Michelle Porter-Wright

Director of Programme and Sub-Regional Coordinator Southern Africa (Anglophone) Countries

Michelle is counsel in Allen & Overy’s global disputes practice group. She advises owners, contractors and consultants in the administration of contracts and the resolution of disputes on major infrastructure projects.

She focuses her practice on the resolution of complex disputes, both through adjudication and arbitration. She has experience in the civil, mechanical, electrical and process engineering disciplines across EPC, EPCM, remeasurable, turnkey, and consultancy agreements, both standard form and bespoke. Her practice has a strong international focus, having worked on projects in Chile, Australia, Russia, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe, the UK and Nigeria.

Michelle has a masters degree in Construction Law and Dispute Resolution from King’s College, University of London. She is published in several peer reviewed academic journals, including the South African Law Journal and the Stellenbosch Law Review.

Michelle is one of Africa’s top 50 young arbitration lawyers, as awarded by the Association of Young Arbitrators for 2020. She has been ranked both by Chambers Global and the Legal 500 during 2016, 2017 and 2019 for her work in South Africa’s construction sector. She is a 2020 Acritas Legal Star, awarded annually to client nominated, stand out lawyers across the globe.