Email: PracticeStaff_TeamT@matrixlaw.co.uk
Matrix offers an unrivalled combination of specialist skills and experience in national and international crime and regulatory law.
Housing “some of the finest minds at the Bar”, the team has “an impressive reputation…due to its commitment to client service and its legion of highly skilled and creative silks and juniors”. The team provides “quality barristers from top to bottom…a highly personalised service. They have specialist knowledge as they come to criminal law with a background in handling human rights issues. The set is highly skilled at cases with EU law aspects and further scores well on extradition matters” (Chambers & Partners 2012)
The team’s work encompasses:
• Terrorism: including the Ricin conspiracy, 7/7, 21/7 and the fertilizer bomb plot.
• International criminal law: including the ICTY trial of the Prime Minister of Kosovo, R v Corporal Donald Payne and R v Asfaw concerning non-incorporated treaty obligations.
• Corporate crime: including Railtrack and Yukos Oil.
• Official secrets: including R v Katherine Gun and R v Pasquill.
• Serious crime: including the murder of WPC Beshenivsky, R v Siôn Jenkins, R v Kenneth Noye and the Jean Charles De Menezes shooting.
• Miscarriages of justice: including R v Sally Clark and R (Adams) v SoS for Justice.
• Death-row litigation from many jurisdictions.
• Asset fortfeiture and confiscation: including R v Benjafield & Rezvi and Ahmed v HM Treasury.
• Human rights litigation: including Re A (minors) (Medical Treatment: conjoined twins), R v Lambert (reverse onus of proof clauses) and the ‘Belmarsh case’ (detention without trial).
Led by a Practice Team that are regarded as “exceptionally good...friendly and efficient... superb…well organised and have a realistic approach and commercial appreciation” (Legal 500 2012), the legal directories praise the crime team’s “excellent reputation for its civil liberties and straight judicial review work…all the barristers are happy to pool their knowledge and work together to investigate new areas of the law”. The team houses “a fine selection of top practitioners who really understand how civil liberties cases are put together…its big hitters stand out as they have added oomph that few can match”, “praised not just for their knowledge of the law but also for their approachability and willingness to really push the boundaries of the law…commended for the sheer breadth of the cases they cover”. The team has “many strings to its bow, of which fraud is but one. Its efforts in fraud matters are as impressive as in all of the disciplines it undertakes. It offers “quality, heavy hitters” who understand the full workings of a case and approach matters in a highly thoughtful manner. In 2011, many of its best juniors in the fraud field took silk, as if to further emphasise its good standing in the area” (Chambers & Partners 2012)
Former DPP, Lord Ken Macdonald QC is
• “Clever and resourceful man who is a boon to solicitors as he is such a great communicator” (Chambers & Partners 2012)
In June 2011, Ben Emmerson QC was appointed as U.N. Special Rapporteur on Counter Terrorism and Human Rights. The legal directories describe him as
• “Very smooth and impressive” (Legal 500 2012)
• A “superb lawyer, who is extremely intelligent…with convincing jury advocacy and market-leading tactical expertise”. “Massively in demand” he “earns recognition for his criminal work and is continually in demand for cases with a human rights angle attached to them…vast experience of handling cases in the European Court of Human Rights”. He “has the ability to put together fantastic packages of ideas and is able to work minor miracles with the cases before him” (Chambers & Partners 2012)
“Star” Clare Montgomery QC is
• “Exceptionally good... one of the best criminal silks around” (Legal 500 2012)
• “Enormously admired…currently recognised as being at her peak…Her talents tend towards public cases involving crime and criminal due process…a fantastic advocate who is a “ball of fire” and an “unstoppable force”…”a formidable and determined”, she “pays extreme attention to detail when handling cases”. She is a “stellar silk” who “has for years commanded the unquestioned respect of the market. Brilliant at everything she does, whether it is handling crime, fraud or extradition matters, she is a must-have for those who crave the elite…one of the best in the business when it comes to relating to judges”…”a first-class advocate who would be in anybody's top ten of the best silks at the Bar, regardless of practice area. Such is her esteem in terms of general crime, fraud and public law that she can virtually have the pick of any cases she wants” (Chambers & Partners 2012)
“Super-bright” Tim Owen QC
• “Almost owns the area” of POCA and asset forfeiture, “a man of the highest intellectual credentials who brings a wealth of criminal and public law experience to bear in confiscation cases…no ivory tower guy…comes across so well with clients…his fingerprints have been all over the leading confiscation law appeals of the past few years”. Also hailed as a “heavyweight police law guru”, Tim is said to be “a man of great tactical acumen”…”he shines when he is in court as he has the most wonderful style of advocacy, inviting the court's trust and respect” Tim “is your man if you have a complex point of law and want someone who holds the court's attention”, he has “very intricate knowledge of the law backed up by an excellent client manner” (Chambers & Partners 2012)
• He is a “smooth advocate... a quite exceptional appellate advocate… with a bright and commanding presence” (Legal 500 2012)
Matthew Ryder QC
• “Is an expert in both civil and criminal defence law, making him highly desirable to instructing solicitors of police law cases…it is possible to plot a campaign of litigation with him. He can prepare everything from the moment someone is arrested at the police station and work out an entire system of redress…a good man if you need a solution to a difficult issue; he often has an answer which leads to a successful resolution of the case” (Chambers & Partners 2012)
The “extremely persuasive and analytical” Alex Bailin QC
• “Has a strong civil liberties practice with a criminal theme”. He is “in demand… one of a handful of public law silks with extensive criminal law expertise… a popular choice…appeared in many headline public law cases”. He “brings an interesting skill set to the table as he is not only a hugely talented barrister but also a former City derivatives trader…known for his great intelligence and worldliness” (Chambers & Partners 2012)
• He is “is easy to work with, delivers high quality work on time-sensitive issues and is well known for international criminal matters” (Legal 500 2012)
“Stellar” Julian Knowles QC
• “Has wide experience in criminal, extradition, EU and international rights law…a switched-on and committed lawyer who is an excellent choice for appellate work” (Chambers & Partners 2012)
“Outstanding advocate” Andrew Bodnar is
• “A fraud and confiscation expert…responsive and easy to work with”…with a “brilliant analytical mind and fabulous written work”. “A very bright senior junior”, he is “an expert on all fraud-related matters, he is particularly good on POCA issues and restraint orders” (Chambers & Partners 2012)
• He “has a remarkable knowledge of confiscation case law” (Legal 500 2012)
Danny Friedman is
• “Energetic, innovative and tirelessly hard-working…with notable strength in criminal cases, inquests and civil liberties judicial reviews”. Danny “stands out as a tenacious advocate who has an enviable public and human rights practice” (Chambers & Partners 2012)
Mark Summers is
• “A high-level junior…incredibly good on the law, proving succinct yet powerful in his legal submissions” (Chambers & Partners 2012)
• Noted for his “knowledge of extradition case law” (Legal 500 2012)
Alison Macdonald
• “Is praised for her incredible focus and phenomenal brain, which is able to process huge amounts of information and formulate forceful arguments extremely quickly”, Alison “is considered a rising star of the Bar and has been involved in a number of recent cutting-edge human rights cases”. She is “highly skilled and a pleasure to work with… recognised for her international criminal law and environmental and commercial arbitration expertise, and also has a growing practice in maritime delimitation work” (Chambers & Partners 2012)
• “Delivers considered advice”, “fully lives up to her excellent reputation” and is “at the forefront of cutting-edge litigation, combining brilliant intellect with creativity and a meticulous attention to detail… a real champion of those who are disadvantaged or oppressed” (Legal 500 2012)
The “impeccable” Helen Law is a
• “Rising star of the Bar…she produces fine written work, is good on her feet, has enviable cross-examination skills and is persuasive in court” (Chambers & Partners 2012)
In 2011, the team’s work included:
Fraud
• Clare Montgomery QC and Julian Knowles QC acted in SFO v BAE Systems.
• Lord Macdonald QC, Alex Bailin QC and Ben Emmerson QC have all been involved in the Icelandic bank litigation.
• Lord Macdonald QC and Andrew Bodnar defended football club owner Milan Mandaric on tax evasion charges.
• Clare Montgomery QC defended in the OFT cartel case against BA executives.
Serious Crime
• Mathew Ryder QC and Danny Friedman defended the Radcliffe power station protesters and Clare Montgomery QC was instructed by the DPP to review the safety of the convictions.
• Julian Knowles QC defended Jon Venables
• Clare Montgomery QC acted in Gujra concerning the DPP’s policy on private prosecutions.
• Ben Emmerson QC defended in the Twitter bomb hoax case.
• Clare Montgomery QC advised individuals in the News of the World phone-hacking investigations.
Corruption
• Alex Bailin QC acted in Redknapp v City of London Police.
• Lord Ken Macdonald QC and Julian Knowles QC successfully defended in the Dresdner Kleinwort insider dealing prosecution and the NeuTec Pharma insider dealing prosecution.
• Tim Owen QC defended in the prosecution concerning former Nigerian Governor James Ibori.
International Criminal Courts
• Tim Owen QC appeared in the Congolese genocide litigation and Michelle Butler appeared in the ICTY in the war crimes trials of Milan Gvero (General on the Bosnian Serb Army Main Staff) concerning events in Srebrenica; Stojan Zupljanin (Bosnian-Serb Police Chief).
• Lord Macdonald QC and Michelle Butler acted for the witness Naomi Campbell before the Special Court for Sierra Leone in the trial of Charles Taylor.
• Matthew Ryder QC and Michelle Butler are instructed before the ICC in Henry Kosgey (allegations of crimes against humanity against former Kenyan Government Minister).
Miscarriages of Justice
• Tim Owen QC, Alex Bailin QC and Alison Macdonald appeared in the landmark Supreme Court case of Adams.
Strasbourg
• Clare Montgomery QC, Alex Bailin QC and Mark Summers are all involved in proceedings arising out of the shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes.
• Ben Emmerson QC and Alex Bailin QC acted in Gillan v UK on anti-terrorist police powers.
Parliamentary Expenses Litigation
• Helen Law prosecuted Lord Taylor
• Julian Knowles QC defended David Chaytor MP
• Clare Montgomery QC and Helen Law prosecuted Lord Hanningfield
Human Rights Test Cases
• Alex Bailin QC and Helen Law were involved in the Supreme Court litigation concerning retention of non-convicted persons’ DNA profiles.
Terrorism
• Danny Freidman defended in the 7/7 conspiracy trial.
• Mark Summers defended in the airlines liquid bomb plot trials.
• Tim Owen QC and Alex Bailin QC appeared in the Supreme Court appeal on the UN terrorist asset freezing legislation.
Inquests
• Matthew Ryder QC and Alison Macdonald appeared in the Ian Tomlinson G20 Inquest, and Tim Owen QC was retained by the DPP to advise on criminal charges against PC Harwood.
Public Inquiries
• Danny Friedman represented the family, the deceased and the other surviving victims of UK army torture in Basra in the Baha Mousa Inquiry.
To download a full MP3 audio from our 2009 Business Crime & Regulatory Law Seminar please click the 'downloads' tab below.