Matthew has 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.
Matthew has considerable experience of high-value commercial litigation and arbitration. He is currently instructed by the Privinvest Group in Republic of Mozambique v Privinvest and others, a Commercial Court dispute involving claims in excess of US$2 billion, and allegations of bribery and corruption, relating to maritime infrastructure projects in the Republic.
Matthew is also increasingly developing a busy practice as sole counsel. He regularly appears in his own right in the High Court and in arbitration, and recently appeared unled in a 5-day final hearing in a 7-figure HKIAC arbitral dispute involving the sale and shipment of commodities.
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.
Matthew is admitted to the Bar of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, British Virgin Islands.
Privacy noticeExample cases
- Republic of Mozambique v Privinvest and others: representing the Privinvest Group in a US$2 billion+ claim brought by the Republic of Mozambique concerning allegations of bribes and conspiracy in connection with maritime infrastructure projects in Mozambique (with, amongst others, Duncan Matthews QC and Philip Riches QC).
- Green Elite Ltd v Fang Ankong and others (BVIHCMAP 2022/0013): representing the defendant directors in BVI litigation involving the alleged breach of directors’ duties in relation to a Sino-Dutch metal recycling joint venture operated from Hong Kong, Macau, and mainland China (with Andrew Ayres QC). An appeal will be heard by the Court of Appeal in the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court in October 2022.
- Credit Suisse AG and another v Burgundy Sea Limited and others: acting for HRH Prince Fahad and associated corporate entities in claims totalling c.£65m brought by Credit Suisse relating to alleged breaches of facility agreements for the refinancing of a super-yacht and real property (with Paul Lowenstein QC).
- F v M (2019-22): represented the successful owners and demise charterers in two LMAA arbitrations relating to misdelivery allegations (with Simon Rainey QC). A section 69 appeal will be heard in the Commercial Court in July 2022. Successfully resisted an application to extend time for commencing proceedings under section 12 of the Arbitration Act 1996 ([2020] EWHC 1765 (Comm)).
- B v J; B v C: representing two Peruvian entities of a global seafood and fishing enterprise in a US$14 million LMAA arbitration in London involving allegations of fraud and sham in the context of a ship sale agreement, and an associated c.$31 million CMAC arbitration in the PRC involving related guarantee and indemnity claims (respectively with Duncan Matthews QC and Michael Ashcroft QC).
- J v T (2021-22): acting as sole counsel for a Chinese SOE in a 7-figure HKIAC arbitration arising from sale and purchase agreements for manganese ore cargoes, including in a 5-day final hearing held in June 2022.
- JF Hillebrand v MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company SA (2020-21): represented 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).
- 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).
- 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).
General commercial disputes
Matthew’s recent experience includes the following:
- Republic of Mozambique v Privinvest and others: representing the Privinvest Group in a US$2 billion+ claim brought by the Republic of Mozambique concerning allegations of bribes and conspiracy in connection with maritime infrastructure projects in Mozambique (with, amongst others, Duncan Matthews QC and Philip Riches QC).
- Credit Suisse AG and another v Burgundy Sea Limited and others: acting for HRH Prince Fahad and associated corporate entities in claims totalling c.£65m brought by Credit Suisse relating to alleged breaches of facility agreements for the refinancing of a super-yacht and real property (with Paul Lowenstein 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).
- 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, HKIAC, CMAC and DIFC-LCIA rules, as well as of arbitration-related court proceedings. His recent experience includes the following:
- F v M (2019-22): represented the successful owners and demise charterers in two LMAA arbitrations relating to misdelivery allegations (with Simon Rainey QC). A section 69 appeal will be heard in the Commercial Court in July 2022. Successfully resisted an application to extend time for commencing proceedings under section 12 of the Arbitration Act 1996 ([2020] EWHC 1765 (Comm)).
- B v J; B v C: representing two Peruvian entities of a global seafood and fishing enterprise in a US$14 million LMAA arbitration in London involving allegations of fraud and sham in the context of a ship sale agreement, and an associated c.$31 million CMAC arbitration in the PRC involving related guarantee and indemnity claims (respectively with Duncan Matthews QC and Michael Ashcroft QC).
- J v T (2021-22): acting as sole counsel for a Chinese SOE in a 7-figure HKIAC arbitration arising from sale and purchase agreements for cargoes of manganese ore, including in a 5-day final hearing held in June 2022.
- 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:
- Republic of Mozambique v Privinvest and others: representing the Privinvest Group in a US$2 billion+ claim brought by the Republic of Mozambique concerning allegations of bribes and conspiracy in connection with maritime infrastructure projects in Mozambique (with, amongst others, Duncan Matthews QC and Philip Riches QC).
- B v J; B v C: representing two Peruvian entities of a global seafood and fishing enterprise in a USD 14 million LMAA arbitration in London involving allegations of fraud and sham in the context of a ship sale agreement, and an associated c.USD 31 million CMAC arbitration in the PRC involving related guarantee and indemnity claims (respectively with Duncan Matthews QC and Michael Ashcroft 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.
- 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:
- Credit Suisse AG and another v Burgundy Sea Limited and others: acting for HRH Prince Fahad and associated corporate entities in claims totalling c.£65m brought by Credit Suisse relating to alleged breaches of facility agreements for the refinancing of a super-yacht and real property (with Paul Lowenstein QC).
- 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:
- Green Elite Ltd v Fang Ankong and others (BVIHCMAP 2022/0013): representing the defendant directors in BVI litigation involving the alleged breach of directors’ duties in relation to a Sino-Dutch metal recycling joint venture operated from Hong Kong, Macau, and mainland China (with Andrew Ayres QC). An appeal will be heard by the Court of Appeal in the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court in October 2022.
- 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:
- J v T (2021-22): acting as sole counsel for a Chinese SOE in a 7-figure HKIAC arbitration arising from sale and purchase agreements for cargoes of manganese ore, including in a 5-day final hearing held in June 2022.
- G v P (2021-22): acting for a global commodity trading company in multiple arbitrations against Asian state-owned entities relating to the payment of port charges under contracts for the supply of LNG cargoes (with Oliver Caplin).
- 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:
- B v J; B v C: representing two Peruvian entities of a global seafood and fishing enterprise in a USD 14 million LMAA arbitration in London involving allegations of fraud and sham in the context of a ship sale agreement, and an associated c.USD 31 million CMAC arbitration in the PRC involving related guarantee and indemnity claims (respectively with Duncan Matthews QC and Michael Ashcroft QC).
- JF Hillebrand v MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company SA (2020-21): represented 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 (2019-22): represented the successful owners and demise charterers in two LMAA arbitrations relating to misdelivery allegations (with Simon Rainey QC). An appeal will be heard in the Commercial Court in July 2022. Successfully resisted an application to extend time for commencing proceedings under section 12 of the Arbitration Act 1996 ([2020] EWHC 1765 (Comm)).
- B v R (2020-21): acted for the successful 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 (with Michael Coburn QC).
- 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).