Mike Ward Legal Director

Mike Ward is a Consultant Legal Director at Swinburne Maddison, supporting the Corporate and Commercial team and the wider firm. He qualified as a solicitor in 2005 after returning to the UK from a career overseas, where he provided legal liaison and management services to a diverse portfolio of international clients.

Mike joined Swinburne Maddison in 2013 as a Solicitor in the Corporate and Commercial team, was promoted to Associate in 2019, and appointed Legal Director in 2021. After retiring from legal practice in September 2023, he returned to the firm as a Consultant. In this role, his focus has shifted to training and supervision, ensuring the next generation of lawyers benefits from his extensive experience and technical expertise. Mike plays a key role in mentoring junior solicitors, delivering firm-wide and team-specific training, and offering individual coaching on technical legal matters, client management, and working with advisors.

With over 20 years of post-qualification experience, Mike has developed significant expertise in corporate and commercial law. His specialisms include corporate reorganisations, share options, and contract law, as well as more technical areas such as software development, intellectual property assignment and licensing, and e-commerce, including cloud computing.

Throughout his career, Mike has advised limited companies on shareholder agreements, corporate structures, and complex transactions, including demergers, reductions of capital, share exchanges, and share buybacks. Now, his contributions to the firm extend beyond legal practice—where he plays a vital role in shaping the firm’s future by mentoring legal talent and sharing his wealth of knowledge.

In 2001, during his time at University, Mike was awarded the Brigid Cotter Prize in Laws.

Recognised as a highly regarded commercial lawyer in the region, Mike was named a Rising Star in the Legal 500 from 2020 to 2022 and later listed as a Recommended Lawyer in 2024 and 2025.