Back

Michael Barnes

Special Counsel

Barnes Michael LARGE

Contact

Michael is a Special Counsel in Projects and Arbitration in Sydney, having relocated from Perth in April 2025.

Michael brings more than a decade of experience in international arbitration and litigation, with a focus on complex, large-scale construction and energy industry disputes.

His experience includes acting for an LNG operator pursuing a claim for at least AUD 2.5 billion before the Federal Court of Australia, wholly succeeding at final award in a circa AUD 1 billion ICC arbitration on behalf of a Thai module fabricator, and successfully defending a circa AUD 1.6 billion claim in an SIAC arbitration on behalf of a major mining client.

Michael was a finalist for Young ADR Practitioner of the Year at the 2019 Australian ADR Awards.

He is a member of the Society of Construction Law, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and the Corrs Sydney Arbitration Interest Group.