Matthew is known for his eye for detail and ability to judge his tribunal. Indeed, after a recent appearance in the Court of Appeal the judge wrote to Matthew's Head of Chambers to praise his performance.

Called to the Bar in 2000, Matthew undertakes advocacy and advisory work in employment, commercial and professional negligence. He has been led by members of Chambers in relation to Discrimination, Harassment and Victimisation claims as well as Employment Injunctions. Matthew appears very regularly in the Employment Appeal Tribunal and undertakes a broad variety of employment work, including TUPE issues, Discrimination, Harassment and Victimisation claims, Bonus Disputes, Employment Injunctions and Individual Employee Issues (Unfair dismissal, Wrongful dismissal, Redundancy and Whistleblowing). His commercial work encompasses a broad range of business disputes, including Civil Fraud, Commercial Agency and Sale of Goods.

Education

1995-1998: University of Cambridge (Queens' College), MA
1999-2000: Inns of Court School of Law

Professional Experience

Employment

Matthew's practice encompasses all areas of employment work and, in particular, TUPE issues, Discrimination, Harassment and Victimisation claims, Bonus disputes, Employment Injunctions and Individual employees issues (unfair dismissal, wrongful dismissal, redundancy and whistleblowing). He has appeared in a number of lengthy Tribunal hearings and appears regularly in the Employment Appeal Tribunal. He has also appeared in the Court of Appeal on a number of occasions on his own account.

Some recent and reported cases:

Driscoll v Newsgroup Newspapers Plc - 2009 and ongoing - Acted successfully for a senior sports journalist who wrote for the News of the World in his claims of Disability Discrimination and Unfair Dismissal. The case attracted considerable media attention including articles in Private Eye and The Guardian.
Gravell v Bexley Council - 2008 and ongoing - Acted successfully for Bexley Council in defending claims of Race Discrimination, Sex Discrimination, Victimisation and Whistleblowing brought by a former employee and heard over the course of a 5 week hearing.
2008 - Acted successfully on behalf of a major US pharmaceuticals company in defending a Bonus Claim in the Queen's Bench Division.
2008 and ongoing - Instructed on behalf of a firm of solicitors in defending a claim for Wrongful Dismissal brought in the Chancery Division by the firm's former Chief Executive.
Perry's Motor Sales v Lindley [2008] All ER (D) 32 (TUPE; Transfer of rights and liabilites)
Davis v Pyrz [2000] All ER (D) 160, EAT 3rd April 2007
(Employer's counterclaims; Measure of damages)
Khan v Premier Private Hire Taxi [2007] All ER (D), EAT 6th October 2006 (Strike out of claims on paper)
Baron v Bliss Mediation Services [2006] All ER (D) 473, EAT 24th January 2006 (Extent to which unfair dismissal can be remedied by internal appeal)
Mayo-Deman v University of Greenwich [2005] IRLR 845, EAT 15th June 2005 (Validity of compromise agreements)
Rabahallah v British telecom Plc [2005] IRLR 184, EAT 2nd November 2004 (Rules on composition of Employment Tribunals)
Holland v BHS [2005] All ER (D) 5, EAT 25th August 2004
(Unfair dismissal - range of reasonable responses)
Greaves v Banner Business Supplies Ltd [2005] All ER (D), EAT 4th November 2004 (Indirect sex discrimination - test for justification)
Vaezi-Nejad v University of Greenwich, Court of Appeal, 23rd March 2004 (Strike out of appeal by Employment Appeal Tribunal for procedural non-compliance. The Claimant subsequently appealed to the Court of Appeal where Matthew appeared against a silk and successfully defended the strike out)
Maresca v The Motor Insurance Repair Research Centre [2004] All ER 254, 6th February 2004 (Application of CPR to Employment Tribunal procedure)
Moore v The University of Greenwich [2004] All ER (D), EAT 3rd June 2003 (Race discrimination)

Commercial

Matthew's practice encompasses a broad range of disputes including in particular Civil Fraud, Commercial Agency and Sale of Goods.

Some recent cases:

Recently on behalf of a residential property company in relation to the alleged breaches of contract and negligence of a property management company.
Recently acted on behalf of a well known restaurant in relation to a claim for breach of a business transfer agreement.
Has been led by a member of Chambers in relation to an Asset Freezing and Recovery case concerning a science-fiction exhibition.
Has advised in relation to minority shareholder disputes

Professional Negligence

Matthew is regularly instructed in professional negligence matters, particularly in relation to solicitor's negligence in respect of the conduct of employment disputes.

Some recent cases:

Recently advised a well known firm of solicitors in relation to a failure to present at a Tribunal claim within the limitation period.

Lectures and Seminars

Lecture topics have included:

Discrimination awards
Burden of proof in discrimination claims
PILON clauses

Matthew is happy to tailor a lecture to fit your requirements. For further information please contact his clerks via the Contact Us page.

Publications

Matthew contributed two chapters to a two volume work entitled "Civil Appeals" edited by Sir Michael Burton (former President of the Employment Appeal Tribunal).

Professional Associations

Employment Law Bar Association
Commercial Bar Association

Personal

Matthew enjoys cycling and swimming to balance his enjoyment of food and fine wine