Michaela Bolton

Michaela Bolton is a Solicitor in our Public Law and Human Rights team, based in our London office.

Professional Biography

Michaela graduated from the University of Cape Town in 2012 with a Bachelor of Social Sciences (B.Soc.Sci.) in Law and Philosophy, earning a scholarship for academic distinction and a place on the Dean’s Merit List. She then completed her Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) in 2013, where she was recognised among the top 15% of students and admitted to the Golden Key International Honours Society. During this time, she volunteered at the Refugee Rights Clinic, assisting refugees with asylum applications in South Africa. Michaela later obtained a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Public Law and Human Rights from New York University in 2018. As a Transitional Justice Leadership Scholar at the Center for Human Rights and Global Justice, she focused on constitutional law, human rights, and transitional justice, studying at both New York University and Columbia Law School.

Michaela is dual-qualified as a Solicitor in England and Wales (admitted in January 2021) and an Attorney of the High Court of South Africa (admitted in April 2017).

She has significant experience working on inquiries, reviews, and investigations in the UK, South Africa, and the USA. She has worked in government, private practice, and non-governmental organisations, developing a strong background in public law, human rights, and government accountability.

Before joining Simpson Millar in February 2025, Michaela worked in another Public Inquiries and Public Law team at a national law firm, specialising in statutory public inquiries, reviews, and investigations. She was part of the legal teams for the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry, the Infected Blood Inquiry, and the Brook House Inquiry, contributing to investigations into systemic failings and government accountability.

She also worked for the Government Legal Department (GLD) in the Public Inquiries, Reviews, and Litigation team, where she advised on an independent review of the Home Office’s conduct towards and policies affecting the Windrush generation. Michaela’s role involved analysing the legal framework underpinning the policy, assessing its impact on individuals, and advising on the government’s legal responsibilities in response to the findings of the review.

Michaela also worked with the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights, where she assessed the UK government’s welfare policies against international human rights standards. Her work involved evaluating the impact of welfare reforms on vulnerable individuals, particularly those experiencing poverty, and determining whether these policies effectively provided essential support or led to human rights violations by depriving people of necessary resources. Michaela examined whether these policies aligned with the government’s own stated objectives, such as reducing poverty and promoting economic security. She contributed to reports assessing the government's accountability for its treatment of disadvantaged communities and the broader human rights implications of its social security measures.

At Simpson Millar, Michaela focuses on a range of public law and human rights cases. She represents clients in judicial reviews, challenges against public authorities, and human rights-related legal matters, as well as acting in inquests. She is dedicated to ensuring her clients receive clear and effective legal advice, helping them to understand their rights and engage confidently with the legal process.