Michael has been practising law in Western Australia since 1997 and is an experienced lawyer in property law, family law and succession law. Michael has a strong base of knowledge and experience from assisting hundreds of clients in these fields.
For over 15 years, Michael was a general legal practitioner, representing clients both in and out of Court in a wide range of matters. He continues to draw on this experience.
From 2011, Michael led the firm’s remodelling of its services around NewLaw ideals. The firm’s brands Flat Rate Settlements, Perth Probate Centre, Perth Wills Centre, and Get Paid Debt Collection have transformed and disrupted the legal services markets in Western Australia. Each brand offers a practical suite of fixed-price solutions for everyday needs and problems faced by people and businesses.
Michael has been a partner of Birman & Ride since July 2009. Birman & Ride is a modern Australian law firm with a tight-knit, multi-disciplinary team of lawyers, legal executives, accountants and software developers. Under Michael’s leadership, the firm has moved away from its generalist roots; choosing instead to target specific markets where it can make a difference and deliver services its team enjoys providing, which makes it easier to do it well.
The firm uses sophisticated legal management software ContactsLaw and innovative service delivery to overcome traditional barriers to accessing the legal system. Michael is a director of legal technology company ContactsLaw Practice Management Software and plays a key role in the design and development of the software.
Michael graduated from Murdoch University in 1996 with degrees in Law and Commerce and joined the firm as an articled clerk the same year. He was admitted as a lawyer of the Supreme Court of Western Australia in 1997. He is a member of the Law Society of Western Australia.
Outside the office, Michael contributes to many community groups. He is the chairperson of the board of a local Independent Public School. He is a trustee of the charitable fund of Fremantle Chamber Orchestra Pty Ltd and the orchestra’s principal clarinet. He is the web editor and clarinettist with the Fremantle Symphony Orchestra. Michael is an age-group co-ordinator at Subiaco AFC Soccer Club.