Matthew Hardcastle

Matthew is a senior associate in the Criminal Litigation department.  His experience encompasses cases involving general and white collar crime.

Matthew has significant experience of advising clients during interviews under caution both following an arrest and during a voluntary attendance.  Matthew’s experience includes advising high profile individuals and advising in matters which attract significant media interest. Matthew also acts on behalf of the Chief Police Officers Staff Association (CPOSA) providing regulatory and criminal advice for senior police officers. His experience enables him to provide his clients with early advice which they can rely upon throughout the life of their case. 

Matthew’s approach to cases means he is able to quickly grasp the details of the prosecution case and to advice accordingly.  He has worked on large fraud matters where an attention to detail whilst also looking at the bigger picture is essential.

Matthew’s clients are often regulated professionals involved in complex litigation.  He is able to clearly explain complex areas of law and fact recognising that his clients often need clear and simple advice. 

Matthew has an excellent track record in defending complex matters.

Matthew is a higher court advocate who trained and qualified in the highly regarded criminal department of TV Edwards LLP before joining Kingsley Napley in 2016. He is the co-author of Blackstone’s Police Station Handbook published by Oxford University Press.

Matthew acted as a specialist advisor for the House of Commons Justice Committee’s Inquiry into the Disclosure of Evidence in Criminal Cases.

Recent work

• Successfully defended a banker accused of concealing $18 million of losses
• Successfully defended a politician accused of making a false statement on a nomination paper
• Successfully defended a salesman accused of participating in a multi-million pound land banking scheme
• Representing members of the legal profession accused of sexual and physical assault

Reported cases:

• Abidi & Ots [2016] EWCA Crim 1119
• SFO v Papachristos & Anor [2014] EWCA Crim 1863

Professional societies and memberships

• Young Fraud Lawyers Association (YFLA)
• Commercial Fraud Lawyers Association (CFLA)

publications, Press Highlights, speaking engagements & Blogs

• Joe Marler and the case of the arched eyebrow - March 2020
• Opening statement in police interviews is still an important strategy - co-authored article in The Law Society Gazette, July 2019
• Matthew presented on the criminal law aspects of sexual misconduct investigations at the Employment Lawyers Association's Annual Conference on 25 May 2019 - "Sexual Misconduct Investigations: how to manage the employment, regulatory and criminal aspects"
• Matthew presented on the topic of challenging search warrants at the Red Lion Lectures event on 25 June 2019 - "Nobody expects the Spanish inquisition!"
• Lie detection tests for convicted domestic abuse offenders is a costly distraction, Solicitors Journal, February 2019
• The risk of Salmond's aggressive approach to allegations - September 2018
• PACE under review: no excuse for failing to maintain the dignity of those held in custody - August 2018
• 22 January 2018, Book Review: Best Defence, published in The Law Society Gazette
• Author, with Anthony Edwards, Blackstone’s Police Station Handbook (Oxford University Press)
• Assisting with Research, Complex and Lengthy Criminal Trials (JUSTICE)
• Author, with Anthony Edwards, The Changing Status of the Defence Solicitor Crim. L.R. 2016, 11, 830-843
• Author, Reasonable Suspicion in the Era of Operation Midland (OUP Blog)