PCB Byrne

Criminal litigation, regulatory investigations.

Founding partner at Byrne and Partners specialising in the defence of national and international fraud investigations and prosecutions. Matthew acts on behalf of corporate and individual clients with a particular emphasis on avoiding prosecutions wherever possible and challenging the conduct of prosecutors. He has advised at Government level in connection with several matters including a major UN criminal investigation and disputes arising within the Oil Industry. He has conducted many investigations and prosecutions with multi-jurisdictional issues including Greece, Ukraine, Russia, Somalia and the USA causing him to have substantial interaction with the US Department of Justice. He also advises clients in matters arising from all aspects of Criminal Law including corruption, cartel offences, market abuse and city fraud. He consequently advises in large money laundering investigations and prosecutions and, has extensive experience of Crown Court and High Court confiscation, restraint, receivership and forfeiture proceedings. He recently led the defence in two SFO Libor prosecutions obtaining the acquittal of one of the ICAP brokers and recently advised members of the Board of an international oil company, in connection with a corruption investigation by the SFO.

Qualified 1991; assistant in leading niche firm specialising in white-collar crime; assistant solicitor Simpson Curtis, Leeds; partner Titmuss Sainer Dechert (now Dechert) 1998-2003; co-founding partner Byrne and Partners February 2003.

LCCSA; CALA; ARDL; Law Society.

Dane Court Grammar School; University of Wales (1986 LLB (Hons)).

Art, architecture, sport.