Matthew enjoys a broad commercial practice, acting in national and international litigation and arbitrations across a range of practice areas. He is “highly sought after for his expertise in obtaining or resisting emergency relief, often under tight deadlines” (Legal 500, 2025).
Matthew is ranked as a leading junior for Shipping & Commodities work (Chambers & Partners, 2026) and Crypto & Blockchain Assets work (Legal 500, 2026). He was previously recognised a rising star in Insolvency work (Legal 500, 2025) and has a particular interest in civil fraud litigation, having written ‘A Practical Guide to Cyber Fraud Litigation’ (now in its second edition).
As well as acting as sole counsel, Matthew has extensive experience of being instructed as part of a team in large and complex commercial disputes. He appreciates and enjoys the different demands of these cases and the need to work efficiently and effectively with legal and other professionals.
Matthew also accepts instructions to act on a direct access basis or to provide advice in non-contentious situations. Matthew has taught Company Law and Equity & Trusts at Queen Mary University London and is an external examiner in professional ethics for the Bar Standards Board.
Matthew accepts appointments as arbitrator.
Privacy noticeExample cases
- AQA Education v Persons Unknown (claim no. BL-2024-000674): Claim brought by a public examination provider against specific persons unknown and ‘newcomers’, seeking injunctions to restrain those persons from attempting to obtain advance access to A-Level and GCSE examination papers or selling those papers online (leading Eliza Bond). This is the first reported case of a ‘newcomer’ injunction in respect of online activity.
- Health & Home Ltd (in liquidation) and others v Elite Property Holdings Limited and others [2025] EWHC 839 (Ch): Acting for a company in liquidation and its liquidators in a claim against former directors, shareholders and associated companies to recover over £2.9 million due in debt, by reason of unlawful dividends, and as compensation for company assets sold at an undervalue prior to a creditors’ voluntary liquidation. Currently seeking to enforce a £4.1 million judgment debt against (among others) BVI-registered companies, including determination of beneficial interest in certain properties said to have been transferred but where the transfer is alleged to have been (among other things) a sham.
- Instructed in a US$55 million London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA) arbitration concerning allegations of fraudulent breach of warranty in a share purchase agreement (led by Lawrence Akka KC).
- CH Offshore v Internaves Consorcio Naviero and others [2021] 1 Lloyd’s Rep 465: Instructed by the arbitration claimants in an appeal from an arbitration award, wherein the claimant brokers & consultant were successful in their US$10 million London Maritime Arbitrator’s Association (LMAA) arbitration claim for commission & consultancy fees in respect of certain long-term charters (led by Christopher Hancock KC).
- I.F.T. S.A.L. Offshore v Barclays Bank Plc [2020] EWHC 3125 (Comm): A victim of cyber fraud obtained permission to use disclosure obtained from a bank to pursue a claim against the bank directly, alleging that the bank is liable for the US$250,000 fraud as having received and subsequently paid out the proceeds of the fraud.
- CMOC v Persons Unknown and others [2019] Lloyd’s Rep FC 62: US$8 million claim in the Commercial Court to trace and recover funds that were stolen in a ‘business email compromise’ fraud, involving the first-known occasion that a worldwide freezing injunction has been granted against ‘persons unknown’ (led by Paul Lowenstein KC).
- Previously instructed in a US$42 million International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) arbitration between shareholders in relation to the delayed construction of a shipping port (previously led by Philip Edey KC).
Arbitration
- Instructed in a challenge to an arbitration award under ss. 67 & 68 Arbitration Act 1996, resisting allegations that the tribunal both exceeded its jurisdiction and failed to give the arbitration respondent a fair opportunity to present its case (leading Alexander Yean).
- Instructed in an arbitration, and related court proceedings concerning whether an interim mandatory injunction in support of the arbitration was available or appropriate under s. 44 Arbitration Act 1996.
- Previously instructed to advise on whether an award in an ad hoc arbitration could be corrected (under s.57 Arbitration Act 1996) or challenged (under either s.68 or s.69 Arbitration Act 1996) with a view to increasing the quantum awarded.
- Sino Channel v Dana Shipping [2018] 1 Lloyd’s Rep 17: Court of Appeal case concerning the validity of an arbitration that had been commenced by serving notices on an apparent agent of the contract of affreightment counterparty (led by Duncan Matthews KC).
- Previously acted as tribunal secretary (to Julian Lew KC) in a US$6 million ad hoc arbitration under UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules concerning the construction of a joint venture and financing agreement in relation to oil and gas exploration.
- Author of the ‘Arbitration Law’ chapter in Lloyd’s International Maritime and Commercial Law Yearbook since 2019.
Banking and financial services
- Libyan Investment Authority v Credit Suisse and others [2021] EWHC 2684 (Comm): US$200 million claim in the Commercial Court in which the sovereign wealth fund sought rescission of certain derivative options on the grounds of fraud, illegality, breach of fiduciary duty and undue influence on the part of the international investment bank (led by Roger Masefield KC of Brick Court Chambers).
- I.F.T. S.A.L. Offshore v Barclays Bank Plc [2020] EWHC 3125 (Comm): A victim of cyber fraud obtained permission to use disclosure obtained from a bank to pursue a claim against the bank directly, alleging that the bank is liable for a US$250,000 fraud perpetrated by the bank’s customer because the bank received and paid out the proceeds of the fraud.
- PJSC National Bank Trust and another v Boris Mints and others (claim nos: CL-2019-000412 & CL-2020-000432): US$708 million claim in the Commercial Court in which two banks bring Russian law claims in respect of an alleged fraud perpetrated by various individuals, who are alleged to have procured the replacement of valuable loans with valueless bonds (led by Duncan Matthews KC).
- Banque Internationale de Commerce v Alaghband and others (claim no: CL-2019-000090): US$3.7 million claim in the Commercial Court in which the bank brought a number of claims arising out of an apparent fraud perpetrated against it by its former customer, now in liquidation and the subject of a Serious Fraud Office investigation.
- Al Farouqi v Ikon Finance Limited & Hantec Markets Limited (claim no: QB-2019-003189): US$53 million claim in the Queen’s Bench Division in which a former client of two FCA-regulated entities brought a number of claims in contract, tort and equity arising out of an alleged fraud perpetrated by the entities on the client.
- Previously instructed by a leading international bank in relation to the FCA review of the misselling of interest rate hedging products (IRHPs).
Civil fraud and asset tracing
- The Racing Partnership Limited & anr v William Hill Organization Limited (claim no: LM-2025-000218): A £2.7 million debt due from one contractual counterparty to another was diverted by the actions of a fraudster. The claim between the counterparties concerns which of them bears the loss arising from the fraud, whether by reason of agency or breach of confidentiality (leading Matthew McGonagle).
- Libyan Investment Authority v Credit Suisse and others [2021] EWHC 2684 (Comm): US$200 million claim in the Commercial Court in which the sovereign wealth fund sought rescission of certain derivative options on the grounds of fraud, illegality, breach of fiduciary duty and undue influence on the part of the international investment bank (led by Roger Masefield KC of Brick Court Chambers).
- I.F.T. S.A.L. Offshore v Barclays Bank Plc [2020] EWHC 3125 (Comm): A victim of cyber fraud obtained permission to use disclosure obtained from the bank to pursue a claim against a bank directly, alleging that the bank is liable for the US$250,000 fraud as having received and subsequently paid out the proceeds of the fraud.
- CMOC v Persons Unknown and others [2019] Lloyd’s Rep FC 62: US$8 million claim in the Commercial Court to trace and recover funds that were stolen in a ‘business email compromise’ fraud, involving the first-known occasion that a worldwide freezing injunction has been granted against ‘persons unknown’ (led by Paul Lowenstein KC).
- Banque Internationale de Commerce v Alaghband and others (claim no: CL-2019-000090): US$3.7 million claim in the Commercial Court in which the bank brought a number of claims arising out of an apparent fraud perpetrated against it by its former customer, now in liquidation and the subject of a Serious Fraud Office investigation.
- PJSC National Bank Trust and another v Boris Mints and others (claim nos: CL-2019-000412 & CL-2020-000432): US$708 million claim in the Commercial Court in which two banks bring Russian law claims in respect of an alleged fraud perpetrated by various individuals, who are alleged to have procured the replacement of valuable loans with valueless bonds (led by Duncan Matthews KC).
Commodities and international trade
- Kraaijeveld Groente en Fruit B.V. & ors v. MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company S.A. (claim no: CL-2023-000174): US$650,000 claim in the Commercial Court in which cargo receivers and shippers claimed against the shipping company in respect of delayed and damaged delivery of foodstuffs, carried in refrigerated containers.
- Banque Internationale de Commerce v Alaghband and others (claim no: CL-2019-000090): US$3.7 million claim in the Commercial Court in which the bank claimed in respect of an apparent commodities trading fraud perpetrated against it by its former customer.
- Previously instructed in a US$3.1 million Grain and Feed Trade Association (GAFTA) arbitration, at first tier and on appeal, concerning non-delivery of cargo due to restrictions in Ukraine and allegations of wrongful dealing with other parties in a chain of sale contracts.
- Previously instructed in a US$3.2 million International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) arbitration regarding off-specification acetone that was said to have deteriorated in storage.
- Bathsystem S.p.A. v Pitacs Limited (claim no: J20CL093) £250,000 claim regarding the terms on which bathroom components were supplied for use in a commercial construction project and the extent of their compliance with contractual requirements.
- Previously instructed in a US$1.7 million London Maritime Arbitrator’s Association (LMAA) arbitration concerning the misdelivery into storage then to purported receivers of a cargo (led by David Lewis KC).
Company law
- Health & Home Ltd (in liquidation) and others v Elite Property Holdings Limited and others [2025] EWHC 839 (Ch): Acting for a company in liquidation and its liquidators in a claim against former directors, shareholders and associated companies to recover over £2.9 million due in debt, by reason of unlawful dividends, and as compensation for company assets sold at an undervalue prior to a creditors’ voluntary liquidation.
- Instructed in a US$55 million London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA) arbitration concerning allegations of fraudulent breach of warranty in a share purchase agreement (led by Lawrence Akka KC).
- Re DeceasedUmbrella.com Limited (claim nos: CR-2021-000623 & CR-2017-006482): Acted for the successful liquidators in a claim against a former director, seeking an account of certain dealings which were held to constitute wrongful dissipation of over £1million of company assets to preferred third parties in the face of the company’s impending insolvency.
- Previously instructed in a US$2 million London Maritime Arbitrator’s Association (LMAA) arbitration between shareholders in a joint venture company, where one shareholder is alleging breach of contract, breach of director’s duties and fraud as against the other shareholder.
- Aliyev v. Partner Capital and others (claim no. QB-2018-000502): £200,000 claim for damages where an investor alleged breach of contractual and fiduciary duties said to have been owed to him by two companies and various directors of the second company, where the investor engaged the services of the first company to advise the investor in acquiring a shareholding in the second company.
Energy and infrastructure
- Instructed in a US$1.1 million London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA) arbitration in respect of an electricity supply contract to a Ukrainian company, which did not pay the balance due on the basis of (amongst other matters) illegality concerns arising out of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
- Previously instructed in a US$42 million International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) arbitration between shareholders in relation to the delayed construction of a shipping port (previously led by Philip Edey KC).
- Bathsystem S.p.A. v Pitacs Limited (claim no: J20CL093) £250,000 claim regarding the terms on which bathroom components were supplied for use in a commercial construction project and the extent of their compliance with contractual requirements.
- Previously acted as tribunal secretary (to Julian Lew KC) in a US$6 million ad hoc arbitration under UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules concerning the construction of a joint venture and financing agreement in relation to oil and gas exploration.
Insolvency and restructuring
- Health & Home Ltd (in liquidation) and others v Elite Property Holdings Limited and others [2025] EWHC 839 (Ch): Acting for a company in liquidation and its liquidators in a successful claim against former directors, shareholders and associated companies to recover over £2.9 million due in debt, by reason of unlawful dividends, and as compensation for company assets sold at an undervalue prior to a creditors’ voluntary liquidation.
- Re NMC Healthcare LTD (in administration) (subject to deed of company arrangement) and others (claims nos: ADGMCFI-2020-020 and ADGMCFI-2022-063): Acting for the administrators of several companies in contested applications for the provision of documents relating to the collapse of a FTSE100 company following suspected fraud (led by Tony Beswetherick KC).
- Péretié v Eden Farm Srl [2025] EWHC 1349 (Ch): Acting for the alleged creditor, seeking to bring contested bankruptcy proceedings against an FCA-regulated person for failure to pay £800,000 pursuant to an alleged personal guarantee.
- Re DeceasedUmbrella.com Limited (claim nos: CR-2021-000623 and CR-2017-006482): Acted for the successful liquidators in a claim against a former director, seeking an account of certain dealings which were held to constitute wrongful dissipation of over £1 million of company assets to preferred third parties in the face of the company’s impending insolvency.
- Re Michael John Stanley, Re Layezy Limited and others (claim nos: BR-2019-000453, CR-2019-001703, CR-2019-001704, CR-2019-001706 & CR-2019-001795): Acting for the trustees-in-bankruptcy and liquidators in the insolvency of an individual and certain associated companies following the collapse of a £53 million betting syndicate which operated as a Ponzi scheme.
- Re Charter Projects (Developments) Limited (claim no: CR-2019-008202): Acted for the successful former administrators of a company in a series of applications by both the director and the former administrators respectively to challenge and fix the basis of the former administrators’ remuneration.
- Previously instructed for the petitioning creditors seeking the liquidation of a Cayman Islands entity in respect of certain sums due under arbitration awards (led by Stephen Atherton KC).
Jurisdiction, conflicts and enforcement
- Health & Home Ltd (in liquidation) and others v Elite Property Holdings Limited and others (claim no: CR-2022-003036): Seeking to enforce a £4.1 million judgment debt against (among others) BVI-registered companies, including determination of beneficial interest in certain properties said to have been transferred but where the transfer is alleged to have been (among other things) a sham.
- Denisov v Delvecchio and others [2022] EWHC 377 (Comm): Oral application for permission to serve a civil fraud claim out of the jurisdiction where a foreign domiciled claimant brought proceedings against foreign domiciled defendants in respect of an alleged fraud perpetrated on the claimant in the course of the purchase of real property abroad.
- Banque Internationale de Commerce v Alaghband and others (claim no: CL-2019-000090): Contested application to enforce a Tomlin order in respect of a US$3.7 million claim in the Commercial Court in which the bank claims in respect of an apparent commodities trading fraud perpetrated against it by its former customer.
- Previously instructed in a €24 million London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA) arbitration concerning a shipbuilding contract where the yard had entered a foreign insolvency process, raising cross-border insolvency issues.
- Empeirikos v Xanthouli (claim no. QB-2019-004578): €3 million claim in the Queen’s Bench Division for an enforcement at common law of a Greek judgment which was under appeal.
- Unwired Planet v Huawei (claim no. HP-2014-000005): Previously instructed to obtain an anti-suit injunction to restrain litigation in the courts of the People’s Republic of China, where that litigation was alleged to be an attempt to re-litigate a dispute relating to mobile communication patents (led by Thomas Raphael KC).
Shipping
- Instructed in a €3 million London Maritime Arbitrator’s Association (LMAA) arbitration concerning default under an amended yacht construction contract, where the builder claims damages in respect of the buyer’s alleged repudiatory breach in not paying the price and the buyer seeks delivery up of the part-built yacht.
- Previously instructed in a US$3.5 million London Maritime Arbitrator’s Association (LMAA) arbitration concerning the consequences on a time charter of an unexpected seizure of the vessel by a national authority whilst the vessel was at anchor in a common waiting area (led by Henry Byam-Cook KC).
- CM P-Max III v Petroleos del Norte (The Stena Primorsk) [2022] EWHC 2147 (Comm): US$200,000 claim in the Commercial Court for demurrage, defended on the basis that the vessel allegedly failed to comply with Charterers’ order by leaving berth for safety reasons.
- Previously instructed in a US$200 million London Maritime Arbitrator’s Association (LMAA) arbitration concerning default under four bareboat-hire-purchase agreements (led by Nevil Philips of Quadrant Chambers).
- CH Offshore v Internaves Consorcio Naviero and others [2021] 1 Lloyd’s Rep 465: Instructed by the arbitration claimants in an appeal from an arbitration award, wherein the claimant brokers were successful in their US$10 million London Maritime Arbitrator’s Association (LMAA) arbitration claim for commission in respect of certain long-term charters (led by Christopher Hancock KC).
- Previously instructed in a US$3.5 million London Maritime Arbitrator’s Association (LMAA) arbitration concerning the consequences on a time charter of an unexpected seizure of the vessel by a national authority whilst the vessel was at anchor in a common waiting area (led by Henry Byam-Cook KC).
- Previously instructed in a US$2 million ad hoc arbitration concerning the termination of a liner agency agreement and whether the liner agent was in breach of fiduciary duties owed to the shipping line.
Technology, media and telecoms
- AQA Education v Persons Unknown (claim no. BL-2024-000674): Claim brought by a public examination provider against specific persons unknown and ‘newcomers’, seeking injunctions to restrain those persons from attempting to obtain advance access to A-Level and GCSE examination papers or selling those papers online (leading Eliza Bond). This is the first reported case of a ‘newcomer’ injunction in respect of online activity.
- The Racing Partnership Limited & anr v William Hill Organization Limited (claim no: LM-2025-000218): A £2.7 million debt due from one contractual counterparty to another was diverted by the actions of a fraudster who had compromised the email account of one party, whose cyber-security measures are accordingly under scrutiny (leading Matthew McGonagle).
- TIBCO Software (Ireland) v Tesco Stores (claim no. HT-2022-000135): £86 million claim in the Technology & Construction Court in respect of alleged under-licensing by Tesco of TIBCO software products (led by Lawrence Akka KC).
- NR v Bitstamp Limited (claim no. CL-2021-000329): Anonymised claim in the Commercial Court to obtain disclosure in England from a cryptocurrency exchange to assist in proceedings abroad against those responsible for the multi-million pound theft and laundering of cryptocurrency.
- I.F.T. S.A.L. Offshore v Barclays Bank Plc [2020] EWHC 3125 (Comm): A victim of cyber fraud obtained permission to use disclosure obtained from a bank to pursue a claim against the bank directly, alleging that the bank is liable for the US$250,000 fraud as having received and subsequently paid out the proceeds of the fraud.
- CMOC v Persons Unknown and others [2019] Lloyd’s Rep FC 62: US$8 million claim in the Commercial Court to trace and recover funds that were stolen in a ‘business email compromise’ fraud, involving the first-known occasion that a worldwide freezing injunction has been granted against ‘persons unknown’ (led by Paul Lowenstein KC).
- Hussain v Rezaie & Malhotra (claim no. H0QZ49M6): Acted pro bono for an individual alleging that the Defendants had defrauded him by persuading him to invest in an Initial Coin Offering of a new cryptocurrency, which is now alleged to have been a pyramid scheme.