the firm’s involvement with Orangutan Appeal UK, having previously visited the Sepilok Rehabilitation Centre in Borneo.
What has been the most memorable or challenging case for you?
Probably defending against a claim relating to allegedly faulty industrial equipment. The case involved mountains of conflicting technical evidence and an opponent that attempted to win through the use of attrition tactics, but with only a few weeks remaining before the trial was due to start, I not only defeated the claim but also secured a six-figure settlement for my client in relation to its counterclaim and costs.
What I do to get myself thinking creatively
Find fresh stimulus and a change of surroundings, even if just by making a cup of coffee, as approaching matters from a different perspective can make all the difference. As Einstein said, “We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them”.