SILK PROFILE

Matthew Smith KC

UK Bar 2026

Maitland Chambers

Ranked in 1 practice area

Charities

London (Bar)

20 years ranked

About

Provided by Maitland Chambers

Practice Areas

Commercial chancery litigation, including company and insolvency questions, contractual and trust-related disputes. Particular interest in charity law.

Matthew acted for the Independent Schools Council in their successful judicial review of the Commission’s public benefit guidance; he appeared in the poverty trusts references brought by the Attorney General; he acted for the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church in their appeal against the Commission’s refusal to register.

Other notable cases have included acting for the Catholic adoption agencies in their appeals concerning the scope of the charitable exemption in the Equality Act 2010 and appearing for the Attorney-General in the litigation over the assets of the Wedgwood Museum. He has advised and acted for and against the Commission on a number of other matters. He has appeared in the Tribunal and in Court for charities, the Commission and the Attorney.

He is a regular speaker at the Charity Law Association.

Career

Called in 2001.

Professional Memberships

COMBAR, Chancery Bar Association and Charity Law Association.

Personal

MA (Cantab) First Class, LLM (rules concerning charities and politics; the relationship in charity law between purposes and activities and the comparative state of the law in England, Australia, New Zealand and Canada).

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

UK Bar

Charities - London (Bar)

Band 2

Individual Editorial

Matthew Smith KC has appeared in several leading charity cases in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. He advises on all issues relating to charities including questions of trustee duties, land disputes and matters concerning charitable status and rates. He is also an expert on the law relating to charities and politics and is held in high regard across the board by his peers and clients. He has particular experience acting for schools and colleges.

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Strengths

Provided by Chambers

Everyone knows Matthew is probably one of the most popular for charity lawyers. Very user-friendly and very much in demand, he knows the law and is always prepared to work with solicitors and clients.
CharitiesUK Bar
I rate Matthew very highly. He has genuine experience and perspective that provides clear and confident advice, combined with an innate sense of what will get the client to their preferred solution.
CharitiesUK Bar
Matthew is extremely dedicated and hugely knowledgeable about charity law cases and the operating context of charities. He is an obvious choice on technical charity law matters.
CharitiesUK Bar
Matthew is excellent for charities work.
CharitiesUK Bar
Clients warm to Matthew and have confidence in his advice. His wide experience from detailed trust matters to very commercial ones means that he brings great technical skill.
CharitiesUK Bar