SILK PROFILE

Michael Ford KC

UK Bar 2026

Old Square Chambers

Ranked in 2 practice areas

Employment

London (Bar)

21 years ranked

Industrial Relations

All Circuits

1 year ranked

About

Provided by Old Square Chambers

UK Bar

Practice Areas

Main areas of practice are employment law (including industrial action, working time, equal pay, trade union rights), public law, human rights. Over 70 reported cases. Many appearances in Supreme Court, House of Lords, Court of Justice of EU, European Court of Human Rights, CA. Recent cases include: : Mercer v Alternative Futures, SC (sanctions on strikers and Article 11 ECHR); Ryanair v Lutz (agency workers); Agnew v Chief Constable of NI, SC (wages claims); Harpur Trust v Brazel, SC (working time); Smith v Pimlico, CA (annual leave); British Airways v BALPA, CA (strike injunction); RMTv UK, ECtHR (strikes, Article 11); R (UNISON) v Lord Chancellor, SC (successful judicial review of tribunal fees). Formerly on Equality and Human Rights Commission ‘A’ Panel of Counsel; advisor to BEIS Parliamentary Inquiries into workers’ rights and the Taylor Review.

Career

University of Bristol, LLB (Hons) 1st Class; BSC (Hons) 1st class; Law Society Finals, 1st class; MA, 1st class Solicitor, Slaughter and May (1987-89). Called to Bar 1992. Fee-paid Employment Judge 2003. Employment Junior of Year 2012. QC 2013. Employment Silk of Year 2015. Emeritus Professor of Law, University of Bristol. Deputy High Court Judge 2017.

Professional Memberships

ILS, IER, ELA, ELBA.

Publications

Redgrave's Health and Safety; many others in Industrial Law Journal, Law Quarterly Review.

Personal

Serious cyclist (4th in age group Maratona delle Dolomiti 2022; 6th in Fausto Coppi 2024), former member of Great Britain road cycling squad (e.g. 1st Tour of Surrey. 1st Jock Wadley Memorial, 5th Ronde de L’Oise). Fluent French; Spanish.

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

UK Bar

Employment - London (Bar)

Star Individuals

Individual Editorial

Michael Ford KC is a skilled practitioner handling highly complex Employment Tribunal matters, including discrimination claims, equal pay and holiday pay disputes, as well as cases concerning industrial action. He regularly appears in the upper tiers of the judicial system, including the Supreme Court and the European Court of Human Rights.

Learn more about this team View ranking table

Industrial Relations - All Circuits

Band 1

Individual Editorial

Michael Ford KC is a renowned silk with an exceptional industrial relations practice. Ford is a staple in higher courts, such as the ECJ, ECHR and Supreme Court, and has been involved in significant cases, including those with legislative consequences.

Learn more about this team View ranking table

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

You always know you're going to get innovative but compelling arguments from Michael Ford. He's a real star.
EmploymentUK Bar
He's a very charming advocate. Everything he says is articulate and persuasive but comes through as very normal.
EmploymentUK Bar
He is a dominating silk in the area.
Industrial RelationsUK Bar
He is very good indeed.
Industrial RelationsUK Bar
Ford is a one-in-a-million barrister. He is a star player in the field of industrial relations. He is approachable, a team player and razor-sharp.
Industrial RelationsUK Bar