Lincoln House Chambers

Matthew Howarth is a distinguished barrister with a diverse and impressive legal career spanning multiple areas of practice. His journey in law began in 2014 at Baker & McKenzie, one of the world's largest law firms, where he gained valuable experience in Banking and Finance litigation.

During his early practice Matthew defended a large FTSE 100 Company as part of the LIBOR Scandal. He has extensive experience in Fraud and Financial Crime as a result, with a vast experience in dealing with complex issues arising from Legal Professional Privilege.

Joining Chambers in 2016, Matthew has sought to develop a practice that encompasses Public Law and Regulatory. He also has a strong criminal fraud and POCA practice.  Matthew’s versatility is evident in his ability to represent clients across various courts and tribunals, from the Magistrates Court to the Court of Appeal.

Matthew's expertise is widely recognized, as evidenced by his numerous panel appointments and his role on the Northern Circuit Executive Committee. Matthew has gained numerous prestigious appointments that make him stand out amongst his peers at the Bar. He has a strong practice on behalf of HMRC, the Government Legal Department and the Serious Fraud Office. Recently he was instructed as a junior counsel in the Independent Inquiry into Child Sex Abuse, and assisted in a Judicial Review for the Victim’s Rights Group ‘Hacked Off’ following the Phone Hacking Scandal.

He has vast experience of dealing with complex Judicial Reviews applications and POCA matters, Regulatory offences and mainly Fraud (including VAT and MTIC). He sits on the Attorney General’s specialist Panel of Counsel, the Serious Fraud Office Panel, Regulatory Panel and is a specialist CPS POCA Prosecutor. He has extensive experience defending in these areas also. He is currently defending a multi-handed transfer of firearms and Class A PWITS matter in Nottingham.

Recently Matthew has been appointed to the National Safeguarding Panel to offer legal advice on behalf of Sports Resolution

In 2020 Matthew was called to the Bar of Northern Ireland.

Matthew Howarth's career trajectory showcases a barrister of exceptional caliber, adept at navigating complex legal landscapes and providing top-tier representation across a broad spectrum of legal disciplines.

Financial Crime, Fraud & POCA

Matthew has extensive experience in POCA and Fraud matters. In 2021, Matthew was one of five barristers out of London to be appointed to the Serious Fraud Office Panel C of Prosecution. He is currently instructed in an on-going large scale investigation into Fraud on behalf of the SFO. Coupled with his experience from the Financial Litigation Team at Baker & McKenzie, he is routinely instructed to handle large scale complex financial litigation dealing with disclosure, legal professional privilege and advising on litigation. Matthew was one of two Manchester barristers appointed to the Attorney General’s Panel C in 2020. He often deals with cases brought by HMRC from Forfeiture and confiscation hearings, through to Commercial Account Freezing Orders and POCA proceedings in the Crown Court to the Court of Appeal. He was appointed to the specialist CPS Panel Level 2 for POCA in 2021. Matthew also has experience with Tax Fraud. Recently he was instructed by HMRC to prosecute a multi-million pound MTIC Fraud case before the Tax Tribunals. (Kittle and Mecsek). He has also dealt with numerous VAT and Tax applications before the High Court on appeal. Matthew also has extensive experience in dealing with general criminal litigation and is recognised in this area of law by his appointment to the CPS General Crime Panel Level 3 and POCA Panel Level 2 in 2021, and Serious Crime Panel Level 2 in 2020. He is currently being led on a large scale drugs and gun conspiracy at Nottingham Crown Court.

Public Law (Immigration and Judicial Review)

As a specialist barrister for the Attorney General, the bulk of Matthew’s practice is in Judicial Review claims for False Imprisonment relating to periods of Unlawful Detention by the Secretary of State. He has recently dealt with a number of Judicial Review applications and interim relief hearings, and is often sought to advise on Quantum in the QBD and Administrative Courts. He has dealt with EEA cases under Dublin III and Non-EEA Hardial Singh claims and is often instructed to offer advice for Government Departments and grounds of appeal in this work. Recently he had conduct of a number false imprisonment claims made during COVID-19 under Article 3 & 5 ECHR and in relation to failure to provide s.95 and s.4 Accommodation. In addition to providing expert advice in unlawful detention/false imprisonment claims, both for judicial review and civil claims, Matthew has extensive experience in substantive claims for failure to provide asylum support. He has recently dealt with cases regarding unpublished policies and the impact of Lumba, as well as issues relating to adequacy and delay. Matthew has recently been instructed to conduct inquest hearings on behalf of the Secretary of State. He has experience developed as a junior in the IICSA inquiry and through the Phone Hacking Scandal on behalf of ‘Hacked Off’. Matthew is also experienced in Immigration litigation from the First and Upper Tier Tribunals through to Fresh Submission Judicial Review claims. He has been instructed recently to propose a number of interim relief applications before the High Court. Further to this he has had conduct of a Habeas Corpus claim in the High Court and recently before the Court of Appeal. It is currently pending application before the Supreme Court.

Civil Cases

Matthew has also conducted a wide range of multi-track and fast-track personal injury and public liability claims. He is routinely instructed in county court claims and to draft papers on behalf of Government and Claimants. He has also a great deal of experience with landlord and tenant disputes.

Disciplinary/Safeguarding/Professional Negligence

Coupled with this experience he has conduct of a number of Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) appeals under the Safeguarding Vulnerable Group Act 2006 in the Upper Tier Tribunals and is on hand to offer representation within this area on a Direct Access Basis. He is willing to draft submissions and make representations on short notice. Matthew Has represented both the DBS and Appellants from initial advice on paper, drafting submissions for court, conference and on appeal to the Upper Tier Tribunals. Matthew is often instructed on a wide range of professional negligence matters against and for doctors, dentists and solicitors. He is routinely instructed to draft advices, assist with letters before action and represent professional clients at court Matthew is one of the few members of chambers appointed by the Sports Resolution panel to give legal advice in this area. He is direct access qualified.

Regulatory Law & Road Traffic Offences

In 2019 Matthew was appointed to the Specialist Regulatory Panel C of Prosecution Advocates. This recognised his experience in the fields of Environmental Law and Health & Safety Law. Matthew has extensive experience in representing haulage companies in relation to Road Traffic matters both in the Crown Court and before Traffic Commissioners Office in the Upper Tribunals. He has conducted a number of disputes in relation to tachographs and operators licenses through to fly-tipping offences. He is able to offer advice in this area. Recently he has advised Government on a range of Civil Penalty Appeals for Clandestine Entrants and Operator Licensing disputes. Matthew is routinely instructed to defend Environment Offences, from fly tipping through to advising large companies in relation to waste and water disputes. Matthew has also represented a number of companies. In the Crown Court he has conducted cases in relation to gross-negligence manslaughter through to Health and Safety at work offences in construction disputes. Recently he has appeared as advocate prosecuting and defending a number of licensing and Trademark/counterfeit goods offences. He has successfully represented a number of companies in relation to Fraud allegations as to HGV licences and individuals in Taxi license appeals. Matthew has gained substantial experience in Road Traffic Offences. He recently was instructed on a Death by Dangerous Driving at Leeds Crown Court through and is often sought to argue exceptional hardship/special reasons mitigation in the Magistrates Court. Through appointment on the Attorney General’s Panel Matthew has experience in a number of cases relating to Driving License Disqualification and appeals of DVLA decisions in relation to licensing following bans for drink driving or medical reasons.

Summary of Appointments

2022 – appointed to the National Safeguarding Panel to offer legal advice on behalf of Sports Resolution.

2021 – Serious Fraud Office – Panel C appointment

Crown Prosecution Service – Level 3 General Crime Panel Appointment and Level 2 POCA Panel Appointment

2020 – Attorney General Specialist Panel of Civil Counsel – C Panel

Level 2 Serious Crime Prosecution Panel CPS

Call to the Bar of Northern Ireland Michaelmas Term 2020

2019 – Specialist Regulatory Panel C Prosecution Advocate (Environment Agency and Health & Safety Executive)

2017 – Public Access Qualified.

‘Matthew was Junior for the Northern Circuit in 2019 and currently sits on the Northern Circuit Executive Committee as Representation on the Bar Council https://www.northerncircuit.org.uk/about-us/circuit-officers/’

Call to the bar England and Wales: 2016

Call to the bar Northern Ireland: 2020