Mikhail Charles LL.B (Hons) (UK), LL.M (Dist) (IMLI)
Attorney-at-Law, Civil & Commercial Mediator, ADR Group London
Of Counsel
Professional Profile
Mikhail Charles’ practice incorporates commercial law, property law, landlord and tenant, insolvency, trusts, contract and general civil litigation wherein he appears in County Courts, tribunals and the High Court in England and Wales.
He is fully versed in all forms of ADR and accepts instructions in mediation and arbitration, both domestic and international.
Often his cases involve an offshore/ international element (and is Chambers and Partners ranked for Saint Vincent and the Grenadines) and he is familiar with the particular considerations of cases which involve proceedings in other jurisdictions.
He has extensive experience obtaining emergency injunctions, including freezing orders. The same where he appears in the High Court and Court of Appeal in the Eastern Caribbean. He undertakes drafting and advisory work within the above areas. In depth detail is available upon request. He also regularly provides expert evidence on matters of Commonwealth Caribbean Company and Corporate Law.
He was educated at the Saint Vincent Boys Grammar School, did A-Levels in Saint Vincent and his LL.B at University of Wales (Cardiff), Bar at City University Law School and a Masters in Corporate and Insolvency Law at Nottingham Law School.
He lectures in commercial law, advocacy and professional ethics at the University of Greenwich and is a company law consultant at the British Institute of International and Comparative Law.
Mikhail’s focus upon commercial litigation and upon the demands of HNW clients has meant that many of his cases have involved either an international or off shore element. Accordingly he is experienced in the international aspects of all of the areas in which he practices.
His main international focus would be cases involving off-shore companies, structures and international contracts/arbitration as well as enforcement of judgments.
Amongst other things, he is admitted to and practising at the Bar of the British Virgin Islands and the Saint Kitts and Nevis Bar. He also holds the LEC, a credential which allows him to be admitted to the Bar of any Commonwealth Caribbean State as of right.
He is also a 4th Dan (Master Grade) Taekwondo practitioner and was formerly world ranked – he teaches / coaches at Tan Gun Taekwondo and Mixed Martial Arts Academy.
Select Reported Cases:
· https://www.eccourts.org/judgment/lmn-v-qrs-2
· https://www.eccourts.org/judgment/digital-wings-ltd-v-lekeicha-caesar-toney-et-al
· https://www.eccourts.org/judgment/antonio-gellizeau-v-the-state
· https://www.eccourts.org/judgment/antonio-gellizeau-v-state
· https://www.eccourts.org/judgment/commercial-bank-of-dubai-v-18-elvaston-place-ltd-et-al
· https://www.eccourts.org/judgment/michelle-erica-campbell-nee-king-v-cameron-eustace-campbell
· https://www.eccourts.org/judgment/director-of-public-prosecutions-v-karim-maynard-et-al
· https://www.eccourts.org/judgment/director-of-public-prosecutions-v-brandon-lee-wells
· https://www.eccourts.org/judgment/gabrielle-m-hill-junke-v-sea-grape-limited-et-al
· https://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=824ee34a-e0d1-4ef2-8500-e5112e047a20
· https://tcilii.org/akn/tc/judgment/tcaca/2021/7/eng@2021-10-26/source.pdf
· https://media.tcilii.org/files/judgments/tcasc/2020/11/2020-tcasc-11.pdf
· https://media.tcilii.org/files/judgments/tcasc/2020/12/2020-tcasc-12.pdf
Property law
He has substantial experience within this area, regularly advising, drafting and appearing in matters such as boundary disputes, trespass, easements, freehold and leasehold covenants, nuisance, rights of way, adverse possession and compulsory purchase orders, appearing in both Courts and Tribunals in England and Wales and in the offshore Caribbean.
Trusts
Advising on and representing trustees and beneficiaries in relation to Caribbean domiciled entities and structures.
Representative experience includes:
Advising personal representatives on the proper construction of a Will and how the estate assets fall to be distributed.
Proceedings brought by beneficiaries relating to discretionary trust (Monaco and Hong Kong)
Contract
He is regularly instructed in cases involving the creation of contracts, incorporation of terms, breach and enforcement of contracts. He has considerable experience of dealing with cases involving cross border contracts, assets and judgment enforcement, specifically in the Caribbean Region.
Insolvency
He has considerable experience of appearing in court and advising on a wide range of corporate and personal insolvency matters in the Caribbean.
Company
He has experience of advising on a range of company law matters and appearing at trials and hearings on behalf of companies and company directors in the Caribbean.
Civil litigation
In addition to the above, He frequently undertakes a wide variety of work relating to all manner of civil litigation in the Caribbean. E.g. Judicial reviews on behalf of 13 rejected Islander Status applicants (Turks and Caicos Islands)
Professional Memberships (Caribbean)
• OECS Bar Association
• Organization of Caribbean Bar Associations
• Saint Kitts and Nevis Bar Association
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Bar Association
• Grenada Bar Association
Credentials
• LL. B (Hons) – University of Wales (2011)
• Bar Professional Training Course (PG. Dip Professional Legal Practice) – City University Law School, London (2012)
• LL.M Corporate and Insolvency Law – Nottingham Law School (2017)
• Advanced Certificate in Trust Disputes – Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) (2019)
• Certificate in International Investment Law and Dispute Resolution – British Institute of International and Comparative Law (BIICL) (2020)
• Chartered Director (C.Dir) – Caribbean Corporate Governance Training Institute (CGTI) (2021)
• Postgraduate Certificate – Caribbean Community Law & The Caribbean Court of Justice, Caribbean Court of Justice (2022)
• Civil and Commercial Mediation – Phoenix Dispute Resolution Ltd. (‘PDSL’), Civil Mediation Council, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and International Mediation Institute Registered (2022)
• Legal Education Certificate – Eugene Dupusch Law School, Commonwealth of the Bahamas (2023)
Bar Admissions
• England and Wales: Barrister | Mediator (Civil and Commercial – PDSL, Civil Mediation Council, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and International Mediation Institute)
• Eastern Caribbean (British Virgin Islands, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Lucia and Grenada): Barrister | Notary Public
• Freeman of the City of London (October 2023) – Juror of the Guildable Manor of Southwark