“Matthew is a detailed and in-depth professional. His success in a number of major cases tells all.”
Chambers 2023
Specialisms
As leader of B P Collins’ 15-strong dispute resolution team, which is ranked Tier 1 by legal directories The Legal 500 and Chambers HNW, Matthew Brandis is a highly-skilled lawyer with expertise in the resolution of complex commercial disputes, partnership disputes, professional negligence claims.
Matthew also specialises in contentious probate matters, handling a range of litigation involving wills, trust and probate. He has a particular focus on contentious inheritance disputes, including the validity of testamentary documents, claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 and disputes regarding the administration of trusts and estates.
Experience
Matthew has conducted litigation in most civil divisions of the High Court and in the Court of Appeal; and his advice is sought by a large number of companies and individuals on a wide-range of civil disputes for over 26 years.
Independent legal directory Chambers UK notes that Matthew is “highly experienced in contract claims and partnership disputes.”
Matthew is an accredited and experienced Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR) mediator, acting for both Claimants and Defendants in a range of complex cases. Martin Plowman, a highly regarded mediator from mediation1st said to Matthew, “…thank you for your hard work and skill in guiding your clients during the mediation…. I was pleased that the parties were able to reach … a sensible settlement. I think you are a natural…and as a mediation advocate, you’re comfortable in the process, good humoured throughout, and firm but realistic”.
Other achievements
Matthew has a reputation for winning contentious and high profile legal cases. Among these was the ground breaking and widely reported Westcott v Westcott defamation case, which created a legal precedent at the Court of Appeal; and he acted in the case of Moloobhoy and another v Kanani which was an appeal about whether a summary judgment application can be heard at the same time as a jurisdictional challenge.
Matthew was a finalist in the ‘Lawyer of the Year’ category at the Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and Oxfordshire (BB&O) Law Society’s Legal Excellence Awards 2023. He is also a member of the Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Specialists (ACTAPS). B P Collins LLP has been listed again as one the Best Law Firms of the Year 2024, with a special commendation for the Commercial Disputes Resolution section of Matthew’s team.
In Chambers UK, Matthew was praised by clients for his “reassuring and calming manner” as well as his “ability to connect at all levels” and “a steely opponent and someone who I can really trust to win“. The directory also noted he has a reputation for “exceeding expectations”.
A client remarked to the firm that “Matthew is everything you want in a lawyer: expert, precise, detailed, always prepared, direct when needed, but professional at the same time. With common sense, a sense of humour and a refreshing ability to deliver no-nonsense, commercially sound guidance, that wastes neither your time nor money”.
In the Legal 500 UK directory, Matthew is described as “a brilliant asset – he is adept and extremely knowledgeable, meticulous, and pragmatic“.
Outside the office
Matthew enjoys skiing, hill walking and travelling to Africa – and Zambia in particular. Matthew regularly fundraises for the St Lawrence Home of Hope Orphanage, Lusaka.
