
Michael Turnbull
Senior Legal Consultant/CEO/ INED/Trust Protector
CREDENTIALS
Education
Victoria University, Wellington, New Zealand, LL.B., 1972
LANGUAGE
English
Professional Qualifications
• Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand, 1973
• Solicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales, 1980
• Solicitor of the High Court of Hong Kong, 1988
• Solicitor of the High Court of Ireland, 2017
Current Positions Held
• Senior Legal Consultant - DLA Piper Hong Kong
• CEO -The Standard Club Asia Ltd
• Independent Non Executive Director roles - St. James's Place International (Hong Kong) Limited
• Independent Non Executive Director roles – Arch Insurance Company
• Trust Protector of a private UK family Trust
About Michael
Michael Turnbull is currently holding the positions of Senior Legal Consultant at DLA Piper Hong Kong; CEO of The Standard Club Asia Ltd; an Independent Director of Aetna Insurance Co. Ltd. (Hong Kong Branch), and St. James Place International Hong Kong) Limited; Trust Protector of a United Kingdom domiciled private family trust. Advisor and Senior consultant to International Maritime Organisation (IMO).

At DLA Piper Michael has taken a significant role in building an Insurance Litigation & Regulatory practice in Hong Kong, China and the North Asia Region.
In the legal field Michael has gained over his 45+ years of legal practise (40 years of which have been in Asia) broad expertise both in contentious and non-contentious insurance-related matters including M&A’’s regulatory and compliance with a focus on insurance related commercial litigation, for reinsurers, insurers, brokers, loss adjusters and insured’s in various legal jurisdictions (including the People Republic of China) on a wide and varied range of claims-related issues arising from policy disputes, high-stake inter-insurance commercial disputes, and mediation of insurance-related disputes.
He has advised insurers on all matters relating to policy portfolio issues, policy and new product wording and for brokers on regulatory issues in doing business throughout Asia. He has provided legal assistance to international insurers in establishing their business in various jurisdictions particularly in Hong Kong and engaged closely on license applications.
Prior to joining DLA Piper, and after his retirement from partnership at Deacons HK in 2012, Michael held a consultancy with AON (UK) Limited advising on numerous legal claims against it and assisted clients with their insurance coverage and their uninsured claims.
In addition, Michael was engaged as CEO of Shipowners P&I Club; the currency of tenure was part time and finished in July 2015. The duties of this role involved the setting up of the Club in Hong Kong, licensing and regulatory issues and reporting on activities engaged by the Club which are extensive in the insurance of brown water vessels. In 2019 Michael was engaged as the CEO of the Hong Kong branch of The North Standard Club (formally known as The Standard Club Asia Ltd) upon its inception and remains in that role which, apart from the normal corporate responsibilities, involves him in regulatory and compliance matters of all kinds in respect of Protection and Indemnity insurance.
The role of two INEDs at Arch Insurance Company (mortgage insurer) and SJP (wealth management with INS linked life products) involves Michael in specific roles on the Board and the Risk and Audit committees and which he currently Chairs by rotation.
Michael also has a trust protector role of one of United Kingdom’s largest family trusts which is a position he has held for over 3 years.
Michael is recognised by the 2013 edition of Chambers Asia-Pacific, with market sources as “an impressive lawyer who provides significant skill and know-how in his advice.” He is listed as one of the world’s leading insurance and reinsurance lawyers by The International Who’s Who of Insurance & Reinsurance Lawyers, published by Law Business Research.
EXPERIENCE
Career Highlights of Current Ambit of Practice
Contentious
Advising as a consultant to AON (UK) Limited on numerous legal claims against it and assisted clients with their insurance coverage and their uninsured claims.
Defending numerous actions against defendants and insurers (Personal injury, employers liability, products liability).
Advising reinsurers on coverage; acting for reinsurers on claims by their cedants, in particular, political violence cover and All Risk policies.
Acting for plaintiffs on medical negligence claims; acting for plaintiffs and defendants in motor and industrial accident claims.
Acting for insurers of hospitals and doctors on medical negligence claims.
Advising corporates on insurance coverage and acting on their litigation against insurers.
Acting for brokers in the reference of claims brought against them for professional negligence.
Non legal practice experience includes significant exposure to the Hong Kong Insurance compliance and regulatory regime and providing wide ranging advice on internal corporate governance, external business practices and insurance coverage all arising out of his role as the CEO of The Standard Club and his 2 INED positions. Michael’s role as trust protector is that of guardian of the beneficial interests of the trust and to ensure the wishes of the trust settlor are honoured and the integrity of the trust’s purpose and intention is upheld.
Non-Contentious
General commercial insurance advice on policy terms, drafting, advising on inter insurance programs, broker service agreements, agency agreements, legislative compliance and regulatory requirements and amendments.
Preparing policy papers for industry on (a) government proposals to introduce a policy protection fund into Hong Kong; (b) proposals on broker regulation; (c) proposals on introduction of residual insurance scheme.
Advising and drafting amendments to Motor Insurance Bureau (MBI) agreements with Hong Kong government.
Acting for Motor Insurers Bureau (MBI) on run-off of Anglo Starlite Insurance company (in liquidation).
Advising management of Ace Insurance Co., Ltd on its re-entry to employer liability Insurance market.
Advising Ship Owners P&I on regulatory matters involving the Hong Kong Insurance Authority.
Establishing Insurance company and obtaining license for Allied World Insurance Co. Ltd and extending license to cover Accident and Health.
Advising general Insurance company on amalgamation and dealing with insurance regulations on issues arising.
Acting for Aon on regulatory issues involving insurance coverage on political events in Thailand.
Advising insured on policy coverage in the PRC involving PICC.
Advising Insurance intermediary on joint venture insurance with a Chinese State Owned Enterprise.
Advising on joint venture of foreign insurer with Chinese domestic insurer on A&E policy coverage in Shanghai.
Acting on Lloyd’s start up in the PRC.
Acting for Lloyd’s China as claims handling agent (on retainer) from start up to 2011.
Advising Lloyd’s on issues involving regulatory issues in the PRC.
Advising AXA Insurance Company on policy coverage for products liability insurance region wide (on retainer).
Advising individuals on insider trading, and on other Financial Services industry and securities regulatory issues.
Advising corporates on taxation issues in Hong Kong.
Leading a team of 40 fee earners and supervising the run off of a Motor Insurer in Hong Kong over the period 2010-2014.
Acting as Chief Executive Officer of Shipowners P&I club and attending to all insurance regulatory and compliance issues arising in the administration of the Hong Kong branch.
Advising insurers, brokers and insureds on legal issues arising in Singapore, Thailand, Myanmar and Vietnam.
Advising insureds and insurers on medical and health insurance cover and issues arising on compliance in the Asia region.
Advising brokers on regulatory and compliance issues on entry into Thailand, Brunei, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar and Bangladesh in conjunction with experts in those jurisdictions.
Advising on Health & Benefits coverage and compliance within the Asia region.
Advising insurers on Trade credit policy wordings and claims.
Assisting on life insurance portfolio transfer in Hong Kong.
Advising on title insurance on the transfer of London properties.
Advising on the policy transfer of Residential property Mortgage insurance and also on a scheme of novation of such insurance products.
Advising insurers in Hong Kong on capital requirements and obtaining necessary waivers or reduction of capital requirements from the Hong Kong Regulator as and when appropriate.
Advising on startup insurers in Hong Kong and other jurisdiction in Asia advising on licensing requirements necessary to obtain a license to be an authorized insurer.
Advising on warranties and indemnities coverage on an M&A in Hong Kong.
Assisting as a team member of the firm's Corporate Insurance M&A sector, providing advice on M&A proposals and strategic portfolio (GI and Life) transfer proposals.
Senior Consultant and project leader on team investigating and determining legislative and administrative needs of Samoa to fulfill obligations arising under IMO conventions.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
Law Society of Hong Kong
Law Society of England & Wales
Law Society of New Zealand
Law Society of Ireland
Resolution Institute (NZ) – accredited mediator
Honorary lecturer of Law at Hong Kong University
RECOGNITIONS
Ranked as a leading individual in the area of Insurance: Contentious - China (International Firms), Chambers Asia Pacific 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014.
Recognised as one of the world’s leading insurance and reinsurance lawyers by The International Who’s Who of Insurance & Reinsurance Lawyers, published by Law Business Research.
PUBLICATIONS
Lead author of Hong Kong Personal Injuries Service (Lexis Nexis)
Contact US
Michael.Turnbull@medarblaw.com
Peter.Shelford@medarblaw.com
Have a question about our mediation or arbitration service? Interested in learning more about our team? We're here to help. We look forward to hearing from you and discussing your specific needs.