Matthew Wescott
Partner

Matthew is a seasoned disputes lawyer, with over 20 years' experience in commercial litigation and international arbitration. Matthew is valued by his clients as a commercially driven strategist who works tirelessly to protect their interests in the face of the fiercest opposition.

Matthew is experienced in a wide variety of commercial dispute resolution areas including: shareholder disputes; banking; financial markets (including ISDA transactions); fraud; insolvency; contractual disputes; international sale of goods and commodities disputes; insurance and reinsurance; professional negligence; regulatory and investigatory work. Matthew also handles reputation, privacy and defamation issues for a range of high-profile clients.

Matthew has particular expertise in international arbitration and has advised on and conducted arbitrations under the arbitral rules of the ICC, LCIA, GAFTA, LME, LMAA, UNCITRAL and OHADA.

Matthew's work often has an international element and he has advised clients across numerous territories in Europe, the former Soviet Union, North America, Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America.  Matthew speaks fluent Spanish and Portuguese.

What the directories say

Matthew has been recognised in the Chambers Guide and Legal 500:

• “Matthew Wescott is “incredibly thorough””.
• “Matthew Wescott is an experienced litigator with a focus on financial markets. He is “excellent and a pleasure to work with” according to market commentators and has a strong understanding of Latin American matters.”
• “Clients praised Matthew Wescott as “efficient, clear-cut and easy to listen to”.”
• “Matthew Wescott is a highly capable operator, combining clear analysis, sound judgement and hard work.”
• “Matthew Wescott is diligent, always on point, and rightly has the trust of his clients.”

Notable Experience

• P v C: Very high value international IT dispute between Isle of Man and Mexican parties under ICC Rules, included anti-suit injunctions in English Commercial Court.
• M v R: Multi million euro dispute between Middle Eastern sovereign wealth fund and European property fund under LCIA Rules.
• E v E: International trade dispute between Greek and Mexican parties under LCIA Rules. Parties domiciled in Europe and Latin America. Dispute concerned an international distribution agreement. The arbitration involved complex issues of conflict of laws and jurisdictional disputes, with parallel proceedings in London and Mexico.
• B v AG: Shareholder dispute involving the leasing of Russian railcars (LCIA).
• D v N: Dispute between Ukrainian UHNWs (LCIA)
• I v G: High Court proceedings over enforcement (LCIA).
• S v T: High Court challenge for large Indian company to an ICC Award pursuant to s. 68 of the Arbitration Act (ICC).
• E v N: Dispute over Russian nickel contracts (LME).
• E v A: dispute over copper contracts (Arizona) (LME).
• Jurisdictional strike out obtained for Austrian client in response to London fraud proceedings: quantum c. € 50m.
• Representing defendant in proprietary claim for embezzlement, multi-jurisdictional claim involving UK/US/China.
• Shareholder/fraud dispute, UK/BVI/US.
• Defending human trafficking claim against high profile Nigerian family.
• Acting for Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena in its c. € 700m dispute with Nomura. Complex financial services litigation involving parallel civil and criminal proceedings in Italy.
• Multiple disputes under ISDA documentation in relation to pricing issues.
• Advising European holders of Latin American sovereign bonds on enforcement rights.
• Advising Portuguese “bad bank” on exposures to defaulting borrowers.
• Advising Portuguese bank on remedies against defaulting borrower and Guernsey insolvency.
• Multi million cross border insolvency for Colombian aviation company.

Background

Matthew started his career at Linklaters and was a partner at international firm DAC Beachcroft and disputes boutique Carter-Ruck before becoming London Head of Commercial Litigation at JMW Solicitors. He joined PCB-Byrne in March 2025.

Contact Matthew