Matthew Winn-Smith

Matthew has a broad general commercial and common law practice covering many areas in which chambers specialises. He enjoys the advisory side of his practice but particularly relishes court room advocacy. Matthew prides himself on his practical and user friendly approach. He accepts instructions on a Direct Access basis.

Further information

Qualifications

2003: Called to the Bar (Lincoln’s Inn)

2002: Inns of Court School of Law, Bar Vocational Course

2001: University of Oxford (Regent’s Park College); MA (Jurisprudence)

Memberships

Chancery Bar Association
COMBAR
Property Bar Association

Interests

Triathlon, extreme endurance challenges (preferably not work related) and good food.

Insolvency

Matthew regularly appears in the Insolvency and Companies List of the Business and Property Courts. He has been dealing with insolvency cases since his call in 2003, his first reported case being Re J S Gill [2004] EWHC 883 (Ch); [2005] BPIR 129 which dealt with annulling a bankruptcy where creditors were no longer traceable. Matthew receives instructions from insolvency practitioners, companies and individuals. He is happy to receive instructions on a Direct Access basis in appropriate cases.

Examples of recent insolvency work

An ongoing series of linked insolvency applications (including disclaimer and vesting order applications) where the debtor alleges his longstanding bankruptcy order is the result of his impersonation by a fraudster
Advising a company incorporated in the Netherlands Antilles in respect of jurisdiction issues in commencing insolvency proceedings against a BVI company
Application to annul bankruptcy pursuant to s.282 IA 1986
Chapper v Fox [2016] EWHC 2609 (Ch) – An appeal before Henry Carr J dealing with the consequences of highly unusual orders made pursuant to s.333 IA 1986 (which prevented a bankrupt from contacting various individuals)
Acting for bankrupt facing claims by his trustee in bankruptcy pursuant to s.339 (transactions at an undervalue), s.340 (preferences) and s.423 (transactions defrauding creditors) IA 1986
Advising and acting (on both sides) in numerous winding-up and bankruptcy petitions and applications for rescission and set aside