Michelle Porter-Wright
Counsel
Johannesburg
Michelle Porter-Wright
Counsel
Johannesburg
Contact details
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.
Michelle works both domestically, within South Africa, and as part of A&O’s global construction arbitration offering. In recent years, she has been involved in some of the world’s largest construction disputes.
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.
Michelle is ranked by all major legal directories for her work in South Africa's construction sector, including Legal500, Chambers, Who's Who Legal (WWL), and Best Lawyers. She is Lexology’s 2024 Client Choice award recipient for construction in South Africa.
She sits on the board of Africa Construction Law, a non profit pan African initiative to promote and develop construction law expertise in Africa.
She is an external examiner for WITS university and regularly guest lectures in her field.
Office
Johannesburg
6th Floor, 90 Grayston, 90 Grayston Drive, Sandton
Johannesburg
2196
Qualifications
Professional
Academic
MSc, Construction Law & Dispute Resolution, King’s College London, 2016
LLB, University of Cape Town, 2008
BSc, University of Cape Town, 2005
Related articles
News: 12 December 2023
Who’s Who Legal: Arbitration 2024 recognises 25 Allen & Overy lawyers as global leaders
The Who’s Who Legal: Arbitration 2024 survey of the world’s leading arbitration lawyers lists 25 Allen & Overy lawyers in its rankings, an increase of six on our 2023 rankings.
Office
Johannesburg
6th Floor, 90 Grayston, 90 Grayston Drive, Sandton
Johannesburg
2196
Qualifications
Professional
Academic
MSc, Construction Law & Dispute Resolution, King’s College London, 2016
LLB, University of Cape Town, 2008
BSc, University of Cape Town, 2005
Recognition
Michelle is absolutely exceptional. She is hard-working, approachable, commercially aware, and has great drafting skills and attention to detail
Client feedback, Chambers Global, 2023
Michelle protects her clients' interests while remaining cordial and good to work with. She is a go-to young practitioner in the market
Client feedback, Chambers Global, 2023
Published work
Stellenbosch Law Review – "NEC3 ECC clause 10.1 : an enforceable contractual duty of trust and co-operation in the construction industry?" - (2017)
The South African Law Journal (SALJ) - "Private ordering and dispute resolution" - (2018).
