Coram Chambers

Alternative Families; Children; Family Finance; Mental Health

Matthew specialises in Private Client, principally Family Finance and Private Child. He is used to dealing with cases involving not only serious child welfare issues and Guardians but also cross-allegations of domestic abuse between parents. Matthew has also represented both applicants and respondents in leave to remove cases. Having come from a mixed practise background, Matthew has found his previous experience in the criminal courts and the immigration tribunal very useful when advising in family matters.

Matthew has experience at each stage of financial remedy proceedings and applications under Schedule 1 of the Children Act 1989, including those involving clients who have experienced domestic abuse by the other party. He perseveres to secure a fair and appropriate outcome and to ensure his client’s voice is heard.

Family Finance

Matthew has experience at each stage of financial remedy proceedings and applications under schedule 1 of the Children Act 1989, including a multi-day final hearings involving cross-examination on material non-disclosure, hidden assets and fraud. He has worked with clients (often applicant wives) who have experienced domestic abuse by the other party. He perseveres to secure a fair and appropriate outcome for those clients who might otherwise have been pressured into less favourable settlements.

Private Child

Matthew often works with vulnerable clients in children proceedings, including clients and children with disabilities. He is used to dealing with cases involving not only serious welfare issues and Guardians but also cross-allegations of domestic abuse between parents. He is also used to dealing with cases that have (or develop) a public law element. He has negotiated complex but clear child arrangement orders, including for cross-border contact. To date Matthew has represented both applicants and respondents in leave to remove cases, including multi-day trials before Circuit Judges. Matthew has extensive experience of appearing opposite litigants in person and the professional as well as practical issues this can raise.

Clients appreciate his practice on ‘both sides of the coin’ and really value his capacity to act for them in related family proceedings having first instructed them in their finance or children case.

Family Law Act

Matthew has plenty of experience dealing with applications for non-molestation and occupation orders under Part IV, whether applying for or resisting. He is also used to advising on how such orders could impact upon potential private child and/or financial remedy proceedings.

Advocacy

Matthew is often selected by solicitors looking to instruct counsel who is easy for clients to get along with but who is bold, well prepared and not afraid to fight his corner in court.

Direct Access

Matthew is trained in public access so that members of the public can, in appropriate cases, instruct him without using a solicitor. Matthew can be contacted via the clerks for public access enquiries in any of his areas of practise.

The Family Law Bar Association

Resolution (Associate Member)

Liberty

LAGLA

The Honourable Society of Middle Temple

Called to the Bar 2011 (Middle Temple)

BA & MA Classical Civilisation (First), University of Warwick

LLB (Hons) (GDL & BPTC, Very Competent), University of Law, London