Matthew Leitch

Matthew gained significant experience in clinical negligence in pupillage, drafting pleadings in a range of cases for Claimants and Defendants, including pre-action correspondence, Particulars of Claim, Defences, Schedules of Loss, and Counter Schedules. He assisted in cases involving birth injuries, consent to spinal surgery, delayed diagnosis of cauda equina syndrome, dental negligence, and mental health.

Matthew also drafted advice on a range of liability and quantum issues in clinical negligence. This included advising on:

• The law of material contribution and its application to clinical negligence cases for several members of chambers.
• An anonymity application following PMC v Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board [2025] EWCA Civ 1126. 
• The court’s approach to life expectancy in a case involving a child with cerebral palsy.
• The court’s approach to factual causation, mechanism of injury, and the principle in The Popi M in a case involving causation of sensorineural hearing loss.
• The approach of the court to an application to withdraw pre-action admissions.
• Quantum, settlement, and costs.

Matthew has a strong academic background in the area as a Research Affiliate at the Centre for Law, Medicine, and Life Sciences at the University of Cambridge researching genetic disclosure. He has been published in leading journals, including the Modern Law Review and Journal of Professional Negligence, on informed consent and psychiatric harm. He is a regular contributor to the Quarterly Medical Law Review. He is also seconded to a leading clinical negligence and personal injury firm.

Matthew gained considerable experience of public law and human rights during pupillage. During pupillage Matthew:

• Assisted Jeremy Hyam KC and Alasdair Henderson in O v P [2024] EWCA 1577 involving the court’s ‘best interests’ jurisdiction with respect to consent given by a competent sixteen-year-old to cross-sex hormones by an overseas provider.
• Conducted research into a potential judicial review of the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman for Matthew Hill.
• Drafted advice and detailed grounds of defence in a case involving the BN(O)HK visa scheme and alleged political persecution in Hong Kong.
• Drafted detailed grounds of review in an immigration challenge where the Applicant was unable to correspond with the Home Secretary due to the political situation in Bangladesh.
• Assisted Emma-Louise Fenelon in a case involving alleged breaches of Article 3 and Article 8 ECHR by a prisoner.
• Gained extensive experience in extradition law and associated human rights arguments under the supervision of Benjamin Seifert.

Matthew represents both Applicants and Respondents in judicial review proceedings. He was recently instructed by the Government Legal Department as Junior Junior counsel to draft summary grounds of defence in an immigration challenge. He is a regular contributor to the UK Human Rights Blog.

Matthew accepts instructions in all aspects of employment law.

In pupillage, Matthew provided advice on a case involving unfair dismissal and disability discrimination and represented a Claimant at a Preliminary Hearing through Advocate.

Matthew is currently instructed as Junior Junior counsel by the Government Legal Department in a disability discrimination case.

Matthew assisted Benjamin Seifert with a three-week Article 2 jury inquest involving a death in custody and the provision of mental health treatment. He has also gained insight into a range of medical inquests with various members of chambers. He is keen to develop his practice in this area.

Matthew has already gained experience representing Claimants and Defendants in a wide range of personal injury matters.  During pupillage he:

• Assisted Emma-Louise Fenelon in O’Connell v Ministry of Defence [2025] EWHC 2301 (KB), a two-week High Court trial involving liability in negligence and under the Animals Act and the application of fundamental dishonesty.
• Provided advice on the applicability of the defence of volenti non fit injuria.
• Provided advice in a case involving alleged automatism and the standard of care.
• Drafted a skeleton argument for an interim payment application.

He is also seconded to a leading clinical negligence and personal injury firm.

In pupillage, Matthew assisted Jo Moore in a drafting an Independent Review for UK Anti-Doping in a case involving an alleged failure by an athlete to submit to doping. Matthew is keen to develop his sports law practice.

Matthew gained experience of tax law during pupillage and is keen to grow his practice in this area. He assisted Owain Thomas KC as to the tribunal’s jurisdiction to reopen an issue agreed between the parties. He also assisted Sarabjit Singh KC in drafting a skeleton argument and advice in a case involving the VAT status of vapes and their pharmaceutical usage.