Matthew is developing a broad practice in commercial litigation and international arbitration. He has particular interests in shipping and international trade, civil fraud, insurance, banking, company and insolvency law, and the conflict of laws. He is comfortable being instructed as part of a team or in his own right, and has appeared as sole counsel in the High Court and the County Court.
Before coming to the Bar, Matthew read law at the University of Oxford and gave tutorials in trusts law to undergraduates as a lecturer of Somerville College, Oxford. During his studies, he obtained a First Class degree and ranked second in the year. He then went on to complete the Bachelor of Civil Law at Oxford with Distinction and the Bar Professional Training Course at City Law School, where he achieved the second-best results in the year.
Matthew is a native speaker of Mandarin Chinese and has a good understanding of the Asian markets. In particular, he maintains a keen interest in the legal industry in Singapore, where he grew up.
Privacy noticeExample cases
- JF Hillebrand v MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company SA (2020-21): representing MSC in a Commercial Court bill of lading dispute, raising novel issues as to the circumstances in which the Hague-Visby Rules are compulsorily applicable (with Charles Kimmins QC).
- F v M (2019-21): representing owners and demise charterers in two LMAA arbitrations relating to misdelivery allegations (with Simon Rainey QC). Successfully resisted an application to extend time for commencing proceedings under section 12 of the Arbitration Act 1996 ([2020] EWHC 1765 (Comm)).
- M v U (2020): advised a Cambodian real estate company in relation to a SIAC arbitration involving a claim in excess of USD 130m by a Korean investment trust seeking to enforce a contractual put option (sole counsel).
- K v T (2020-21): representing the claimants in two ICC arbitrations in a mining dispute about a mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo involving allegations of corruption and bribery (with Charles Kimmins QC and Mark Tushingham).
- E v F (2019-21): acting as Tribunal Secretary in a DIFC-LCIA arbitration involving a shareholder dispute in the tech industry concerning DIFC and KSA entities (to Judith Gill QC, Gary Born and Rupert Reed QC).
- Instructed to assist in complex civil fraud litigation comprising derivative actions, an unfair prejudice petition, and allegations that a director has misappropriated c.£15m.
- Assisted in a High Court claim involving alleged fraud and forgery in respect of financing transaction documents, including a swap agreement under the ISDA Master Agreement.
- Assisted in Commercial Court proceedings for an anti-suit injunction to restrain foreign proceedings; injunction was obtained on the ‘quasi-contractual’ basis despite foreign proceedings having been on foot for more than a year.
- Assisted in a Commercial Court application to enforce a Stockholm arbitral award worth in excess of £100 million against a European state, raising issues as to the impact of Slovak Republic v Achmea BV (Case C-284/16) in the light of Brexit.
- Assisted in an application to intervene in a Supreme Court appeal relating to the removal of an arbitrator for lack of impartiality.
- Assisted in an UNCITRAL arbitration concerning the conduct of a tender for the supply of equipment for the development of a Kazakh oilfield.
General commercial disputes
Matthew’s recent experience includes the following:
- M v U (2020): advised a Cambodian real estate company in relation to a SIAC arbitration involving a claim in excess of USD 130m by a Korean investment trust seeking to enforce a contractual put option (sole counsel).
- Advised on contractual and tortious claims against an international online gambling company relating to the incorrect settlement of betting markets.
- Advised on economic tort claims against a director in respect of a company’s alleged breaches of equipment leasing contracts, raising issues as to the principle in Said v Butt.
- E v F (2019-21): acting as Tribunal Secretary in a DIFC-LCIA arbitration involving a shareholder dispute in the tech industry concerning DIFC and KSA entities (to Judith Gill QC, Gary Born and Rupert Reed QC).
- Instructed to assist in complex civil fraud litigation comprising derivative actions, an unfair prejudice petition, and allegations that a director has misappropriated c.£15m.
- Assisted in a High Court claim involving alleged fraud and forgery in respect of financing transaction documents, including a swap agreement under the ISDA Master Agreement.
Arbitration
Matthew has experience of arbitrations conducted under ICC, UNCITRAL, SIAC, SCC, LMAA, GAFTA, and DIFC-LCIA rules, as well as of arbitration-related court proceedings. His recent experience includes the following:
- F v M (2019-21): representing owners and demise charterers in two LMAA arbitrations relating to misdelivery allegations (with Simon Rainey QC). Successfully resisted an application to extend time for commencing proceedings under section 12 of the Arbitration Act 1996 ([2020] EWHC 1765 (Comm)).
- A v N (2020-21): representing a Chinese SOE in a charterparty arbitration involving claims for freight, deadfreight, demurrage and detention (with Sara Masters QC).
- E v F (2019-21): acting as Tribunal Secretary in a DIFC-LCIA arbitration involving a shareholder dispute in the tech industry concerning DIFC and KSA entities (to Judith Gill QC, Gary Born and Rupert Reed QC).
- M v U (2020): advised a Cambodian real estate company in relation to a SIAC arbitration involving a claim in excess of USD 130m by a Korean investment trust seeking to enforce a contractual put option (sole counsel).
- Assisted in a Commercial Court application to enforce a Stockholm arbitral award worth in excess of £100 million against a European state, raising issues as to the impact of Slovak Republic v Achmea BV (Case C-284/16) in the light of Brexit.
- Assisted in an application to intervene in a Supreme Court appeal relating to the removal of an arbitrator for lack of impartiality.
- Assisted in a section 68 challenge to an ICC award in the Commercial Court.
- Assisted in an UNCITRAL arbitration concerning the conduct of a tender for the supply of equipment for the development of a Kazakh oilfield.
- Assisted in a GAFTA arbitration concerning non-delivery under an f.o.b. contract and an ancillary application for a worldwide freezing order.
Civil fraud and asset tracing
Matthew has acted or assisted in various civil fraud matters, and his experience as a lecturer in trusts law at Oxford makes him well-placed to advise on asset tracing and the use of equitable remedies. His recent experience includes the following:
- Instructed to assist in complex civil fraud litigation comprising derivative actions, an unfair prejudice petition, and allegations that a director has misappropriated c.£15m.
- Advised on economic tort claims against a director in respect of a company’s alleged breaches of equipment leasing contracts, raising issues as to the principle in Said v Butt.
- E v F (2019-21): acting as Tribunal Secretary in a DIFC-LCIA arbitration involving a shareholder dispute in the tech industry concerning DIFC and KSA entities (to Judith Gill QC, Gary Born and Rupert Reed QC).
- Assisted in a High Court claim involving alleged fraud and forgery in respect of financing transaction documents, including a swap agreement under the ISDA Master Agreement.
- Assisted in a GAFTA arbitration concerning non-delivery under an f.o.b. contract and an ancillary application for a worldwide freezing order.
Banking and financial services
Matthew’s recent experience includes the following:
- X v Citi (2020-21): representing Citigroup entities in defending numerous claims in the County Court brought by consumers concerning allegations of PPI mis-selling.
- Assisted in a High Court claim involving alleged fraud and forgery in respect of financing transaction documents, including a swap agreement under the ISDA Master Agreement.
Insurance and reinsurance
Matthew’s recent experience includes the following:
- X v Citi (2020-21): representing Citigroup entities in defending numerous claims in the County Court brought by consumers concerning allegations of PPI mis-selling.
- K v Q (2020): represented an assured party in a claim under an insurance policy, raising issues as to the proper scope of “contract work” and “contractual liability” exclusions in construction insurance policies.
- Advised in a marine insurance dispute in the context of substantial US litigation, including on the application of a ‘pay to be paid’ clause and principles of subrogation.
Company and insolvency
Matthew’s recent experience includes the following:
- Advised a BVI company in relation to shareholder claims and an application for injunctive relief relating to a private share placement.
- Advised on economic tort claims against a director in respect of a company’s alleged breaches of equipment leasing contracts, raising issues as to the principle in Said v Butt.
- Instructed to assist in complex civil fraud litigation comprising derivative actions, an unfair prejudice petition, and allegations that a director has misappropriated c.£15m.
- E v F (2019-21): acting as Tribunal Secretary in a DIFC-LCIA arbitration involving a shareholder dispute in the tech industry concerning DIFC and KSA entities (to Judith Gill QC, Gary Born and Rupert Reed QC).
- Advised joint liquidators on the recovery of property which has been disclaimed under the Insolvency Act 1986.
- Drafted an advice for use in Swiss litigation on the liability of an English company under an employment contract, which raised issues as to apparent and usual authority in the corporate context.
- Various appearances in the Companies Court in relation to winding-up petitions and bankruptcy petitions.
Commodities & international trade
Matthew’s recent experience includes the following:
- Trafigura v Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation (2020): represented the claimant in Commercial Court claims against a Ghanaian company arising under multiple oil and gas sale contracts.
- Assisted in an appeal to the GAFTA Board of Appeal in relation to claims regarding the delivery of non-contractual animal meal under c.f.r. sale contracts and the doctrine of common mistake.
- Assisted in a GAFTA arbitration concerning non-delivery under an f.o.b. contract and an ancillary application for a worldwide freezing order.
Energy & infrastructure
Matthew’s recent experience includes the following:
- K v T (2020-21): representing the claimants in two ICC arbitrations in a mining dispute about a mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo involving allegations of corruption and bribery (with Charles Kimmins QC and Mark Tushingham).
- Trafigura v Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation (2020): represented the claimant in Commercial Court claims against a Ghanaian company arising under multiple oil and gas sale contracts.
- Assisted in an UNCITRAL arbitration concerning the conduct of a tender for the supply of equipment for the development of a Kazakh oilfield.
Jurisdiction, conflicts and enforcement
Matthew’s recent experience includes the following:
- Assisted in a Commercial Court application to enforce a Stockholm arbitral award worth in excess of £100 million against a European state, raising issues as to the impact of Slovak Republic v Achmea BV (Case C-284/16) in the light of Brexit.
- Assisted in a Commercial Court claim for an anti-suit injunction to restrain foreign proceedings; injunction was obtained on the ‘quasi-contractual’ basis despite foreign proceedings having been on foot for more than a year.
- Assisted in a Commercial Court return-date hearing concerning the continuation of interim anti-suit injunctions, including on the ‘quasi-contractual’ basis.
Shipping
Matthew has a busy shipping practice, both as sole counsel and as part of a larger team. While on secondment to a Singapore law firm, he also gained substantial experience of shipbuilding arbitrations, particularly those conducted under the SIAC rules. His recent experience includes the following:
- JF Hillebrand v MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company SA (2020-21): representing MSC in a Commercial Court bill of lading dispute, raising novel issues as to the circumstances in which the Hague-Visby Rules are compulsorily applicable (with Charles Kimmins QC).
- F v M (2019-21): representing owners and demise charterers in two LMAA arbitrations relating to misdelivery allegations (with Simon Rainey QC). Successfully resisted an application to extend time for commencing proceedings under section 12 of the Arbitration Act 1996 ([2020] EWHC 1765 (Comm)).
- A v N (2020-21): representing a Chinese SOE in a charterparty arbitration involving claims for freight, deadfreight, demurrage and detention (with Sara Masters QC).
- A v D (2019): represented the owners in a bill of lading dispute concerning allegations of damage to a wheat cargo (with David Lewis QC).
- S v H (2020): advised owners and demise charterers in relation to two LMAA arbitrations involving allegations of damaged cargo (with Charles Kimmins QC).
- B v R (2020-21): acted for buyers in an arbitral dispute under a ship sale MOA, raising issues such as the impact of COVID-19 measures on the transfer of title.
- S v T (2020): acted for the charterers in a USD 500k+ charterparty dispute concerning the proper interpretation of demurrage time-bar clauses (sole counsel).
- Advised the builder of a c.USD 200m superyacht on its liability under a settlement agreement, raising issues such as the implied obligation to exercise good faith (with Charles Kimmins QC).