Michael practices in the area of Family law in relation to children and in the Court of Protection. He is based on the Northern Circuit, but accepts instructions nationally. He took silk in March 2023, having established a thriving practice on the Northern Circuit, after completing pupillage at Stour Chambers in Canterbury.

Michael’s Children Act practice incorporates cases involving international issues such as that of jurisdiction, child abduction, and the placement of children outside of the United Kingdom. He also has experience of undertaking work in the Oversea Territories, having previously been instructed in a case before the Supreme Court of St Helena. In terms of Michael’s regular practice, he is instructed in public law proceedings where issues relate to serious injuries to children and involve complex medical issues including abusive head trauma/brain injury to infants, and fabricated and induced illness. Michael has also appeared in a number of cases involving child death, where concurrent criminal proceedings have received national media attention.

Michael is the author of the practitioner’s textbook ‘Children: the Inherent Jurisdiction and Wardship’ and has advised and represented various parties within wardship proceedings relating to matters such as abduction, medical treatment and alleged radicalisation. He has a particular interest in the use of the inherent jurisdiction in the context of medical treatment cases relating to children and has extensive experience in cases involving the deprivation of liberty of children in proceedings brought within the Court of Protection and under the inherent jurisdiction of the High Court.

In relation to proceedings within the Court of Protection, Michael is experienced in dealing with applications relating to complex welfare issues, including serious medical treatment in cases heard before Judges of the Family Division. He represents both public authorities and litigation friends.

In 2015 Michael was awarded a Pegasus Scholarship from Middle Temple. He undertook a 10-week placement in New Zealand, working in the capacity as junior Crown Counsel for the initial part of the placement, where he acted in an advisory capacity to various government departments; he worked on cases involving issues in relation to international jurisdiction and judicial review. He also spent time working in the Ministry of Social Development, the government body responsible for child protection within the New Zealand Court system.

Michael served a 3 year term as an elected member of the Bar Council and has been involved in various committees on a national as well as a regional level. He has published articles for a number of well known publications including the Family Law Journal, Counsel Magazine and Community Care.

Reported cases

• A Local Authority v X & Ors (Need for Finding of Fact Hearing) [2023] EWFC 121
• Mr and Mrs C v D & Ors [2023] EWFC 10
• Lancashire County Council v PX & Ors [2022] EWHC 2379 (Fam)
• Re G (Child Post-Mortem Report: Delays) [2022] EWFC 55
• A Borough Council v E (Unavailability of Regulated Placement) [2021] EWHC 183 (Fam)
• A Borough Council v E & Ors (No. 2) (Refusal of Secure Accommodation Order) [2021] EWHC 2699 (Fam)
• Wigan BC v Y (Refusal to Authorise Deprivation of Liberty) [2021] EWHC 1982 (Fam)
• Cumbria County Council v AT & Ors [2020] EWHC 3107 (Fam)
• Cumbria County Council v T (Discharge of Intervenors) (Rev 1) [2020] EWFC 58
• Lancashire County Council v G (Unavailability of Secure Accommodation) [2020] EWHC 2828 (Fam)
• Cumbria County Council v AT & Ors [2020] EWHC 3107 (Fam)W (A Child: Leave to Oppose Adoption) [2020] EWCA Civ 16
• B-P (Children: adoption Or Fostering) [2018] EWCA Civ 204
• J (Child Refugees) (Rev 2) [2017] EWFC 44 (Fam)
• X (A Child : No 2) [2017] EWHC 1585 (Fam)
• X (A Child) (No 3) [2017] EWHC 2036 (Fam)
• X (A Child) and Y (A Child) [2016] EWHC 2271 (Fam)
• Derby City Council v SK & Ors [2015] EWFC 27

Directory quotes

“He has an incredible legal mind and he is so knowledgeable.” Chambers & Partners, 2024

“Michael has a fantastic understanding of the law.” Chambers & Partners, 2024

“Michael is an excellent advocate, he is incredibly knowledgeable around all areas that he is dealing with, and that is abundantly clear. He is always happy to help and provide guidance, and he is patient and approachable.” Legal 500, 2024

“Michael is an outstanding advocate as well as the standard of his written pleadings being superb.” Chambers & Partners, 2023

“Michael is phenomenally bright; he lives and breathes the complexities of children law, his knowledge of the law and relevant case law is second-to-none, and his written advocacy, particularly case summaries and skeleton arguments, are of the highest quality. He is also well received by the judiciary and opponents alike.” Legal 500, 2023

“Michael is just a fountain of knowledge. Whether he’s got a complex case or a High Court jurisdictional issue, he’s just been amazing. He’s almost in KC territory in the breadth of his knowledge.” Chambers & Partners, 2023

“Michael Jones is supremely bright, an incredible lawyer. He seems to relish in complexity and just hoovers it up.” Chambers & Partners, 2023

“Mr Jones’ strength is his encyclopaedic knowledge of case law and statute. He instantly puts clients at ease and is extremely down-to-earth and meticulous in his case preparation and drafting. He is very intellectual and great on the technical and educational side of the case.” Chambers and Partners, 2022

“He is excellent. He does quality protection work. He is an exceptional and hard-working advocate, but also one of the most helpful and obliging barristers I’ve ever come across.” Chambers and Partners, 2021

“Michael is incredibly intelligent with an encyclopaedic knowledge of case law, his cases are always well presented, and his written advocacy is a particular strength, case summaries and skeleton arguments are clear, thorough and expertly set out the issues and case law to be considered. He is also a very pleasant, humble and helpful advocate. Always good company in and out of court.” Legal 500, 2021

“An exceptionally intelligent lawyer with an encyclopaedic knowledge of case law.” Legal 500, 2020

“Hardworking, conscientious and very bright.” Legal 500