DIRECTORIES

“Matthew Howarth is another noble junior at the set handling regulatory work”– Legal 500, 2025

“Matthew is an intelligent advocate who is good at getting to the core of a legal issue. A clear, concise, persuasive, and approachable barrister.” – Legal 500, 2024

“Matthew is wise beyond his years, he quickly gets to grips with the issues in a case, and he produces clear, concise, jargon-free written and oral advice which is appreciated by solicitors and clients alike. He has a very good manner with clients and his advocacy is articulate, pointed, and very effective both in his questioning and submissions.” – Legal 500, 2024

“Matthew is an intelligent advocate who is good at getting to the core of a legal issue. A clear, concise, persuasive, and approachable barrister.” – Legal 500, 2024 – IMMIGRATION – RISING STAR

RISING STAR in Legal 500, 2024 – Crime (General and Fraud)

BACKGROUND

Matthew Howarth is a specialist Public Law barrister with expertise in Immigration law, Human Rights, Regulatory Law and Proceeds of Crime Act litigation. He appears regularly in the High Court and has done since 2016, as such he is a Judicial Review and Statutory Appeal specialist. Acting for Government and Public Bodies he advises in damages claims and appears before the County Court.  In 2024, Matthew appeared, and acted, in over 100 Judicial Review claims in the High Court and Upper Tribunals.

Matthew started practice in 2014 with the Banking and Finance litigation team for one of the World’s largest law firms, Baker & McKenzie. He was tasked to review and investigate the litigation surrounding the LIBOR scandal and was Joint Director for Pro Bono overseeing the implementation of policies for the homeless during the EU Refugee Crisis.

Matthew has gained numerous prestigious appointments that make him stand out amongst his peers at the Bar. He has a strong practice on the Attorney General’s Civil and Regulatory Panels, the SFO Panel and the CPS Panel (Serious Crime and POCA Panel). He is a leading Junior within his respective fields in the Legal 500.

Notably, Matthew has recently acted as junior counsel on the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, the COVID-19 Inquiry, a Judicial Review for the Victim’s Rights Group ‘Hacked Off’ following the Phone Hacking Scandal and as counsel on the Prosecution of Glencore in the UK’s highest value Bribery SFO Prosecution.

In 2020 Matthew was called to the Bar of Northern Ireland.

LIST OF RECENT REPORTED DECISIONS

•  BLZ No.1 – BLZ v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2025] EWHC 153 (Admin) (29 January 2025)– Mr Howarth was led by Jack Holborn and appeared for the SSHD. The case determined a challenge on the Home Office planning for the allocation of suitable Home Office Bail Accommodation (“HOBA”) and for a “Safe-Release” from an immigration removal centre (“IRC”), all in the context of a foreign national offender (“FNO”). The case included a determination on features of potential care and support needs, statutory human rights and equality rights. The matter is the leading authority in this area.
• BLZ No 2 – BLZ v Leeds City Council [2025] EWHC 154 (Admin) (29 January 2025) – Mr Howarth was led by Jack Holborn and appeared for the SSHD in this matter that addresses the responsibilities of local authorities towards foreign national offenders in Home Office Bail Accommodation (HOBA) under the Care Act 2014. It establishes that HOBA is “residual” and “legally irrelevant” when assessing care and support needs. The court clarifies when local authorities must provide accommodation and how to assess eligible needs
• MM, R (On the Application Of) v Secretary of State for Home Department & Anor [2025] EWHC 143 (Admin) (28 January 2025) – In a recent significant case, Matthew Howarth, represented the Secretary of State for the Home Department (SSHD) in a complex administrative law dispute. The case involved a judicial review application by MM, a claimant with cognitive impairments, against the SSHD and the London Borough of Hillingdon. The proceedings centred on the responsibility for accommodating the claimant under the Care Act 2014 and the SSHD’s obligations under Section 95 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999. The case is a significant interim relief ruling in determining the responsibilities or ‘balance of convenience’ between the SSHD and a Local Authority for a Foreign National Offender, who is a repeat offender, and who has mental health issues (subject to Court of Protection proceedings).
• R (Dean Hallam) v Secretary of State for Justice* [2024] EWHC 2873 (Admin) –  the High Court dismissed a judicial review challenging the Secretary of State’s refusal to accept a Parole Board recommendation to transfer an IPP prisoner (convicted of child sexual offences) to open conditions. HHJ Simon upheld the decision, ruling the Secretary appropriately balanced public confidence, essentiality of open conditions, and risk management under the *Generic Parole Process Policy Framework*. The judgment reaffirmed ministerial discretion in rejecting Parole Board recommendations where public protection concerns outweigh progressive prisoner moves.

• R(Hartford Care Group Ltd) v SSHD [2024] EWHC 3308 (Admin) – Represented the SSHD in a judicial review of a decision to reject Hartford Care Group’s application for 70 Defined Certificates of Sponsorship (DCoS) for overseas care workers. Case determined whether new requirements for care providers to demonstrate “genuine vacancies” were additions, lawfully or not, to the Immigration Rules or published policies. Case is a leading authority on the SSHD’s determinations of DCoS applications in the Care Sector.
• Ogilvy (aka Alakija) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2024] EWCA Civ 315 represented the SSHD in this significant ruling on immigration appeals, particularly regarding claims of statelessness and challenges to deportation orders
• KLG Trucking SRL v SSHD [2024] EWCA Civ 737 – leading authority following Carrier Liability Regulations 2023 amendments, Court of Appeal reduced penalty for clandestine entrants but upheld SSHD’s right to impose penalties.
• One Trees Estates Limited v SSHD [2024] EWHC 1644 (Admin) – leading judgement on determination of SSHD’s entitlement to make a decision to revoke a sponsor licence. Determined whether or not commercial/global assessment is to be conducted by the SSHD and if a Tameside Duty applies.
• R(Chaitanya) v SSHD [2024] EWHC 3212 (Admin) – Judicial review successful defence of SSHD’s decision to refuse leave to remain quashed on basis of illegal working.
• Roselyn Scott v SSHD [2024] EWHC 3110 (Admin) – Successfully defended challenge to SSHD’s decision to refuse indefinite leave to remain based on policy that void’s previous Leave applications when a subsequent application is made. Decision related to Zambrano rights following EU withdrawal agreement.
• R(Hashmat Ali) v SSHD [2024] EWHC 1760 (Admin) – Judicial review of SSHD’s decision to certify a claim for protection by an Albanian national as totally without merit.
• R(MM) v SSHD [2024] EWHC 1577 (Admin) – judicial review and Interim Relief claim against SSHD involved alleged breaches of: Section 95 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED), Equality Act 2010 and a claim against a Local Authority for Care Act 2014 breaches.
• R(DK) v SSHD [2023] EWHC 2757 (Admin) – Challenge to SSHD’s decision on asylum support and accommodation and against a number Local Authorities.
• Tesfazghi v SSHD – JR-2023-MAN-000090 –  Judicial review case in the Upper Tribunal at Manchester regarding a decision to certify a protection claim based on two previously dismissed tribunal claims.
• Rapheael Olufemi Oluponle v The Home Office [2023] EWHC 3188 (KB) – Claim for false imprisonment partially succeeded; damages awarded for 60 days of unlawful detention at £20,000.
• Lynton Exports (Alsager) Limited v HMRC [2022] UKFTT 224 (TC) – Led by Joanna Vicary in an appeal against HMRC’s decision on VAT assessment dismissed.
• R(ZOS) v SSHD [2022] EWHC 3567 (Admin) – Court reprimanded SSHD for breaching obligations but extended time for compliance with order to provide accommodation.
• MG v Disclosure and Barring Service [2022] UKUT 89 (AAC) -Appeal dismissed against decision to include appellant on children’s barred list.
• R(Zubair Ahmed) v SSHD [2022] EWHC 1850 (Admin) – Judicial review of SSHD’s decision to cancel leave to remain dismissed following TOEIC fraud.
• Link Spolka Z O.O. v SSHD [2021] EWCA Civ 1830 – instructed at first instance prior to the Court of Appeal hearing which examined ingredients of statutory defence for carriers’ liability.

Professional Appointments and Qualifications

Matthew holds several prestigious appointments that demonstrate his expertise and recognition in the legal field:

• Crown Prosecution Service Panel of Advocates: Level 3 (including Level 2 POCA and serious crime)
• Northern Panel B of Specialist Regulatory Law Advocates (Since 2019)
• Attorney General’s Panel C (5 years – since 2020).
• Serious Fraud Office Panel C (since 2020)
• National Safeguarding Panel for Sports Resolution (2022)

Additional Qualifications:

• Security Clearance for national security work (since 2020) – SC level.
• Called to the Bar of Northern Ireland (2020)
• Completed Northern Circuit New Practitioners Advocacy and Ethics training
• Certified in Vulnerable Witnesses Training
• GDPR, anti-money laundering, and Equality and Diversity training

Leadership Roles:

• Northern Circuit representative on the Bar Council Executive (2019-present)
• Middle Temple Young Barrister’s Association (MTYBA) Executive Committee member (2018-2021)
• Founder and Chair of MTYBA Northern Committee (2017-2019)
• Junior for the Northern Circuit (Trinity Term 2018)

Notable Achievement:

• Winner of the Criminal Bar Association’s Advocacy Competition (2018)
• Pupillage Bursary – The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple (2015)
• Inter-Inn’s Mooting Finalist (2014)
• Diana, Princess of Wales Major Scholarship – The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple (2013), awarded by HRH The Prince of Wales in May 2015.
• RBAI Larmour and A-Level Scholarships Awards for excellence in A-Level and ICT (2010)