Matthew Fletcher
Matthew Fletcher
Call
2003
Matt was called to the bar in 2003. He first worked for a well
known legal aid law firm as a paralegal in the asylum and
immigration department with a general caseload. Whilst there he
focused on advocacy and was appointed a specialist in house
advocate for the firm. Matt therefore has first hand experience of
working within a busy publicly funded solicitor's firm and
understands the unique challenges that this presents.
Matt commenced pupillage in October 2005 and on taking
tenancy in 2006 practised in general family and immigration and
asylum law for the early years of his career. In 2009 Matt ceased
practising in immigration and asylum law although he continues
to keep updated on legal changes in the area and has developed
a specialism in children's case with an immigration or asylum
element.
Since 2009 Matt has practised solely in family law with a focus on
the law relating to children both international and domestic in the
public and private spheres.
Matt's practice has been predominantly London based although
he has undertaken significant cases in the Midlands, East Anglia
and the West Country for Local Authorities, parents and children.
020 77 97 7900
[email protected]
Practice areas
- Children (public law)
- Children (private law)
- Court of Protection
- Domestic violence & injunctions
- Judicial review & administrative
law
- International family law
Legal Directory Commendations
2017: Offers clients a multidisciplinary approach, having a
background in both children and immigration law. His practice is
internationally focused, and he is particularly known for his work
aiding vulnerable clients in proceedings against local authorities.
"He's really good at getting to the crux of the case and at getting
clients to focus in on their case." (Chambers & Partners)
Public Law and Care Proceedings:
Matt has been instructed by Local Authorities, Parents and
Guardians in increasingly complex and serious cases. Notable
cases include:
Cases where one parent is alleged to have murdered the other,
complex inter-generational familial sexual abuse, where a parent
was alleged to have murdered a neighbour, serious physical
abuse including cases involving fractures, internal haemorrhaging
Contact
1 Garden Court
Temple
London
EC4Y 9BJ
Telephone 020 7797 7900
[email protected]
Email
@1gc
1 Garden Court Famiy Law Chambers, 2016
Heads of Chambers Janet Bazley QC & Charles Geekie QC
1gc
Matthew Fletcher
and significant bruising as well as complex neglect and drug
cases where significant emotional harm has been alleged.
Matt is also regularly instructed by Local Authorities in cases
which have a significant foreign element, including placement and
adoption abroad, potential abduction and complex immigration
issues.
Matt has been instructed by parents and guardians in cases of
allegations of serious sexual abuse, including paedophile rings
and inter-generational sexual abuse, physical and emotional
harm including neglect and drug use, serious allegations of
sexual and physical violence to children and other family
members.
Matt has been instructed in complex cases where children or their
parents have had special educational needs, disabilities or other
complicating factors such as serious medical issues.
A number of the above cases have involved fact finding hearings
of 30 days or more and ancillary arguments regarding the need
for fact finding and the need for child witnesses to give evidence.
Private Law (Children):
Matt has been instructed by mothers, fathers, relatives and
guardians in private law cases for contact and residence that
have included allegations of domestic violence, physical and
sexual abuse, implacable hostility towards the non-resident
parent, female genital mutilation, the risk of abduction, changing
residence after long period of status quo and disputes about
immunisation and medical treatment.
Many of these cases involved fact finding hearings and
arguments as their proportionality.
Cases with an international element:
Matt has been instructed by parents and guardians in many
cases that have an international element. These have included
cases where parents who live abroad are seeking contact with
children resident in England as well as cases where one parent is
seeking to remove the child from England and Wales to live
abroad either for work, to return home or to travel with a new
partner.
Matt has experience of leave to remove cases involving the USA
(Georgia, California and Florida), India, Australia, Italy, France,
1 Garden Court Famiy Law Chambers, 2016
Heads of Chambers Janet Bazley QC & Charles Geekie QC
Matthew Fletcher
Germany and Iran.
In respect of child abduction Matt has been instructed by both
alleged abductors and the parent left behind in both Hague cases
and wardship as well as in cases of unlawful retention of children
in England and where the habitual residence of the child has
been in dispute.
Matt has been instructed in cases where orders made in other
European jurisdictions are asked to be enforced in the English
Courts under Brussels IIA or other international conventions.
These cases have often involved application to the High Court in
some cases out of hours and with the requirement for the
involvement of the Tipstaff.
Judicial Review:
Matt was instructed in a number of judicial reviews whilst
practising in immigration and asylum. He has continued this
aspect of his work in a family context advising Local Authorities
and parents on the reviewability of local authority decisions in
respect of fostering allowances, SGO allowances, section 20
accommodation, section 17 support, community care and
assistance for children with disabilities or special educational
needs.
Finance:
Matt continues to accept instructions in financial cases for both
applicants and respondents. Cases that he has dealt with include
contested section 37 injunctions with assets held abroad and
complex pension and trust arrangements.
Education and Appointments
LLB (Hons)
Tancred Studentship (2002); Hardwicke Entrance Award (2002);
Robinson Scholarship (2003)
Professional Associations
FLBA
Lincoln's Inn Called (2003)
Tancred Studentship
Hardwicke Entrance Award
1 Garden Court Famiy Law Chambers, 2016
Heads of Chambers Janet Bazley QC & Charles Geekie QC
Matthew Fletcher
Robinson Scholarship for pupillage year
Reported Cases
Re K and D (Wardship Without Notice Return Order) [2017]
EWHC 153 (Fam)
Local Authority X v HI & Ors [2016] EWHC 1123 (Fam) (12 May
2016)
R (C) v Buckinghamshire County Council [2014] EWHC 4072
(Admin)
EWHC 1123 [2016] (Fam)
Re M (a child) [2014] EWCA Civ 1755
R (on the application of Aruliraivan) v. Secretary of State for the
Home Department, [2009] EWHC 30 (Admin)
"He's really good at getting to the
crux of the case and at getting
clients to focus in on their case."
Publications
Lexis Nexis Article - Are children’s services departments
in danger of privatisation? (31st May 2016)
Lexis Nexis Practice Notes on Local Authority Duties to Children
(forthcoming)
SG Events Emergency Protection and Interim Care Webinar
(17th January 2014)
Lexis Nexis Commentary on Government Proposals to permit
foster children to remain with their foster carers until 21
(November 2013)
Lexis Nexis Practice Note on Local Authority Duties to Children
with immigration issues (September 2013)
Lexis Nexis Case Summary AN and AF [2013]
Lexis Nexis Article on Accessing the family tree - disclosure of
adoption records (September 2014)
Seminars and Lectures
The New PLO and changes to Family Justice: Lectures and
Training to various Local
Authorities and solicitors firms
Section 20 Accommodation duties of Local Authorities and how to
challenge them
Undertaking Regulation 24 assessments
Undertaking fair assessments in care proceedings
The use of Expert Assessments in Private Law Proceedings
1 Garden Court Famiy Law Chambers, 2016
Heads of Chambers Janet Bazley QC & Charles Geekie QC