Amanda Michaels

Profile

Amanda was called to the Bar in 1981 having read Law at the University of Durham followed by two years studying EU law at the Collège d’Europe in Bruges.

Amanda was in full-time practice at the Bar from 1981-2025, giving her a wealth of experience in a broad field of practice, ranging from trade marks and passing off, copyright and designs, breach of confidence and related commercial disputes in the media and entertainment field, to broader contractual and Chancery disputes.

She was especially well-known as a trade mark specialist, dealing with trade mark and passing off matters at all levels. Amanda was appointed as an Appointed Person to hear appeals under the Trade Marks Act 1994 in 2007, a role which she held until December 2024. She is the author with Andrew Norris KC of ‘A Practical Guide to Trade Mark Law’ 5th edition, OUP.

Amanda was appointed as a civil recorder in 2010, and then under s 9 of the Senior Courts Act to sit as an Enterprise Judge in the IPEC. She continues to sit in IPEC.

She has heard a wide range of cases, primarily in the field of intellectual property, but also in general chancery.

Amanda now practices as a mediator, alongside her part-time judicial sittings and is happy to mediate IP, Chancery and wider commercial disputes. She has a high rate of successful outcomes. She is happy to conduct conferences and mediations and read documents in French.