Richard Matthews QC is an experienced criminal barrister, particularly in Health and Safety/gross negligence manslaughter cases, having prosecuted and defended in many of the most high profile cases in this field.
Richard also has considerable experience of money laundering, corruption and perverting the course of justice cases and is rated as an "expert counsel" and "leader in the field" by lawyers, both barristers and solicitors alike.
Richard has particular experience in cases with European Convention of Human Rights aspects and advising in relation to European Directives incorporated into English law with criminal sanctions. Richard has advised various UK and foreign corporations and individuals in relation to criminal liability for contravention of European Safety Directives in the UK and transnational criminal liability.
"Many solicitors would have him in their dream team due to his 'shrewd mind, tactical nous and strong background in criminal law'" (Chambers and Partners, 2010 Edition).
His Administrative Court experience includes review of HM Customs & Excise powers of seizure; ambit of offensive weapon provisions; and judicial review of decisions by regulatory bodies not to investigate and the associated compatibility with the European Convention on Human Rights.
"Incredibly bright and thoughtful", Richard "covers the whole spectrum of criminal work…Clients, peers and solicitors express delight with his work, describing him as 'energetic, technically brilliant, and a real livewire'” (Chambers and Partners, 2009 Edition)
Richard has been retained as the "go-to lawyer" by major UK film and music companies to advise and act in trading standards, copyright protection and on behalf of recording artists charged with criminal offences. He represented Cheryl Cole (Tweedy) at Kingston Crown Court on charges related to an alleged assault.
"Richard Matthews has a growing fraud practice which covers VAT and tax frauds, fraudulent trading and bankruptcy-related frauds" (Chambers and Partners, 2010 Edition)
Appeared for the Defence in relation to a
Serious Fraud Office prosecution of £22 million fraud - Ostrich Farms.
Appeared for the Defence
(Operation Galleon Pts 1,II and III). £70 million Customs & Excise/VAT drawback and diversion fraud.
Appeared for Defence in relation to a prosecution brought by the Inland Revenue/Customs; PAYE, VAT & Corporation tax prosecution concerning 8 years "phoenix" operation of retail, property holding and manufacturing companies of the Arc group: Alleged loss £40 million.
Appeared for Defence in relation to a Central CPS unit prosecution of Palmer time-share alleged loss £30 million through alleged mis-selling of time-share in Tenerife.
Appeared for Prosecution on behalf of the DTI case involving allegations against a financial adviser of fraudulent trading, bankruptcy offences and making a misleading statement in relation to an investment agreement under the Financial Services Act 1986.
Appeared for Defence in relation to an abuse of process hearing contrary to Article 6 ECHR/ Human Rights Act 1998 concerning 8 year investigation into £1.5 million theft of HM Customs & Excise funds.
Appeared for Defence in relation to the prosecution of a Solicitor concerning alleged misappropriation of client funds.
Appeared for HM Revenue and Customs in relation to a VAT prosecution of minicab partnership relating to alleged wrongful retention of VAT charged on self-employed cab drivers - complex issues of VAT regulation.
Appeared on behalf of the DTI in relation to a fraudulent trading prosecution alleging a £3 million loss.
Appeared for the Defence in relation to an HM Revenue and Customs prosecution of multi million diversion fraud.
Appeared for Defence. Corporate manslaughter and related health and safety allegations, relating to machinery death. Appeared as leading counsel for defendant company.
Appeared for the Prosecution in relation to the prosecution of two individuals and a company for gross negligence manslaughter and corporate offences following the death of two firemen in an explosion at a fireworks factory.
Appeared as leading counsel for the defence in gross negligence manslaughter prosecution of two government explosives scientists arising from death of technician during explosives testing.
Appeared as leading counsel for the Prosecution in relation to gross negligence manslaughter and related health and safety allegations, relating to construction site death.
Appeared as leading counsel for the Defence in relation to gross negligence manslaughter and related health and safety allegations, relating to machinery death.
Appeared for Defence
Allegation of gross negligence manslaughter road haulier principal of company.
Appeared for the Defence in relation to an eExtra-jurisdictional murder / conspiracy to murder trial involving Japanese victim killed in Venezuela but tried in the UK.
Appeared for Defence
Gross negligence manslaughter case against gas fitter involving carbon monoxide poisoning.
Court: Central Criminal Court
Appeared for Defence
Gross negligence manslaughter case against landlord following tenant death through carbon monoxide poisoning.
Appeared for Prosecution
Corporate and gross negligence manslaughter plus related health and saftey offences, corporate and individual, following death of worker in machine. Led for prosecution.
Appeared for Defence
Corporate and gross negligence manslaughter plus related health and saftey offences, corporate and individual, following death of worker in machine. Led for prosecution.
Court: Nottingham Crown Court.
Appeared for the Defence in relation to an allegation of racially aggravated assault.
Appeared for the Defence in relation to a
Case involving an allegation of conspiracy to abduct, rape and murder children accross the UK.
Appeared for the Prosecution in relation to a series of kidnaps and armed robberies of bank managers and a manager of Tesco supermarket.
Appeared for the Defence in relation to corruption allegations made against senior procurement civil servant in MOD and wife alleged to have accepted money from agent of major French arms manufacturer.
Appeared for the Defence in relation to an allegation of copyright theft and corruption/theft by consultant retained by Min of Agriculture, MOD, CPS and others to advise on "millennium bug". Linked High Court asset restraint proceedings under Criminal Justice Act.
Appeared for the Defence in relation to allegations of supply of police seized drugs to informant and police constable by a serving detective sergeant.
