Matt is a graduate of the University of Adelaide and was admitted
to practice in South Australia and in the High Court in 1989.
Matt commenced practice in 1989 with the national legal firm,
Piper Alderman, in their Adelaide office. From 1990 he worked
exclusively in the Commercial Litigation Division of that
firm until 1995 when he was recruited by the then boutique
Sydney firm, Tress Cocks & Maddox, as a Senior Associate.
Shortly after returning to Adelaide, he was admitted to partnership
at Piper Alderman in 1998.
Matt is acknowledged as a consummate, pragmatic litigator,
possessing a thorough grasp of strategy and a keen eye on
how best to maximise his client's objectives. His work as
an instructing solicitor is widely respected, as is his skill
in crafting argument and submissions.
Whilst possessing a strong insurance background, with broad
based experience in professional indemnity, directors & officers
liability and general insurance, Matt has equally strong credentials
in credit management and insolvency. In the latter capacity,
he is often called upon to act for leading liquidators, accepting
instructions in a number of significant administrations, company
liquidations and receiverships, voluntary administrations
and bankruptcies. He often acts in prosecuting recoveries
on behalf of liquidators and trustees.
In recent years, Matt has developed a significant profile
in corporate fraud and other white collar criminal matters.
Between 2001 and 2004, he was the principal solicitor in the
defence of one of the largest Commonwealth prosecutions ever
conducted in Australia, acting for fishing interests out of
Port Lincoln in South Australia.
Matt has advised parties in litigation over managed investment
schemes, development projects and various viticultural joint
ventures. Although much in demand in major criminal matters,
he maintains a broad based commercial litigation practice
in all of the key areas identified.
Matt's experience includes:
- Acting for the former non-executive directors of the State Bank of South Australia and Beneficial Finance Corporation Limited in the State Bank Royal Commission and related Auditor-General's Inquiry;
- Acting for the former non-executive directors of the State Bank of South Australia in defending the much-publicised Oceanic litigation - an $83m fraud claim;
- Acting for a range of leading insurance companies whilst at Tress Cocks & Maddox in professional indemnity matters, including claims against valuers, engineers, builders, investment advisers, solicitors and accountants;
- Co-ordinating the due diligence associated with the complex restructure of the Dairy Vale Group;
- Co-ordinating and being the responsible partner for critical aspects of the due diligence associated with an international bid for South Australian electricity infrastructure assets;
- Advising leading corporates on their insurance programs;
- Having the conduct or a key role in significant South Australian litigation including:
- Duke Group litigation;
- Bond Group litigation;
- Emanuel Group litigation;
- Auspine v Australian Newsprint Mills in the Federal Court;
- Southern Cross Group litigation;
- SA Ships Administration litigation;
- Panoz Motorsports' claim against the
South Australian Government in
respect of the Le Mans race
contract;
- Successfully challenging restraining orders obtained by the Australian Federal Police over property valued at $3 million in connection with an alleged international money laundering scam;
- Successfully defending fraud and Corporations Act charges arising out of an alleged illegal Trans-Tasman fund raising scheme;
- Successfully representing the accused in the high profile "Mountford" and "Easling" prosecutions.
Matt's clients have included Australia's largest bank and investment group, a major South Australian financial institution, a major South Australian property developer, a major Australian airline, a statutory insurance fund, a number of official liquidators, major fishing companies, stockbrokers and publicly listed companies. He also regularly receives referrals from, or is asked to act for, some of South Australia's leading lawyers, including leaders of the Bar and prominent Adelaide law firms.
In his spare time Matt is a keen rally driver. He won the South Australian State Rally Championship in 2007.
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