Michael Luckman

Group Leader for the Finance, Projects and Technology group and partner advising on commercial arrangements involving intellectual property. I manage the partners and teams within our Finance, Projects and Technology group.

Tel: +44 (0)121 629 1856

Email: michael_luckman@wragge.com

Best brains in ...

Solving technical legal problems, providing practical commercial advice and encouraging and motivating people in difficult situations.

Highlight of your career so far?

Providing strategic advice to a major global motor manufacturer on its approach to its distribution network, including presenting to the Board and justifying and supporting a position at odds with current strategy yet acknowledged to be the way forward for future strategy.

Most challenging job you've ever done?

Advising a large global affiliation of independent professional service suppliers over a restructuring of their internal operational arrangments. This task involved not only a deep understanding of the contractual relationship but also how different European local laws affected both the structure and those terms. In addition there were also significant human factors such as understanding the emotional blockages to change and finding levers and arguments to remove those blockages.

What about outside the UK?

See the two examples above.

What's your definition of going the extra mile... And when have you done it?

Going the extra mile means putting your client first at all times and doing whatever is necessary to deliver what your client needs when he needs it. For example, working from 10.30pm to 4.00am on client work after completing the day work on a recent residential leadership course.

Best example of a creative legal solution?

Persuading the Lord Chancellor to assist on a counterfeit clothing claim which also related to the Royal Coat of Arms. There is nothing quite like a letter from Her Majesty's representative to encourage compliance with your own requests - and free of charge for the client.

How do you get under the skin of a client's business?

You need to acknowledge it is vital, take time to do it, and listen, then listen some more. You should always be prepared to question whether your conception of what it's like is correct by asking those who actually work in the business.

What's been written or said about you that you're most proud of?

You are the best Dad in the whole wide world.