Matthew Paton | Consultant
Matthew commenced working for Lennox Paton in October 2004, where he has established a broad, predominantly commercial chancery, practice. Matthew regularly appears at both the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal level in The Bahamas and has gained considerable experience in trust litigation, shareholder disputes, asset tracing and corporate and commercial disputes, generally.
Matthew moved to the London office in 2008 where he has continued to advise in high value and complex offshore trust litigation and commercial disputes, as well as across the spectrum of banking and finance, asset recovery, shareholder disputes, the enforcement of foreign judgments, and freezing and restraint orders. Matthew is also well versed in matters of admiralty and provides advice on ship arrests, priority of liens, and the enforcement of maritime liens. He continues to appear in the Courts of The Bahamas as and when required.
Matthew went to Radley College, Oxon, and then on to Bristol University to study Philosophy and Politics, graduating in 2001 with an Upper Second Class Honours Degree. He then went on to BPP Hyperion successfully completing both the Securities Institute Certificate and Investment Management Certificate. In 2004 Matthew obtained a Post Graduate Diploma in Law (Pg.DL) from The College of Law, London, before going on to complete the Bar Vocational Course at the Inns of Court School of Law, London, in 2005. He was admitted to the Bahamas Bar in 2005.
Matthew is a member of The Honourable Society of The Inner Temple, The Bahamas Bar Association, and also remains a non-practicing member of the General Council of the Bar.
Matthew's recent work includes the following:
Admiralty
Matthew has acted for major European financial institutions advising and acting on procedure and in the arresting of vessels in Bahamian waters as well as on the priority of liens and the various costs involved. Matthew frequently advises UK and US solicitors in respect of maritime liens and the registration of cautions against Bahamian flagged vessels as well as advising generally on the application of the Merchant Shipping Act. Recent cases include:
The Governor of The Bank of Ireland v. M.V. "Ingegas"
The M.V "Voyager"
Banking and Finance
Matthew has advised and appeared for both Bahamian and international banking institutions advising them in respect of asset tracing and recovery, insolvency proceedings and liquidations generally, as well being an integral member of litigation teams providing effective strategies in global litigation. Matthew recently was led in a $75m claim in a dispute between bank and customer in respect of the authorization of certain investments, and the subsequent tracing of assets arising therefrom. He has also recently advised and appeared on behalf of a Bahamian company following a dispute arising out of various contractual value and ownership of a proposed $170m project. Matthew has further been involved in advising upon numerous litigious aspects of financing in respect of land development projects in The Bahamas recently appearing in a $25m action arising from contractual disputes between ultimate shareholders and required tackling the use of complex multi-jurisdictional corporate structures to evidence liability and civil fraud. Recent cases have included:
Private Investment Bank Ltd v. Juan San Cristobal
Hamby Ltd. v. Hermitage Estates Ltd. et al
T.G. Investments LLC. V. New Hope Holdings Company Ltd. et. al.
Commercial
Matthew has been involved in a number of high profile commercial disputes in the Bahamas. Recent examples include being part of a large litigation team advising court appointed receivers and managers through a complex legal matrix of various companies controlling quasi-governmental bodies in respect of a shareholder dispute as well as advising directors in respect of a shareholder dispute over true beneficial ownership of a company. Matthew recently provided advice to directors in respect of a shareholder dispute involving minority shareholders issues and rights of dissention. Much of Matthew's commercial practice includes being involved in the provision of advice to lawyers and clients from multiple jurisdictions including the BVI, England, Cayman Islands, Russia, Switzerland, and the US. Recent cases have included:
Alexei Goloubovitch et al v. Russian Investors Group Ltd et al.
Lady Henrietta St. George et al v. Sir Jack Hayward et al.
Florida Floats Inc & Bellingham Marine v. EBR Holding Ltd.
Trust Litigation
Matthew has advised and acted for various classes of domestic and international beneficiaries under Bahamian trusts as well as for international trustees in respect of asset tracing and recovery as well as the enforcement of foreign judgments. Matthew recently appeared in a trust dispute valued at $65m involving the purported removal of a class of beneficiaries. Matthew was recently part of an in house litigation team providing advice in relation to a Trustee in Bankruptcy in the U.S. attempting to trace assets circa $150m to a Bahamian company. Matthew also aids in the provision of advice on the scope of the powers and duties of trustees under trust as well as the right of beneficiaries. Recent cases have included:
Ansbacher Bank & Trust (Bahamas) Ltd v. Marjorie Joiner et al.
Re S Trust
Re Eagle Trust
Location
- » London