Matthew Richardson is a partner in the Firm’s Cybersecurity & Data Privacy and Digital Commerce groups. Matthew provides clients with cutting-edge legal solutions in the digital realm; and his experience bridges the dynamic intersection of corporate transactional law and the intricate world of high-tech legislation, making him an invaluable asset to clients navigating the complexities of the digital age.

Matthew’s acumen extends through data protection and privacy, intellectual property, commercial law, cybercrime and public law, with an emphasis on the legalities surrounding digital commerce and fintech. His practice is bolstered by an in-depth knowledge of franchising and an astute understanding of issues like cyber harassment, digital forensics and the nuances of electronic communications.

His robust legal portfolio is complemented by an impressive array of advanced engineering qualifications, which equip him with the rare ability to grasp and articulate the technical nuances of IT and high-tech cases with remarkable speed and clarity. Matthew is responsible for several advancements in IT law, including the first injunction served by Twitter, and the first injunction to prevent the use of an illegal bit-torrent. He has also represented and advised in many related areas, including novel hi-tech injunctions, online harassment, data protection matters, domain name disputes, online infringement of moral rights, online infringement of trademarks and copyright, software contracts, telecoms disputes, negligence in software design, online breach of confidence, multijurisdictional IT matters, database rights and bitcoin disputes.

As an authority in data protection and cybersecurity law, his experience is sought after globally. He has consulted for governments on legislative frameworks and advised multinational data controllers and processors on their privacy regimes, representing clients in some of the most significant global data protection and cyber law cases. Matthew excels in partnering with clients to quickly respond effectively to data breaches and cyberattacks, providing critical guidance in establishing robust incident response protocols, ensuring swift and compliant navigation through these complex and often critical situations. His experience in this space is preventative and reactive, offering a comprehensive approach to every cybersecurity challenge he is engaged to help with. He is also well-versed in the tactics and procedures necessary to retrieve stolen funds stemming from cyberattacks and breaches; from conducting investigations and liaising with financial institutions to bringing the matter to the courtroom, he prides himself in helping clients create and implement plans and procedures to safeguard their businesses from future incidents.

In the courtroom, Matthew represents clients in multifaceted domains, including high-profile proceedings and cases featuring super-injunctions and anonymous parties. A fully qualified barrister in England, he has represented clients at all levels, from the County Court to the Supreme Court, as well as in the Employment Appeals Tribunal and several other specialist tribunals. His judicial contributions also include a term as a magistrate in Central London, further testifying to his breadth of legal experience and commitment to public service, and he is also admitted to the Bar of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (BVI).

His publication "Cyber Crime: Law and Practice" (2nd Edition, 2019) is hailed as a seminal practitioner text and reflects his status as a thought leader in this rapidly developing field. And as a certified General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) practitioner, he is a market go-to lawyers on issues related to data privacy regulations and their application.

Outside the courtroom, Matthew dedicates time to educating others as a frequent lecturer on legal considerations related to data and privacy, franchising and startup. His insights are sought for conferences and academic forums, where he speaks on the evolving challenges and legal considerations in the technology and digital landscape.

His legal prowess, augmented by his technical skill and global perspective, solidifies his reputation as a leading lawyer in corporate, cyber, data privacy and digital commerce laws and as a trusted advisor to those he represents.