Michael Furness QC

Practice Overview

Michael has a practice in all areas of trusts work, both in the UK and offshore, and related areas of tax and professional liability. He has a particular specialism in occupational pensions law. He has wide litigation experience, at all levels. This includes several appearances in the House of Lords, including the leading tax cases of Ingram and McNiven v Westmoreland and the important pensions case of National Grid v Mayes. Most recently in he represented the Inland Revenue in the Arctic Systems case (2007). He also acts for the Commissioner of Inland Revenue for Hong Kong, whom he recently represented before the Court of Final Appeal in Shui On Credit Company Ltd v CIR.

Professional Reputation

Michael is ranked as a 'leading silk' in both Chambers & Partners and The Legal 500.

Recent comments include:

Chancery traditional

'As an advocate, Michael Furness QC "knows what he is doing - he is robust, analytical and extremely well prepared".  An "incredibly clever man", he is firmly rooted in traditional chancery work, having litigated in this area and advised on pensions for a number of years.  According to clients, he is "assiduous, gets on with the cases with the minimum amount of fuss and doesn't suffer fools gladly".' (Chambers & Partners, 2009)

Charities

'Michael Furness QC is a talented charities barrister who offers "robust advice" on the establishment of charitable schemes.' (Chambers & Partners, 2009)

Pensions

'Known for being "an extremely practical and focused" pensions specialist with "an excellent grasp of technical issues", Michael Furness QC remains in the vanguard of the sector.  As an example of the "excellent work" he has undertaken Furness went before the Pensions Regulator, acting for the independent trustees of the GEC Pension Scheme during the Telent takeover by a subsidiary of the Pensions Corporation.  He has also been involved in a significant rectification case for an extremely high-value scheme.'  Chambers & Partners, 2009

'"Intelligent all-rounder" Michael Furness QC is "impressive on his feet and charming with clients", displaying a "sound intellectual grasp of detail" combined with a "practical approach".' Legal 500, 2009

Qualifications

Michael Furness QC obtained a First Class degree in Law from Cambridge and the degree of Bachelor of Civil Law from Oxford before being called to the Bar in 1982. He joined Wilberforce Chambers in 1995, taking silk in 2000.

Memberships

• Association of Pension Lawyers
• Chancery Bar Association
• Revenue Bar Association

Publications

Michael is the consultant editor of Changing the Terms of Trusts (Butterworths 2002).