Dr. Michael Douglas

Michael is a Consultant in the Commercial Litigation and Dispute Resolution section of Bennett.

He was admitted in 2013 and has experience across a broad range of litigious matters. In addition to his role at the firm, he is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Western Australia Law School.

Michael is recognised as an expert in both defamation law and private international law (the ‘conflict of laws’). He is co-author of the leading books, Nygh’s Conflict of Laws (10th edition) (co-authored by Professor Martin Davies; the Chief Justice of New South Wales, Andrew Bell; and Justice Paul le gay Brereton of the New South Wales Court of Appeal), Balkin and Davis Law of Torts (6th edition), and author of over 100 academic articles and notes. He has also edited books on private international law and economic torts, and is co-author on a leading text on media law. Michael’s academic work has been cited in superior courts in Australia and internationally.

His legal commentary, especially as regards defamation law, is regularly featured in popular media, including by the ABC, The Sydney Morning Herald and The New York Times.

In addition to his law degree, Michael holds an Honours degree in philosophy, a Master of Laws with Distinction, an MBA with Distinction, and a PhD in law. Michael’s doctoral thesis with the University of Sydney was on ‘Forum Shopping in Australian Defamation Litigation’.