Matrix Chambers offers ‘excellent barristers’ for claimant related police law expertise, with those drawing upon experience in associated areas of crime, public law, civil liberties, and inquests and inquiries. In R (W80) v IOPC, Phillippa Kaufmann KC appeared before the Supreme Court on behalf of the family of Jermaine Baker, who was fatally shot by a police officer, with the judgment clarifying that the civil test of whether an honest but mistaken belief is reasonable applies to police misconduct decisions, rather than the criminal law test of self-defence. ’Quite simply the best junior around’, Jesse Nicholls is particularly adept at handling cases where police officers have caused death or catastrophic injury. ‘All rounder’ Helen Law , whose ’knowledge of criminal law is such an asset in this area’, continues to act for wives of undercover officers in the Undercover Policing Inquiry.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'The clerks are great - they are responsive and proactive. Matt Leitch is particularly helpful.'
- 'The clerks are all very helpful and responsive.'
- 'A leading set for actions against the state.'
- 'The set is exceptional - they are super bright, forensic in their approach but also great people to work with. They do a lot of work for the sector outside of case work, hosting practitioner group meetings and various initiatives.'
- 'Matrix are a slick operation! Excellent barristers and excellent support staff.'
- 'Matrix are a really good set.'
Silks
Leading Silks
KCs at the very top of their field, with a long-established record of market-defining cases, and widespread endorsement from clients and peers. All silks appointed in the last two rounds are listed further below.
Hugh Southey KC
Matrix Chambers
Matthew Ryder KC
Matrix Chambers ‘Matthew is absolutely at the top of his game. There are so many things about him which are formidable: the sheer size of his intellect, his work ethic and his ability to think strategically about the case from the very beginning, among others.’
Juniors
Leading Juniors
Leading juniors are those with significant experience of key cases, strong market recognition from both peers and clients, and are seen as future candidates for silk.
Ifeanyi Odogwu
Matrix Chambers ‘He is collaborative with instructing solicitors, compassionate with clients, and approaches problems from a variety of angles. He is unflappable and professional and puts clients at ease.’
Raj Desai
Matrix Chambers ‘Raj is incredibly astute, hard working and committed to thinking outside as well as inside the box. Absolute grasp of the detail as well as overall issues.’
Helen Law
Matrix Chambers ‘Helen is an all rounder - her knowledge of criminal law is such an asset in this area of work and she has got some great results in my cases. She is quick, clever and strategic.’
Rising stars
Rising stars at the Bar are defined as barristers between four and eight years’ call who are seen as up-and-coming members of the Bar in their respective practice areas by clients and peers alike. They will already be instructed in high-profile, complex, and high-value contentious and non-contentious matters, working with and opposite more experienced leading counsel.
Tim-James Matthews
Matrix Chambers ‘Tim is absolutely amazing. He is a great tactician and his drafting is second-to-none.’