Family - Children
Matthew is a specialist children family law barrister with a particular interest in public law and the arrangements for children after parental separation.
He is experienced in representing vulnerable clients, those with disabilities, learning difficulties and cases that may require the official solicitor.
Matthew is regularly instructed to act for parents, children, local authorities and other family members such as grandparents in public law proceedings. He has been involved in cases representing parents and family members that have resulted in successful outcomes for the children within their care.
Regularly instructed in proceedings involving complex issues of law and fact including cases concerning serious inflicted injuries to children, sexual abuse, fabricated/induced illness, perplexing presentations, shaking injuries, catastrophic/fatal injuries to siblings, long term/chronic neglect, parents with mental illness, adoption, human trafficking, international aspects, relocation and parental alienation.
Matthew has experience in cases that involve the use of the Inherent Jurisdiction of the High Court including the use of Wardship and Deprivation of Liberty.
Matthew is regularly instructed to represent parents and children in relation to the arrangements for children following parental separation. Matthew is experienced in cases that involve domestic abuse, findings of fact hearings, parental alienation, intractable contact disputes, fabricated illnesses, internal/international relocation, change to the children’s school and also within enforcement proceedings.
Matthew is experienced in injunctive proceedings including emergency injunctions, non-molestation orders and occupation orders.
Matthew read Law at Lancaster University and was called to the Bar by Inner Temple in 2008. Matthew was awarded the inaugural Lancaster University Law School Prize and the Otto Rix Scholarship from Inner Temple. In 2009 Matthew completed an internship with death penalty charity Amicus ALJ in North Carolina working on capital cases. Matthew continues his work with the charity assisting with training and interviews for internships.