Overview

Matthew is partner and head of our bespoke volume service which specialises in volume legal outsource solutions for the banking, financial services and corporate sectors across the UK. Matthew is responsible for strategic management and development across all service lines.

Matthew was responsible for setting up the firm’s first volume business in 1999 in response to demand from several national lenders requiring a volume financing capability.

Matthew went on to establish a number of volume processing operations in various legal services throughout the firm, and eventually amalgamated these operations into a separate managed services division.

Matthew recently led the project which saw the firm’s two Cardiff-based offices, including its headquarters, relocate to the award-winning Two Central Square. Central Square is one of Wales’ premier office environments in the burgeoning business district of Cardiff.

Outside of Hugh James, Matthew is an ambassador (and governance advisor) to Dreams and Wishes, an entirely voluntary charity dedicated to supporting seriously ill children and their families.

In March 2021, Matthew was appointed to the Cardiff Capital Region (CCR) Business Council Board which comprises regional business leaders charged with bringing the acumen, energy and passion to direct, inform and shape the future of business in South East Wales.

In September 2021, Matthew was appointed an Independent Governor and Trustee of Cardiff Metropolitan University.

Work history

Matthew started his career with Hugh James as an articled clerk and qualified into the firm in 1985. He was promoted to partner in 1987 and worked in the commercial property and banking and finance departments.

Matthew was heavily involved in the regeneration of Cardiff Bay and the redevelopment of the Arm’s Park to Millennium Stadium (now Principality Stadium) in the late 1990s.

Matthew was the managing partner of Hugh James from 1999 to 2011. During this time the firm grew to become one of the UK’s Top 100 law firms and quadrupled its number of employees.

In 2010, Matthew consolidated the firm’s volume services and created Hugh James Involegal LLP. Involegal provided volume legal services to many of the UK’s high street banks.

Following the firms most recent 5-year strategic planning review, Matthew has now overseen the transfer of the Involegal business to the main Hugh James business to align the firm's real estate and property finance services offering within a new combined group.