Matthew Shankland

MATTHEW SHANKLAND is a Barrister and Solicitor-Advocate (Higher Courts), he is head of Sidley's London-based Disputes Resolution practice and a co-leader of the firmwide Commercial Litigation and Disputes practice group. He is the Chairman of the London Office Pro Bono Committee. His international dispute resolution experience 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 has considerable experience with applications for cross-border injunctive relief (including freezing orders and anti-suit injunctions) and the effective enforcement of judgments and awards in multiple jurisdictions.

Matthew appears regularly in cases in the High Court (Chancery and Commercial Divisions), in commercial arbitrations conducted under a range of rules systems – including ICC, LCIA, UNCITRAL, trade association rules (e.g., FOSFA and LME) and ad hoc arrangements – and in investment treaty matters.

In recent years, Matthew has been involved in some of the most important English cases concerning structured finance and derivatives transactions, running multiple cases concerning ISDA and LMA terms, credit linked note programs and CDOs.

Matthew has particular experience with the ADR, litigation and arbitration processes associated with complex cross-border insolvency or bankruptcy of major corporate and financial institutions. He has been instrumental in the English and European asset recovery and protection programs for some of the largest and most high profile estates of recent times including Enron, Parmalat, Global Crossing, Lehman Brothers and Kaupthing Bank.

The subject matter of the disputes that Matthew has acted on includes share sale and shareholder agreements (especially warranty disputes), leveraged finance arrangements, company directors’ duties and shareholder rights, taxation, licensing and technology related contracts, international sale and purchase agreements and government intervention in investments and financial markets.

Regulatory matters have formed a major part of his practice, and Matthew has led cases for blue chip clients involving investigations and inquiries by the SFO, FSA, the Pensions Regulator and the Food Standards Agency.

Matthew is ranked by Chambers UK 2020 for Banking Litigation, with a source describing him as “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 describe him as a “charismatic lawyer who is good with clients and takes a strategic point of view.” He is recognized in The Legal 500 UK 2016 for Banking litigation and Commercial litigation, with sources citing him as “responsive and direct” with “superior intellect.” Matthew was also recognized in The Lawyer’s ‘Hot 100’ list 2015 for Litigation.