Biography
Dr. Maxwell is widely recognised for his outstanding strategic, commercial, and technical skills.
Michael has specialised for over 20 years in high-value, high-stakes dispute resolution and regulatory advice for a wide range of industries, including pharmaceuticals, agribusiness, commodities, and energy & resources.
His legal capabilities are complemented by his postgraduate scientific research background and close connections with eminent international experts, which give unique insight into cutting-edge technical or scientific issues in complex litigation and highly regulated industries.
Dr. Maxwell’s disputes resolution experience with national and multinational companies includes:
- technically complex and often controversial issues, such as pharmaceuticals, herbicides, GMOs, addiction, and animal welfare, particularly to resist ideological threats & misleading scientific arguments.
- product liability, toxic tort, ESG, consumer law, defamation, and contractual disputes, including for cutting-edge technologies such as medicines, biotech, minerals processing, and new energy solutions; and
- International anti-corruption, AML and sanctions, white collar crime, security, and human rights issues.
Dr. Maxwell also has extensive experience dealing with regulatory compliance and legislative reform, particularly in connection with the management of rapidly changing regulatory risks in complex or controversial industries and areas affected by ideological, scientific, and/or political controversy.
Michael has extensive experience in regulatory compliance and legislative reform impacting the sustainability of pharmaceuticals, IT data industries, agribusiness, and resources at a national and international level, including:
- Regulatory and commercial advisory work for cannabinoid medicines, off-label and established pharmaceuticals, and IT data systems.
- GMO, herbicide & pesticide advisory, and regulatory reform work, including assisting with State and Commonwealth Government parliamentary inquiries.
- 15+ years working with Agribusiness companies, R&D, and peak industry bodies, including regulatory and corporate compliance issues, detailed submissions on substantive legislative reform, and liaising with Commonwealth agencies on the implementation of key reforms.
- ABSF Steering Group member (since 2017), which drives sustainable practices across the Australian red meat supply chain.
- Australia-Africa Minerals & Energy Group (AAMEG) since inception on substantive legislative reform and guidance, including on ESG and Antibribery and Corruption Subcommittee.
Experience
HFW: Jan 20 – present
Clayton Utz: Jan 97 – Nov 19
UW A: LLB (Honours) 2001
Ph.D. Pharmacology (Distinction) 1997
