Matthew Howarth
Partner
Matthew is a commercial litigator with over 30 years’ experience.
He advises on complex, commercial, high-value claims including contractual disputes, warranty claims, pensions disputes and professional negligence claims, where he has substantial experience in advising both corporate and private clients.
A member of the Professional Negligence Lawyers Association, Matthew is recognised for his “very commercial” approach and expertise in commercial litigation and professional negligence by The Legal 500 and is also ranked by Chambers and Partners for his “solid track record of pursuing professional negligence claims surrounding property transactions and valuations against solicitors and valuers” as well as being “well-versed in handling litigation matters involving fraud and insurance”. He has been further recognised by Best Lawyers UK — a peer-reviewed ranking of top lawyers — since 2024 for litigation.
Matthew has acted for a variety of lenders including Paragon Bank PLC, Paragon Development Finance Limited, Shawbrook Bank Limited, Nationwide Building Society and Santander plc in professional negligence claims against solicitors and valuers. His work includes claims about property development schemes, secured lending disputes and residential and buy-to-let mortgages, concluding cases at trial and mediations. He also has significant experience in group actions brought by lender clients and regularly advises at early stages of claims as to the merits and strategies of potential disputes.
Matthew has both executed search and seizure orders and defended clients that have been served with them. He has further acted as a court-appointed supervising solicitor on the execution of such orders by other solicitor firms.
Recent work highlights
Joint venture development agreement
Acting for United House Group Holdings Ltd in a High Court action seeking declaratory relief over the construction of a multi-million-pound joint venture development agreement.
Joint venture agreement for retail property development site
Acting for a client in a multi-million-pound professional negligence claim against a City firm of solicitors regarding a joint venture agreement for a substantial retail property development site in London.
Claim against professional valuers
Acting for Paragon Development Finance Ltd in its claim against professional valuers regarding its £16m valuation of a purpose-built student accommodation site in Aberdeen.
New-build development
Acting for a client in a multi-million-pound professional negligence claim against a national valuation practice regarding a new-build development in the South West of England.
Option agreement regarding development land
Acting for a client in a multi-million-pound dispute against a national firm of solicitors over the drafting of an option agreement regarding development land.
Defending asset wealth management client
Acting for an asset wealth management client in defending claims brought against it regarding investment activities conducted for a client.
Recognised by
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