Matthew Hennessy-Gibbs

Matthew advises insolvency practitioners on asset tracing, debt recovery, and contentious insolvency matters. He is experienced in director disqualification claims, preference payment recovery, misfeasance actions, and litigation for trustees, administrators, and liquidators.

• Acted for a Trustee in Bankruptcy advising on the admissibility of a £20million creditor claim.
• Acted for an Administrator and successfully recovered preference payments made to a third-party supplier.
• Acted for a Liquidator in the tracing and recovery of assets pursuant to s423 Insolvency Act 1986.
• Successfully contested an application for removal of an Administrator.
• Located hidden assets on behalf of an Administrator and brought a claim for misfeasance and fraud against a director including director disqualification proceedings.

Matthew advises on domestic and international arbitration, including LCIA, LMAA, ICC, and UNCITRAL proceedings. He handles yacht, consultancy, and technology disputes, with claims up to $20 million, and is skilled in all ADR forms.

• Acted on two large LMAA arbitration claims where the issues are faulty yachts on purchase (Claims £4m).
• Acted for group of companies in respect of a consultancy agreement dispute, various jurisdictions under LCIA. Claim circa $3.8m.
• Acted for a leading manufacturer of intelligent technology solutions in arbitration disputes (LCIA), an Indian company and its subsidiaries. Claims values $20.6m.
• Acted for a leading manufacturer of intelligent technology solutions in an arbitration disputes (LCIA), involving a US company and its subsidiaries. Claims values circa £2m.
• Experienced in all forms of alternative dispute resolution including mediation and arbitration (UNCITRAL, CIArb, ICC, LMAA).

Matthew advises UAE and KSA clients on complex commercial, fraud, and contract disputes. He is experienced in multi-jurisdictional matters, yacht and property claims, and mediation of high-value shareholder, loan, and tax-related disputes.

• Advised a UAE shareholder in respect of £1.5b alleged conspiracy to defraud claim in respect of trades and tax claims.
• Advised a KSA client in respect of recovery of and/or declaration of ownership of a £25 million property arising out of a purchase agreement dispute.
• Advised a KSA client in respect of a £5m loan dispute.
• Represented UAE client in respect of allegations of fraud/conspiracy to defraud regarding loan monies of 50m euros.
• Acted for UAE client in a breach of warranty claim against a yacht vendor.
• Successfully mediated a dispute between a UAE boat owner, marina and boat yard regarding defective works and unpaid marina charges.

Matthew advises clients on commercial contract, IT, and PFI disputes, joint venture exits, and multi-jurisdictional matters. He has expertise in procurement, fraud, bribery investigations, and shareholder disputes for corporate and private clients.

• Acted for numerous Registered Providers primarily in relation to contractual supplier disputes, particularly IT contracts and fraud including procurement and bribery investigations.
• Advised on multimillion-pound PFI contractual disputes and took a board appointment to assist/protect the client’s shareholding on SPV.
• Advised Swiss Pharma company (and related UK entities) in relation to a JV dispute/exit against Middle Eastern JV partners.
• Advising owner of private jet on sale and deposit dispute involving multi-jurisdictional elements.
• Skatteforvaltningen v Solo Capital Partners LLP & Ors [2021] EWHC 974 (Comm).
• Kitover v Galmarley Ltd (t/a Bullionvault.Com) & Anor [2021] EWHC 809 (Ch).

Matthew advises on high-profile UK and European litigation, Supreme Court and ECHR cases, and regulatory matters. He has experience in financial services, human rights, and complex multi-party disputes.

• T & Anor, R. (On Application of) v Financial Conduct Authority [2021] EWHC 396 (acted for the Claimants).
• JSC Mezhdunarodniy Promyshlenniy Bank & Ors v Pugachev & Ors [2017] EWHC 2426 (Ch) (acted for Mr Pugachev’s infant children through their mother/litigation friend).
• Speciality European Pharma Ltd v Doncaster Pharmaceuticals Group Ltd & Anor [2015] EWCA Civ 54 (acted as SEP from first instance throughout).
• Huitson, R (on the application of) v HM Revenue and Customs [2011] EWCA Civ 893 (acted for Mr Huitson from first instance through to and including Supreme Court/ECHR).
• Daby v State of Mauritius (Mauritius) [2008] UKPC 45 (acted for Mr Daby).
• Demco Investments & Commercial SA & Ors v SE Banken Forsakring Holding Aktiebolag [2005] EWHC 1398 (Comm) (acted for Demco Investments).

• Acted in arbitration claim where the issues were defects at build on purchase. Claim of £3.5m.
• Acted in arbitration Charter Party Dispute involving build delay and breach of contract. Claim of £3m.
• Acted in LMAA arbitration Charter Party Dispute breach of contract and issues of foreign law. Claim of £2m

Matthew is a commercial litigation lawyer with over 25 years’ experience, with specific expertise in commercial disputes, fraud, and tax, often with an international element. His client base is both domestic and international.

• Advised financial services companies in relation to FCA investigations.
• Advised financial services companies in respect of multibillion tax fraud.
• Various instructions from insolvency practitioners relating to director fraud, misfeasance and wrongful trading and S423 claims.
• Assisted CIS states and individuals in some of the largest fraud and money laundering investigations through the UK courts.
• Advised and litigated to The European Court of Human Rights in relation to a multimillion offshore tax avoidance scheme.
• Advised individuals in respect of SFO investigation and subsequent proceedings.

Matthew is a commercial litigation lawyer with over 25 years’ experience in commercial disputes and fraud, often within the maritime industry. His client base is both domestic and international.

• Advised a major French bank successfully negotiating the sale of three yachts through a liquidator recovering all sums due and costs.
• Advising client in a charter party dispute in Italy.
• Acting in LMAA arbitration claim in a charter party dispute.
• Acting for superyacht finance agents in respect of mandate dispute.
• Acted for major lender in respect of enforcement of foreign judgment against superyacht owner.
• Acting for client in successful negotiations with boat builder in respect of snagging items and faulty works.
• Acting for owner in negotiated settlement with boat builder regarding faulty engines.
• Acted in a breach of warranty claim against a yacht vendor.
• Acted in various sale of goods claims for defective yachts and poor workmanship.
• Successfully defended a negligence claim against the surveyor of a sailing yacht.
• Acted for receivers in the arrest and recovery of a 33m sailing yacht.
• Successfully mediated a dispute between a boat owner, marina and boat yard regarding defective works and unpaid marina charges.
• Acted in two large LMAA arbitration claims (worth £4m) regarding the purchase of yachts which had undisclosed faults.
• Acted for a bank in locating and recovering a yacht in the Caribbean.
• Advised a family office in a dispute with the builder of a 40m superyacht.

Recognised as a Leading Individual in The Legal 500 for Commercial Litigation: Mid-Market 2022-2026

Recognised as a Leading Individual in The Legal 500 for Corporate restructuring & insolvency 2026

Recognised in The Legal 500 for Fraud: Civil 2020-2026