Such a shame. Such a Gent. I recall the first time I met him well, and we remained firm friends to this day. Always such a pleasure to spend time with, and lit up a room with his sense of joy and humour. He will be sorely missed, and my thoughts go out to his family, colleagues and friends….

Really, really sad news. Michael will be terribly missed. A fabulous colleague and fierce litigator. Thinking of Michael’s family right now. Sincere condolences. RIEP Fenn! A huge loss….

News I didn’t want, and was very very saddened, to hear. Hard to believe – Have been thinking about you my friend since I heard and won’t forget you. A fab colleague; quick witted and sharp as a tack and most importantly great fun to be with….

From Reid Minty, to McGrigors to Pinsents…via various cricket pitches, bars, airports etc…Michael was always such great fun!Another one of the good guys gone…peace. Rob…

Just heartbreaking, what a terrible loss to the legal profession and to all who knew and loved the great man. Working with Michael and his team was one of the highlights of my time at Pinsent Masons. His no nonsense manner, quick wit and unwavering loyalty and support were cherished by us all. Vale Michael Fenn. My deepest condolences to his family and friends….

I am at a loss for words. Something that could never be said of Michael; one of his many virtues, and one that endeared him to so many, so often. Devastatingly sad news. My thoughts go out to all that knew him, and to his family, friends and colleagues for this huge loss. Gosh, he’ll be missed….

I first met Michael in 2012 in the days shortly after the McGrigors merger at a Pinsents cricket match. We were told to cover between mid-on and mid-off by the captain and Michael looked at me and said “you seem like a switched on chap, why don’t you take mid-on”. I was 18 at the time so did as i was told and went over to mid-on…then Michael immediately thanked me and said “thanks, now I know where i have to stand”. That was my first meeting with Michael. His honesty and wit helped me form reference points early on in my career. Michael was an iconic OG and someone who stands as one of the most valuable people I had the pleasure of being around as a youngster at Pinsent Masons and as a trainee. I had the privilege of starting my career as a trainee in a team led by a tenacious, funny, vastly-respected and down to earth man. RIP, and condolences to Michael’s family, his friends, and the PM team….

This is such sad news. When I first joined Pinsent Masons, Michael was so welcoming and supportive. He made me feel at home straightaway. He showed complete dedication to everything that was important to him, including his family, friends, colleagues and clients. Whenever I saw him, he always brought a smile to my face and never failed to show genuine interest in how I was doing. It was impossible to see Michael and not to come away feeling better. I will miss him and send my condolences to his family and friends….

A fantastic mate since ‘96, my Best Man, and the ultimate “phone a friend” when the pleadings were against me. Thoughts very much with his family and also with the team at Pinsents about whom he always spoke so fondly. …

A man I knew passed away last week. It’s terribly sad and I can’t stop thinking about it.  I first met Michael Fenn in Portugal playing golf.  He was very sunburnt and very bad at golf.  But.  He was an incredibly funny and engaging person.  I instantly clicked with him.  Financial services law is a big small world.  Everyone pretty much knows everyone.  As it turns out we knew quite a few people and had several evenings enjoying pavement pints over the summers.  Lazy stories and easy laughs.  He took me to watch his beloved ‘Ammers against the Toffees with his son.  His son was a sneakerhead and we talked about them the whole way through the game much to Michael’s chagrin.  Afterwards, we went over to H Forman and Sons and he introduced me to his mates.  They all had wonderful nicknames.  Gary Lager was a highlight.  They called him Ginger Mick.  It was like being back at home.  You expressed your fondness for your friends by unmercifully writing them off in an audience.  I felt very comfortable.  I’m really sorry you’re gone, Michael as I’d expected us to do more of that in future.  My condolences to…

I had the great privilege of working with Michael and calling him my boss and mentor for more than 18 years. He was a superb lawyer, brave, tactically astute, a formidable opponent, and utterly relentless in pursuing the best outcomes for his clients.   But more than that, he was an even better bloke – a wonderful colleague and a truly great friend.  While Michael was highly sought after for his skills as an old school litigator, it was his larger-than-life personality, his genuine warmth, and absolute authenticity that made him so loved — by clients and colleagues alike.   As a young lad from Liverpool, heading to London for my first day at work, I had plenty of preconceptions about what my bosses at a City law firm would be like—pretentious, stuffy, aloof, unapproachable.  I need not have worried.  I come from a part of the world where genuine affection is shown by how comfortable you are insulting each other at every opportunity.  Judging by the insults flying my way on day one, it soon became apparent that Michael and I were going to get on.  He welcomed me on my first day by writing, in large letters on the…

Sadly I only had the benefit of knowing Michael for a short while but he left an enormous impression on me (as he did on all those he met). Michael was an exceptional partner, a driven and focussed lawyer, but more importantly, for all his professional success, he remained utterly unchanged. I am sure that the man I met patrolling the 5th floor in 2023 was very much the same person he had been 40 years before, regaling all and sundry with a misplaced enthusiam for his beloved ‘ammers. His lack of desire for change may also have revealed itself in his hostility to all levels of technical progress since around about 1985… Michael enjoyed posessing a rather ferocious “bark” but in truth, he cared deeply for all those he worked with as is shown by the many messages in this book. He was kind and tried to do the best for all those around him – it’s a pretty good approach for all of us to live by. Michael, you will be sadly missed.  …

What can I really say about Michael (or as he was commonly known as on the 5th floor) ‘Fenn’ (due in the main to the fact that there were at least 5 ‘Michael’ in the LRT team at any one time. I first came across Fenn following the Reid Minty merger with McGrigors.  He was certainly a character. One thing you could say about him is that there was never a dull moment with him around. As many have said he was truly the voice of the floor. If he was not dictating (one of the very few who still do – certainly in our team), he was speaking with client, counsel, other side – you definitely knew when he was in the building.  I consider myself to be his backup PA as when Paula (or her predecessor, Terri) weren’t in or at their desk, inevitably I was next in line to be called over to fix or look at something on his screen.  I will miss the many stories about his gripes and his rages – usually over the failures of the IT system – he was definitely a legend of the floor. As many have said the…

Michael was one of the good people in life. I had the pleasure of sitting in close proximity to him on the fifth floor for over 10 years and whilst his language may have been questionable depending on who was on the other side of the phone (usually IT support) his kindness, dedication, and sense of humour always shone through. Michael was an inspriing role model – not only as a great litigator, but as a leader who treated all who he encountered with genuine respect and goodwill regardless of their background, or status – it came so naturally to Michael to just be himself and to make others around him feel the same way. He is an example to all of us as to how to treat people with respect. I will never forget his kind words when my son was born and the support he offered during that time (it was always clear that family was his number one priority), nor will I forget his constant (twice weekly) reminders of Man United’s fall from grace… I long for a Monday morning listening to Michael regale us with stories of his weekend adventures – Pinsent Masons and the…

Michael will be deeply missed by all his colleagues and the 5th floor will not be the same place without him. We only worked together for a short time but his wit and humour came across in everything he did. He was respected by everyone that worked with him as a leader and as a lawyer. Our P & D meetings will not be the same without his straight-talking and direct approach! My condolences are with his family and friends at this most difficult of times. …