187 Chambers

Matthew is a highly regarded specialist in Serious Crime, Fraud & Financial Crime, Regulatory Law, Asset Forfeiture & POCA, and Trading Standards. He is consistently ranked as a leading junior in Crime by both Chambers & Partners and the Legal 500.

As a seasoned advocate, Matthew is regularly instructed in some of the most serious and complex criminal cases, including murder, attempted murder, manslaughter, firearms offences, sexual crimes, modern slavery, and drug conspiracies.

His fraud and financial crime practice has seen him represent both corporate clients and individuals, including directors, in cases involving money laundering, tax fraud, bribery, and corruption. He is often engaged in pre-charge investigations for these high-profile matters.

In the regulatory field, Matthew has extensive experience, including defending in Health & Safety prosecutions, notably those arising from workplace fatalities, as well as participating in related Coroner’s Inquests.

With his expertise across these diverse areas of law, Matthew is a trusted and sought-after counsel for clients in both the public and private sectors.

Asset Forfeiture & Confiscation: R v W – Defence of complex confiscation arising from trading standards prosecution involving overseas assets. R v S – VHCC (Drug related confiscation proceedings with complex third party issues)

Criminal Defence: Murder/Manslaughter/Serious Violence Operation Emperor: R v Paffey – Murder (Diminished responsibility) Led by RCQC Operation Lantern: R v Garrod – Unlawful act manslaughter in course of armed robbery Led by JBQC R v I – Murder (Multi handed drugs related killing) Led by RCQC R v H – Attempted Murder Led by RWQC Rape/Sexual offences R v T – Child exploitation. R v B – Stranger Rape R v U – Multi handed gang rape. R v D – Historic rape Drugs Conspiracy Operation Zambia – Multi handed Class A drugs conspiracy (Involving issues surrounding extensive covert surveillance and cell site ) Public disorder Operation Reedham – Conspiracy to commit Violent disorder. Only defendant of 13 to be acquitted following football related violent disorder in which the victim sustained horrific injuries. Other R v McG & Others – Matthew Bagnall, leading Sasha Bailey, secure the acquittal of “McG” the lead defendant in the first modern prosecution of the Hijacking of an ocean going ship, following an eight week trial at the Central Criminal Court, prosecuted by T. Badenoch QC.

Criminal prosecution: Operation Moulin – Murder (Two defendants) ’Cold Case’ (complex disclosure issues) Led by RCQC Operation Fonthill – Murder (Two defendants) Drugs related execution. Led by RCQC Operation Vanquish – Murder Drugs related murder. (Prosecution following extradition of Defendant from South America) Led by JBQC R v S and L – Murder (Drugs related killing) Led by RCQC Fraud & Financial Crime R v H – Defence multi handed ‘boiler house’ fraud involving sale of ‘fine wine’ investments.

Regulatory Law: HSE v MB – H & S prosecution arising from death at work. and related Coroners inquest.

Trading Standards: R v CP – Defence of packaging company engaged by company to provide legitimate packaging for counterfeit goods.

Criminal Bar Association South Eastern Circuit Essex Bar Mess Awards, Qualifications & Other Grade 3 CPS Counsel LL.B