Matthew is Joint Head of the International Arbitration group. He focuses on international arbitration and commercial litigation relating to international projects, including proceedings under bilateral investment treaties. He also focuses upon international fraud and asset tracing litigation and has experience of large-scale judicial review proceedings.

Matthew has experience of advising a broad range of clients including multinational IT corporations, sovereign and federal governments, international energy businesses and financial institutions.

He is a member of the London Court of International Arbitration, the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and the Association of International Petroleum Negotiators.

Matthew regularly writes for international legal and business media and has appeared on CNN discussing various international fraud issues. Key publications include AIB Fraud - The Times February 2002; Bribery and Corruption - Legal Week November 2002; Jurisdiction Agreements - Transport Law & Policy November 2003; Hague Convention - Lloyds List December 2003; Bilateral Investment Treaties - Energy Risk January 2004; Corporate Corruption in the European Union - European Lawyer March 2004; Arbitration Update - American Lawyer June 2005; and Does Investment Treaty Arbitration Favour the Wealthy? - European Lawyer July 2005.

Key experience:

• Acting for Indian state and national government in arbitrations under the UNCITRAL rules relating to a major power generation project and to English High Court litigation involving anti-suit injunctions and litigation in the Indian courts and regulatory tribunals.
• Acting for a major Greek oil refining and distribution business in a series of arbitrations under ad hoc rules arising from a joint venture with a major Middle East oil production corporation, including procuring discharge of injunctions obtained in the English High Court and co-ordinating related litigation involving anti-suit injunctions in the Greek courts.
• Acting for a major IT outsourcing business in high-value litigation involving a CRM project.
• Acting for an international publishing corporation in relation to a major employee fraud involving obtaining emergency freezing orders within five hours of initial instruction and subsequently tracing and recovering assets. The case involved close liaison with prosecuting authorities and provision of evidence in subsequent criminal prosecution. Subsequently, tracing and recovering proceeds of the fraud, bankrupting the fraudster and advising the client both in the UK and internationally as to insurance and PR issues throughout.
• Representing the London branch of a major Austrian bank in a letter of credit dispute concerning allegations of fraud and breach of Indian foreign exchange controls, including obtaining supporting injunctive relief in New York.
• Representing a major UK local authority and Executive Mayor in expedited judicial review litigation concerning introduction of congestion charging against a backdrop of major IT procurement and service contracts.
• Advising and representing a UK-based oil trading corporation in relation to allegations of fraud and deceit, representing the client in Commercial Court proceedings and subsequently conducting a successful mediation leading to resolution of the dispute.
• Advising the government of Jamaica on arbitration issues relating to a major infrastructure project.
• Advising a Caribbean government on issues relating to ICSID arbitration arising from oil exploration agreements.
• Acting against Zambian state-owned mining entities concerning recovery of quasi-sovereign debt including garnishee proceedings in relation to various foreign exchange earning ventures.

• Solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales