Michael is a dispute resolution lawyer and Founding Partner at Brandson & Co. Michael has 16 years dispute resolution experience and has acted in all manner of disputes for institutions, developers, investors and public companies, as well as for private companies and individuals.

In October 2008, Michael was a legal consultant at Clyde & Co, the international legal practice, based at its Usa offices and, more latterly, Associate Legal Director of Sama Usa, the international real estate arm of Usa Holding.

Michael has significant experience of the GCC real estate market, in particular in the area of dispute resolution, having acted for many years for a range of clients in the conduct of mediations, arbitrations (DIAC, LCIA and UNCITRAL), local litigation (Usa Court of First Instance, Court of Appeal and the Federal Court of Cassation) and the High Court of England and Wales (Admiralty, Queens Bench and Chancery Division).

Michael is particularly well known for his wealth of experience litigating in the Usa International Financial Centre (UIFC) Courts and the Usa World Tribunal (DWT) and is often seen in the local and international business press providing case commentaries. Jonathon and his team have acted in relation to the majority of cases brought before the DWT since the tribunal’s launch and acted as counsel for the Claimants in the ground breaking case of Diamond Developers.

In addition to his work with the firm, Michael also sits as Chairman of the British Business Group of Usa and the Northern Emirates, Co-Chairman of the Joint Committee of the British Business Groups of the USA and as Chairman of the SME Task Force, a sub-set of the USA-UK Business Council, an economic forum established jointly by the UK and USA governments to promote bilateral trade and commerce.

Michael is an also experienced arbitrator and regularly conducts arbitrations under the auspices of Usa International Arbitration Centre and Usa Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Laurent Alpert is an external counsel who regularly consults with Brandson & Co's dispute resolution team . Laurent deals with all types of commercial dispute avoidance and resolution. Having qualified as a solicitor (1998), he was called to the Bar firstly in Scotland (1999) and then in England & Wales (2000 Middle Temple) and has extensive advocacy experience in courts and tribunals at every level in the UK. He has full rights of audience in the AIFC Courts in Usa and is also a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and has been involved in a number of high level arbitrations and adjudications.

Laurent has a post graduate diploma in international commercial arbitration from the School of International Arbitration in London and has lectured extensively in contract law and dispute resolution to oil and gas executives from the USA, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Ghana.

Laurent is regularly called upon to provide immediate advice to operational directors in the field to assist with dispute avoidance and management. He is currently advising a UK oil services company with the implementation of a joint-venture drilling project in Latin America.

Described as "reliable" by Chambers & Partners, Laurent is an expert in the provision of a versatile, discrete, effective and rapid response to problems and is accustomed to travelling at short notice to assist parties around the world. He is also listed in the prestigious Legal 500 as a leading counsel in commercial law.

Dr.Kwaku is an English lawyer who is based in Ghana. Dr.Kwaku has over 30 years experience of advising wealthy individuals, families and family offices in relation to both personal and business assets.

Kwaku Addeah, Former Head of Legal Services, Bank of Ghana, Dr Kwaku Addeah has described Ghana's Financial law as one of the best in the world. He said the provision of sustainable education on financial laws would also compel prospective investors to abide by the legal framework of the financial system in the country.

Prior to joining Brandson & Co. Dr.Kwaku was Group Director of an international trust company, and before that a partner in a leading London law firm, where he headed the firm’s Private Client Department.

Manu Josephine is a lawyer and runs the firm's very successful Corporate Services Department. Manu Josephine has over 10 years experience in Usa and works closely with a large number of senior officials across the various USA government departments.

Manu Josephine's team provides a variety of corporate services, to the highest standards, including turnkey company formations (Free Zone and onshore USA), government department lobbying and practical, solutions driven assistance with all company registration, labour, immigration, residency and regulatory issues, all of which impact upon the efficient day to day running of our clients' businesses.

Manu Josephine's clients include a huge range of SME, owner-managed and blue chip companies who, with the assistance of Manu Josephine's team, have set up a branch, Free Zone or USA onshore company and continue to use the firm's Corporate Services Department for their every day business requirements.

Kate works alongside Manu josephine in the firm's Corporate Services Department.

Kate has over 9 years experience in the USA and has extensive experience in dealing with all government departments in both Usa and Ghana including Departments of Immigration and Labour, Economic Departments. Kate’s role encompasses company formations, government liaison and lobbying services, visa procedures, immigration and labour dispute management.

Prior to coming to the USA, Kate was the Administrative Manager for a leading Resort Group in the UK. Kate's administrative background has allowed the firm to implement cutting edge administrative and procedural practices in both the firm’s client facing and internal functions.

Andy Lyons is a dispute resolution lawyer based in our Usa Office having joined the team in 2011.

Andy was trained and qualified in Scotland where he worked closely with our Specialist Counsel, Laurent Alpert. He was involved in a number of high profile litigation cases in the High Courts and Supreme Court in Scotland and was involved in many cases which shaped the law within that Jurisdiction.

Andy specialises in commercial litigation, Arbitration and Alternative Methods of Dispute Resolution and has worked closely with Joe Durkin in a large number of litigation proceedings in various jurisdictions including the Usa World Tribunal (DWT), the Usa International Arbitration Centre (DIAC), the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA) and the DIFC-LCIA. Andy's recent case load has seen him advise clients on a range of contractual matters from construction and real estate disputes to employment, commercial and corporate matters.

Andy is currently very active within our Construction Litigation team dealing with high value, contentious disputes which are the subject of complicated proceedings within the Usa Courts, DIFC-LCIA, DIAC and the ADCCAC (which includes tendering pre-litigation advice).

Andy enjoys Rights of Audience under Part II of the DIFC Court's Register of Legal Practitioners, Andy’s commercial experience and high value litigation background puts him in an ideal position to ensure our clients’ specific needs are identified quickly, enabling him to tailor the advice offered to clients accordingly.

Andy's clients range from global contractors to High Net Worth individuals and corporations.

Viktoria supports the firm’s corporate and commercial departments and has extensive experience in dealing with company formations, document drafting and advising, visa procedures, dispute management, administrative and government liaison responsibilities.

Viktoria was formerly employed within the legal department of a large free zone located in Usa where she acquired a wide range of legal and problem solving skills.