Matthew advises and represents clients at all stages of litigation from pre-action through to costs and enforcement.
Matthew has significant experience in claims relating to brokers, fiduciary relationships, civil bribes, undisclosed commissions and rescission (both at law and at equity). Matthew is regularly instructed in cases relating to hire purchase and/or consumer credit agreements and is familiar with cases involving sections 140A-C of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 and unfair relationships, whether in the PPI, car finance or other areas (such as energy brokers).
Matthew represented the defendant in Read v Eastern Counties Leather Group Limited [2022] EWHC 31 (Ch) and succeeded in striking out a High Court claim which sought to set aside a settlement reached between the parties in earlier proceedings and for recission of an earlier order for possession. The case is now referred to in the Wite Book at 3.4.6 in relation to the rule in Henderson v Henderson. The claimant contended that the settlement had been obtained through fraud by way of fraudulent misrepresentations. The settlement compromised a claim of over £2m. Matthew successfully applied to have the High Court claim struck out with summary judgment entered for the defendant.
Matthew has also recently represented an international client in opposing an application for a Third-Party Debt Order for a debt situated outside England and Wales. The case involved complex arguments of jurisdiction and international law.
Matthew successfully represented a local authority in resisting a claim by a litigant in person, valued notionally at £10.5bn, by having default judgment set aside, striking out the claim, having the application to freeze the assets of the local authority dismissed, resisting the contempt of court application made against certain employees of the local authority and by securing a civil restraint order again the litigant-in-person to prevent the local authority from further hopeless and vexatious claims in the future.
He welcomes instructions in the following areas:
- Contractual disputes;
- Sale and supply of goods and services;
- Hire purchase, lease, credit hire and consumer credit agreements;
- Shareholder disputes;
- Companies Act matters;
- Consumer protection;
- Insolvency (personal and corporate)
- Enforcement; and
- Costs.
Matthew also welcomes instructions in all areas of construction law, particularly adjudications.
Matthew has presented Chambers’ ‘Nuts and Bolts: Introduction to Construction Law’ workshop as well as further talks on ‘Smash and Grab’ adjudications.