Matthew Shankland

MATTHEW SHANKLAND is head of Sidley’s London-based Disputes Resolution practice, a co-leader of the firmwide Commercial Litigation and Disputes practice group, and the Chairman of the London Office Pro Bono Committee. He is a Barrister and Solicitor-Advocate (Higher Courts) with 25 years of experience representing clients in complex high stakes disputes and investigations.

Matthew’s practice encompasses a broad spectrum of corporate and commercial cases conducted in the higher courts of England, the European Courts, before international arbitration tribunals, and the courts of many other jurisdictions around the world (particularly those of the Caribbean). He is retained by leading banks and financial institutions, hedge funds, private equity funds, and large corporates. Regulatory matters have formed a major part of his practice, and he has led cases involving investigations and inquiries by the SFO, FSA, ICO, the Pensions Regulator, and various United States regulators and law enforcement agencies.

His subject matter experience extends across banking and derivatives, structured finance, share sale and shareholder agreements (especially warranty disputes), leveraged finance arrangements, security enforcement, company directors’ duties and shareholder rights, taxation, pharmaceutical and technology licensing contracts, international sale and purchase agreements, and government intervention in financial markets.

He has considerable experience in applications for cross-border injunctive relief and enforcement of judgments and awards in multiple jurisdictions. In the decade following the 2008 financial crisis, Matthew was involved in several of the most important English cases concerning structured finance and derivatives transactions, running multiple matters concerning ISDA and LMA terms, credit linked note programs, and CDOs. Having been instrumental in the English and European asset recovery and protection programs for some of the largest estates of the last 20 years (including Lehman Brothers and Kaupthing Bank), Matthew has market leading experience in disputes associated with complex cross-border structures and the insolvency of major corporate and financial institutions.

Matthew is recognized as a “Leading Individual” in The Legal 500 UK 2022 for Banking and Commercial Litigation with clients describing him as a “star litigator.” He is also ranked by Chambers UK 2022 for Banking Litigation. In the 2021 edition, sources described him as “a really strong lawyer who cuts straight through things and inspires confidence.” In the 2020 edition, clients told the publication that he is “superb technically” and “able to think through complex problems, deliver clear and concise advice and identify effective commercial solutions.” In the 2019 edition, he is described as “a very good legal brain with very good litigation skills” and in the 2017 edition, clients described him as a “charismatic lawyer who is good with clients and takes a strategic point of view.” In the 2016 edition of The Legal 500 UK sources describe him as “responsive and direct” with “superior intellect.” Matthew was also recognized in The Lawyer “Hot 100” list 2015 for Litigation.