Matthew Howse

Matthew is a disputes and litigation partner, focused on financial services, procurement, telecoms and insurance litigation, and rated in Chambers and Legal 500.

A commercial disputes and litigation partner, with a focus on financial services, procurement, telecoms and insurance litigation, as well as general commercial disputes, Matthew is also head of the dispute resolution and litigation team in the Belfast office of Eversheds Sutherland. Matthew qualified in England in 2007 and moved to (and qualified in) Northern Ireland in 2010.

Matthew started out as an insolvency litigator, and his practice has developed over the years to reflect market trends and the needs of businesses such as yours. Over the years Matthew’s practice has developed to encompass broader financial services litigation, and in more recent years he has gained lots of experience of procurement litigation, telecoms litigation, and a broad range of experience falling under the ‘commercial disputes’ umbrella. Matthew also has a developing interest in the area of fraud prevention and dealing with the fallout from civil and criminal frauds. Matthew has been involved in a number of reported cases, including ground-breaking Northern Irish decisions in the telecoms litigation field.

A large part of Matthew’s role is helping businesses like yours avoid or at least mitigate the effect of disputes, and to this end, he has embraced the use of alternative dispute resolution models, including mediation. Matthew regularly provides training to businesses and clients on practical matters including suites of terms and conditions, and how to avoid pitfalls associated with legal privilege.

Matthew acts for a broad range of clients, including global organisations as well as local businesses and business people indigenous to Northern Ireland.

Matthew regularly contributes articles to the local media (including Belfast Telegraph and The Irish News), as well as business magazines and social media. Matthew sits on a number of committees both inside and outside of work.

In his spare time, Matthew enjoys running and going to the gym, rugby (watching these days), reading and travel.

2010: Member of the Law Society of Northern Ireland

2007: Member of the Law Society of England & Wales

2005: Legal Practice Course, College of Law (Birmingham)

2004: Graduate Diploma in Law, College of Law (Birmingham)

2003: 2:1 degree in French and International Relations, University of Reading