YEAR OF CALL: 2002

PRACTISING DOOR TENANT

Matthew practices exclusively in crime and is instructed regularly as leading, junior and sole counsel in cases involving the most serious of offences including:

Homicide and serious violence

Terrorism offences

Fatal road traffic matters

Firearms

Armed robbery

Large-scale conspiracies to supply controlled drugs (including ‘Encrochat’ and modern slavery cases)

Serious sexual offending including multiple complainant and defendant rape allegations (non-recent offending and cases involving particularly young and vulnerable complainants).

He has acted in cases involving the use of ‘gang evidence’ and ‘Drill’ lyrics by the prosecution and has argued successfully for the exclusion of the same.

Matthew has defended recently in a case of encouraging suicide outside of the jurisdiction.

He was one of the first advocates to undertake pre-recorded cross-examination of vulnerable witnesses as part of the Leeds Crown Court ‘pilot court’ implementation of section 28 of the YJCEA 1999. He has undertaken a significant number of such hearings involving children as young as 6 and witnesses with complex psychiatric and medical conditions.

Matthew has a hugely effective manner with clients. Many have spoken of the care and attention he has given them and their cases. This is frequently reflected in powerful and effective mitigations, often in the most difficult and challenging matters.

He is an experienced and accomplished jury advocate and knows well the value of meticulously prepared examination of witnesses and a well-crafted closing speech.

Matthew is a member of the North-Eastern Circuit’s ‘Outreach Group’ and was the architect and director of Circuit’s Equality and Diversity film. He is a liaison advocate for the ‘Diversity Hub’, a joint venture launched with the University of Leeds Law School.

mharding@2hb.co.uk