Pinney Talfourd LLP

Private Client

Partner and Head of Private Client

Matthew joined Birkett Long LLP,  a leading tier 1 Legal 500 firm to complete his two-year training contract, qualifying as a solicitor in 2004. There he remained for a further five years practising as a private client solicitor.

Matthew joined Pinney Talfourd in 2009 to head the private client team and was made a partner in 2011.

Matthew leads a team of 17 private client lawyers and has overall responsibility for the management and supervision of all private client related matters. Whilst heading up the department, Matthew continues to act for various clients.

Matthew has acted as a professional executor and trustee on numerous cases throughout his career and leads with all the firm’s executor and trustee appointments. In addition, he acts as a Deputy and Attorney for over 80 vulnerable clients.

Matthew is regularly consulted by lawyers from other firms and other professionals to act as an independent administrator to resolve long-running contentious estates and complex court of protection work.

He is an experienced Court of Protection lawyer able to deal with a wide range of Court applications including complex statutory wills, estate planning and gifting, and trust related matters.

In 2015, Matthew became one of only 71 solicitors in the country to be appointed to the Court of Protection Deputyship Panel. In this capacity, Matthew regularly accepts Court appointments to act for highly vulnerable clients who do not have capacity to make decisions concerning their own property or finances – often these clients have unknowingly been victims of serious financial abuse or have complex financial needs

Matthew is a highly experienced probate practitioner able to deal with a wide range of complex cases. Most of Matthew’s cases include Inheritance Tax considerations

Key dates

Trained at Birkett Long and qualified in 2004 Assistant Solicitor at Birkett Long 2004 Associate at Pinney Talfourd 2009 Partner at Pinney Talfourd LLP 2011

Matthew is a full member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) having competed his STEP Diploma in 2009. Matthew is recognised by Legal 500 as a Leading Individual in their 2023 Guide.

Matthew is a member of the Office of the Public Guardian Panel of Professional Deputies (appointed in 2015), one of only two in Essex and 71 in the country.

Matthew Edwards studied his law degree at the University of East London, graduating in 2000, before completing his legal practice course at Anglia Ruskin University in 2002.

On a personal note, in his spare time Matthew likes to spend time with his young family. He also enjoys regular fitness training including boxing.