A commercial disputes and litigation partner, with a focus on financial services, procurement, telecoms and insurance litigation, as well as general commercial disputes, Matthew is also head of the dispute resolution and litigation team in the Belfast office of Eversheds Sutherland. Matthew qualified in England in 2007 and moved to (and qualified in) Northern Ireland in 2010.
Matthew started out as an insolvency litigator, and his practice has developed over the years to reflect market trends and the needs of businesses such as yours. Over the years Matthew’s practice has developed to encompass broader financial services litigation, and in more recent years he has gained lots of experience of procurement litigation, telecoms litigation, and a broad range of experience falling under the ‘commercial disputes’ umbrella. Matthew also has a developing interest in the area of fraud prevention and dealing with the fallout from civil and criminal frauds. Matthew has been involved in a number of reported cases, including ground-breaking Northern Irish decisions in the telecoms litigation field.
A large part of Matthew’s role is helping businesses like yours avoid or at least mitigate the effect of disputes, and to this end, he has embraced the use of alternative dispute resolution models, including mediation. Matthew regularly provides training to businesses and clients on practical matters including suites of terms and conditions, and how to avoid pitfalls associated with legal privilege.
Matthew acts for a broad range of clients, including global organisations as well as local businesses and business people indigenous to Northern Ireland.
Matthew regularly contributes articles to the local media (including Belfast Telegraph and The Irish News), as well as business magazines and social media. Matthew sits on a number of committees both inside and outside of work.
In his spare time, Matthew enjoys running and going to the gym, rugby (watching these days), reading and travel.
Matthew’s recent experience includes:
- Acting for major telecoms landowner site provider AP Wireless in relation to ground-breaking and precedent setting litigation in the Lands Tribunal in Northern Ireland. Four judgments obtained to date in an on-running matter.
- Acting for a global manufacturing electronics business headquartered in Nothern Ireland on a dispute with a supplier.
- Acted on behalf of a major Irish banking institution in relation to long-running litigation brought against it by a disgruntled and highly litigious property developer borrower. Issues were wide ranging and complex, involving alleged fraud, breach of duty, misrepresentation, breach of contract, and other heads of claim (including the alleged mis-selling of an interest rate hedging product).
- Led a team acting for a US hedge fund defending proceedings in which the plaintiff sought to undermine the bona fides of a loan sale, which purportedly included the largest-ever property transaction in the history of Northern Ireland. Involved complex cross-border issues, requiring liaison with the client at COO level in the US (including its in-house legal teams in different jurisdictions), and also with NAMA in the Republic of Ireland.
- Acted for the liquidator of a company in relation to a potential assignment of three causes of action to a director/shareholder of the company. Eventually resolved at Court of Appeal stage. Reported decisions at first instance ([2014] NIQB 141 and [2015] NIQB 69).
- Acted for a bank defending ongoing proceedings brought by a customer claiming recompense from the bank pursuant to a “vishing” fraud perpetrated on the customer by fraudsters.
- Acted for the English subsidiary of a major German client seeking to resist the jurisdiction of the Courts of Northern Ireland.
- Acting for a number of high-profile insurer clients in relation to proceedings involving disputes about coverage.
- Acted for a major global pharmaceutical supplier in relation to a tender for the procurement of oral nutritional supplements in primary and secondary care (value c.£98m), run by a public body in Northern Ireland. Our client brought procurement and judicial review proceedings. The issues raised were novel and complex, and of UK wide application.
- Acted for an employer in bringing proceedings against a number of defendants (including an architect) in relation to a construction project
pursuant to a JCT contract. Issues involved ingress of water leading to cracking and limitation issues. -
Acted for a company that operated a number of cranes at the VT3 terminal in Belfast defending proceedings brought against it by Belfast Harbour Commissioners in relation to alleged breaches of contract, regarding, amongst other things, alleged failures to maintain and paint cranes at the VT3 terminal.
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Acted for the then administrator of a Mutual Society in Northern Ireland in successfully obtaining Court sanction for a Scheme of Arrangement, a ground-breaking approach in Northern Ireland.
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Acted for a bank in defending (total lending in excess of £100 million) allegations of undue influence and misrepresentation.
- Multiple Podcast Series of ‘Litcast’
- Matthew has written a number of articles for local newspapers, magazines and our website/social media.
"Matthew Howse knows precisely what the client wants in terms of a commercial outcome to the case and this helps ensure both counsel and solicitor can agree on a strategy for dealing with the matter that achieves the desired outcome for the client" - Legal 500
Matthew Howse is "utterly dedicated to his clients and cases." - Legal 500
"Matthew Howse is a key name for banking and insolvency disputes." - Legal 500
"Matthew Howse is very technically adept and an elegant draftsman but what stands out is that he is absolute terrier for his clients. He is relentless in pursuing every detail in a dispute until all are arranged to his clients’ maximum advantage." - Legal 500
"Matthew Howse stands out for his industry and hard work." - Legal 500
"We were very impressed with the work Matthew put in on our case and the professional service we received throughout." - Chambers
- Member, Association of Business Recovery Professionals (R3)
- Member, Institute of Directors
- Member, a Law Society of Northern Ireland committees
- Board Member, Northern Ireland Fraud Forum
- Board Member, Property Litigators' Association
- Board Member, Youth Hostelling Association of Northern Ireland
- 2010: Member of the Law Society of Northern Ireland
- 2007: Member of the Law Society of England & Wales
- 2005: Legal Practice Course, College of Law (Birmingham)
- 2004: Graduate Diploma in Law, College of Law (Birmingham)
- 2003: 2:1 degree in French and International Relations, University of Reading