Michael Fisher

Partner
Maritime + TransportInsurance

About Michael

With over 30 years’ experience in providing legal services to the maritime and transport industries and their insurers, Michael manages all aspects of contentious and non-contentious maritime and transport law matters.

As head of Thynne + Macartney's Maritime + Transport group, he provides clients with a ‘safe pair of hands’ – a skilled technical expertise and service that helps clients with timely and commercially focused solutions.

With a focus on maritime commercial issues, Michael advises on carriage, towage, shipbuilding and repair contracts, as well as charterparties, sale and purchase of vessels and disputes. On the contentious side, he has acted for marine hull and liability insurers and other marine interests and has represented shipowners in many of the highest profile marine incidents in Australia.

Michael has also acted in arbitration and litigation involving highly technical marine issues concerning cargo handling, wharves and cranes, berth and channel depths, siltation, signals, tugs, ship handling, movement and interactions.

Acutely aware of the impact on an organisation’s reputation stemming from legal issues, Michael has first-hand experience in media-intense situations and has acted for high profile shipowners implicated in environmental disasters.

Awards & Recognition

Best Lawyers Australia

  • Insurance (2013-2024)
    • Lawyer of the Year for Insurance (2020)
  • Shipping & Maritime (2012-2024)
    • Lawyer of the Year for Shipping & Maritime (2021 & 2024)
  • Transportation (2012-2024)
    • Lawyer of the Year for Transportation (2016, 2019 & 2024)

Chambers Asia-Pacific

  • Shipping – Band 2 (2014-2015 & 2019-2023)

Doyle’s Guide Australia

  • Admiralty, Shipping & Maritime – Leading (2016 & 2018-2023), Preeminent (2017), Recommended (2015)

The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific, Australia

  • Transport – Shipping (2015-2017)

Who’s Who Legal

  • Shipping (Global) – Recommended (2015-2023)
  • Shipping (National) – Recommended (2017-2022)

Qualifications

  • Admitted as a solicitor to the Supreme Court of Queensland in January 1992
  • Bachelor of Laws - University of Queensland
  • Bachelor of Arts - University of Queensland

Memberships & Appointments