‘A chambers of consistently high calibre’, Matrix Chambers fields experience in criminal matters at all levels, and is exposed to highly consequential protest law trials, alongside novel and complex murders, injuries and sexual offence matters. Clare Montgomery KC has represented alleged drug kingpins in Encrochat cases, while . Mark Summers KC’s portfolio of cases include sexual offences, terrorism and espionage cases - he and Helen Law represented a man who entered a guilty plea to an offence under the Official Secrets Act 1911 concerning a plot to assassinate a journalist for the Russian state. Danielle Manson is praised for ‘ability to engage with the client in a way that she understands and communicate complex legal issues to her ’, and plays a pivotal role in the set for serious youth offences. The set has a track record of cases involving offences in the context of political activity, with Danny Friedman KC one of several members representing appellants against sentence in Hallam & Others v R, a Court of Appeal case concerning various politically motivated offences in connection with Just Stop Oil - Friedman KC represented appellants who were convicted of a conspiracy to block the M25, while Rosalind Comyn represented a woman who threw soup on Vincent van Gough's Sunflowers.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Profile
Position
Expertise in all aspects of criminal law, human rights and public law. He has particular experience in public inquiries, inquests and regulatory investigations focussed on human rights and rule of law compliance.
Career
Called 1996; QC 2013; Temporary High Court Judge (Northern Ireland) 2020. Recent Publications include: ‘Inquests: A Practitioners’ Guide’ (3rd edition LAG 2014); ’Torture and Modernity’ (2013) 5 EHRLR 494 and ‘A Common Law of Human Rights: History, Humanity and Dignity” (2016) 4 EHRLR 378. He is a contributing editor of ’Archbold Criminal Practice and Pleadings’ (Human Rights Chapter).
Education
Wadham College, Oxford (1992 BA Hons Modern History); London School of Economics (1995 LLM).
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Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'Matrix is an incredibly experienced set for constitutional, public and international law. They manage to combine intellectual heft and sector-based knowledge with approachable and communicative barristers. '
- 'A chambers of consistently high calibre, known for the excellence of its advocates and the strength of its legal expertise across the board. It maintains a reputation for professionalism, intellectual rigour, and a collaborative approach, all of which are clearly reflected in the barristers it produces. The clerking team is responsive and efficient, making the overall experience of instructing from this set seamless and consistently impressive.'
- 'Smart, commercial, responsive, easy to work with.'
- 'Matrix is a very good set of chambers with talented barristers. '
- 'Efficient and helpful.'
- 'The clerks are always responsive and helpful with any queries or problems that arise. '