Michael Bowsher has been a member of Monckton Chambers since 2001. He has built a diverse practice based around EU and commercial law. He is involved in competition law (particularly damages claims by victims of anti-competitive conduct), state aid, regulatory challenges, commercial public law and substantial commercial disputes, particularly in construction, technology and public service sectors such as healthcare, transport, waste and utility provision.
Michael is best known for his unique practice in regulated procurement. Michael Bowsher QC has appeared as counsel in many of the major UK procurement cases over the last decade.
Michael is also active in a range of other dispute resolution arrangements. He continues to be appointed as arbitrator, mediator and expert by CEDR, LCIA, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and the Technology and Construction Solicitors’ Association. Most of his appointments involve disputes concerning long term contracts involving the public sector or utilities and he has been involved in deciding or resolving many commercial disputes in the NHS.
Michael is also heavily engaged with a broad range of legal and regulatory issues at EU level in his capacity as Chair of the EU law committee of the Bar. He reviews ongoing developments for the Bar and is involved in meeting and making representations to officials, parliamentarians and others. Subjects in which he is particularly closely involved at present include EU criminal law and the prospective UK opt-out, data protection, harmonisation of sales law and public procurement reform.
Key Positions and Memberships
• Queen’s Counsel (2006); Called to the Bar of England and Wales (1985)
• Called to the Bar of Northern Ireland (2000)
• Called to the Bar of the Republic of Ireland (2012)
• Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, Chartered Arbitrator
• Fellow, European Law Institute
• Fellow, Centre of European Law, King’s College London.
• Visiting Lecturer in EU Public Procurement Law, King’s College London
• Co Chair of Task Force on Public Procurement of International Chamber of Commerce (appointed 2007); in this capacity Michael has represented the ICC as observer to international bodies such as the UNCITRAL.
• Chair of the EU law Committee of the General Council of the Bar of England and Wales (appointed 2011) (also member of the General Management Council of the General Council of the Bar of England and Wales)
