Matthew Fiddy

Practice Areas

Matthew is a specialist in children law and maintains a busy practice in both public and private law cases.

In public law, Matthew represents local authorities, parents, children, and interveners. He has particular experience in serious non-accidental injury cases. Matthew is frequently led, and appears as sole counsel, in multi-day finding of fact and final hearings as well as the full range of interim applications. Recently, Matthew acted for the successful appellant as junior counsel in the Court of Appeal in Re W (A Child) (Inflicted Injury) (Delay) [2024] EWCA Civ 418. Matthew has also appeared in lengthy hearings involving allegations of sexual abuse and fabricated or induced illness.

Furthermore, Matthew has appeared in applications to the High Court regarding the deprivation of liberty provisions for young people. Matthew has represented local authorities, parents, and children in these cases.

In private law, Matthew regularly appears in cases involving complex allegations of domestic abuse. Matthew is often instructed in cases featuring serious safeguarding concerns and has extensive experience representing rule 16.4 guardians. Matthew has an interest in cases with international dimensions, including applications to remove children from the jurisdiction, and cases of alleged international child abduction.

Matthew has completed training on vulnerable witnesses in the Family Court and is known for excellent client care skills. Matthew also often speaks at training events on both public and private law matters.