Our Expertise
St Pauls Chambers provides legal services throughout the UK and worldwide. We are known for providing excellence in our areas of focus.
As a leading barristers chambers in Leeds, our expertise span the depth and breadth of a number of key areas of law.
Our People
St Pauls Chambers have an excellent team of Barristers, Clerks & Administration, with our barristers including KC’s, Members and Pupils.
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Call 2020
Matthew Baron joined St Pauls Chambers in 2024 and is currently accepting Instructions across a wide range of civil and regulatory matters. Please contact his clerks, Jayne Drake, Megan Burrows, or Abigail Mayoh to instruct.
Matthew has a well-developed practice within Clinical Negligence, Personal Injury, and Inquest Law. He is now also gaining further significant experience within the areas of Professional Discipline & Regulation and Data Protection & Privacy claims.
Matthew arrived with extensive experience in acting for both Claimants and Defendants through all stages and at all levels of Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence, including appearing in Multi-Track Trials, Pre-Trial Reviews (PTRs), Costs and Case Management Conferences (CCMCs), Applications, Disposals, and Infant Approval Hearings.
In addition, Matthew regularly appears in the Coroners’ Courts of England Wales, often acting on behalf of individual clinicians, local authorities, and private healthcare providers. Matthew also has experience of advocating on behalf of bereaved families in such matters. His past Inquest experience includes appearing in cases involving substantive breaches of Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights, deaths following clinical negligence and neglect, and deaths in state detention. Matthew continues to accept new instructions to advise and to represent the families of the deceased at Inquests, as well as from any other forms of prospective Interested Persons (IPs). Moreover, Matthew is usually available to further sustain his involvement in such cases during associated civil and regulatory actions that may follow.
Most recently, Matthew has been gaining experience of advising and advocating for practicing clinicians in Regulatory & Disciplinary processes. Whilst some of these Regulatory matters have flowed from Matthew’s established Inquest practice, he now also accepts briefs in any free standing Regulatory & Disciplinary hearings that require Counsel. Matthew has experience of appearing in lengthy and complex Fitness to Practice Hearings before the NMC, as well as in shorter Substantive Order Review Hearings.
Further, from February 2025, Matthew has been on the Attorney General’s Regional C Panel, regularly accepting instructions from the Government Legal Department on a broad range of civil matters. Matthew frequently appears on behalf of Government Ministries in County Court, High Court and Coronial matters, often coming against Silks and Senior Juniors. This work provides Matthew with ample exposure to areas such as Human Rights, Data Protection, Public Law and Public and Professional Liability.
Before being called to the Bar in 2020, Matthew studied Physics and Geology (Joint Hons.) as an undergraduate, earned a Ph.D. (Cantab.) in Earth Sciences, and then went on to gain his Graduate Diploma in Law and Bar Professional qualifications.
Matthew was a Scholar of Gray’s Inn throughout both his GDL (the David Karmel Scholarship) and his BPTC (the Lord Bingham Scholarship).
Matthew regularly acts for families and other interested parties (primarily healthcare professionals and local authorities) across all types of Inquests. He has experience of acting in both Article 2 and non-Article 2 cases of varying complexity and scope.
“Matthew has now handled several inquests for us ranging from the straightforward to complex Article 2 jury claims. He is always thoroughly prepared and is an impressive advocate. Importantly, the clients who have appeared as witnesses in the cases he has handled have been universally complimentary about his insight into their concerns and his reassuring and supportive manner.”
Particular areas of experience
Other Training and Experience
Inquest touching the unexpected death of a young man in which damp conditions and mould at home were suspected to have played a role. Matthew represented a local, private healthcare provider in this four-day hearing into the death of a young man from an unusual respiratory condition brought about by his contraction of Aspergillus Pneumonia (mould inhalation.) The inquest found no causative link between the deceased’s living conditions and his death and Matthew’s client was not subject to the final Regulation 28 ‘Prevention of future deaths report’ that the Coroner issued.
Inquest touching the death of a young asylum seeker whilst he was detained at a psychiatric intensive care unit. Matthew represented a nurse with Interested Person (IP) status at the three-week final hearing.
Inquest touching the death of a young mother following her release from the care of a local Mental Health Service ; the authority had not communicated with the deceased’s family prior to discharge and had not adequately followed up on a previous serious incident reported within the ward setting. Matthew represented the family in a week-long inquest, the outcome off which included the making of a Regulation 28 Prevention of Future Deaths report, as well as the Coroner writing a letter to the Health Secretary recommending a nationwide review of safety protocols within mixed-sex mental health wards.
Inquest touching upon the death of a young father who died at home after suffering Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP); opportunities had been missed to correctly diagnose the deceased’s epilepsy over a significant time period, and this then led to a failure to properly manage the condition and to avoid the fatal event
Inquest touching upon the death of a patient at Birmingham Heartlands Hospital
Inquest touching upon the death of a patient at Birmingham Heartlands Hospital – Matthew acted for the family of the deceased in this matter and was able to secure a finding of Neglect against the trust for failure to provide basic medical care.
Inquest touching upon the death of an inmate at HMP Manchester
A jury inquest that focused primarily upon the supply and use of controlled substances within the prison setting.
Jury inquest into death of an inmate at HMP Durham who complained of bullying and mistreatment.
Inquest touching upon the death of a man with a history of substance misuse after a fatal overdose of fentanyl that was oversubscribed by a General Practitioner
Matthew Baron advises and represents on cases of wrongful arrest, discriminatory profiling, assaults resulting in personal injury, and other forms of police misconduct. As well as these more typical AAP cases, Matthew has experience advising and drafting court documents in Data Protection claims made against police forces.
Matthew regularly undertakes work for both Claimants and Defendants across a broad spectrum of Clinical Negligence cases. Matthew is currently accepting instructions to draft pleadings, defences, questions to experts, and any other court documents in Clinical Negligence, as well as to provide opinions and advices to all types of prospective party.
More recently, a fair proportion of Matthew’s Clinical Negligence experience has developed from his role representing families and other dependants of those who have died whilst receiving medical treatment or in hospital care. Matthew regularly serves as an advocate for families in the Coroners’ Courts and typically continues thereafter to advise and represent the families in the subsequent civil actions. This type of work in particular has given Matthew much exposure to and experience of acting in some of the more difficult and emotionally charged areas within Clinical Negligence law.
Matthew continues to maintain a wide area of active interest within Clinical Negligence, however, and is not restricting his practice to fatal claims alone. Matthew is also willing and able to pick up new instructions in Clinical Negligence at any stage of the litigation process, from Pre-Action, through Interlocutory Hearings, to Trial.
Matthew acted for a Claimant in a Clinical Negligence claim centred on a substandard debridement procedure of an infected foot wound – the matter settled following issue.
Successfully settled a claim for damages in a clinical negligence matter pertaining to a failure to diagnose a ruptured bicep – the Claimant was left with physical disfigurement of his left bicep, as well as with significant loss of strength. The latter impacted his ability to work as an Engineer and Ground Worker, and part of his claim included a Smith v Manchester for the handicap placed upon the Claimant in the open job market.
Matthew acts for both Claimants and Defendants across all formats and in all tracks, from stage 3 hearings to multi-track cases. Matthew has a national practice with respect to trial work and other forms of advocacy, and he regularly accepts instructions for parties seeking representation, advice, and drafting services. Matthew also regularly acts for insurers, local authorities, and healthcare trusts in all stages of the litigation process.
Particular areas of experience
Secured a finding of Fundamental Dishonesty against a Claimant in a claim for loss of earnings and personal injury where the CRU certificate of work benefits alone exceeded £60,000.
Represented a Claimant who was left with permanent mobility issues and complex psychological sequalae following a road traffic accident. The matter was settled by the Defendant before trial.
Represented an energy firm in a claim against it for pure psychiatric damage resulting from a breach of GDPR provisions – the Claimant’s claim for pure psychiatric harm was successfully dismissed.
Succeeded in a claim brought on behalf of a minor by her family against a company operating a holiday park following an injury to the Claimant on a park ride during a family holiday.
Successfully resisted a finding of Fundamental Dishonesty being made against a client Claimant who had a complex medical background that had not been fully disclosed to all of the instructed experts.
Successfully settled a claim for damages on behalf of a minor who was left with permanent hearing loss and the need for bone-anchored hearing aids following a delay in diagnosis of Cholesteatoma by his GP and local NHS Trust.
Secured a finding of Fundamental Dishonesty against a Claimant in a Personal Injury where the CRU certificate of work benefits alone exceeded £60,000.
Represented a Claimant who was left with permanent mobility issues and complex psychological sequalae following a road traffic accident. The matter was settled by the Defendant before trial.
| Succeeded in a claim brought on behalf of a minor by her family against a company operating a holiday park following an injury to the Claimant on a park ride during a family holiday. |
Successfully resisted a finding of Fundamental Dishonesty being made against a client Claimant who had a complex medical background that had not been fully disclosed to all of the instructed experts
Acted for the Claimant in a complex injury matter involving the interplay of physical and psychological symptoms in a minor with Autism and ADHD – the medical evidence from psychological and pain management experts were conflicting and difficult to untangle. Fortunately, the matter settled pre-trial, avoiding the need for the Claimant to have to give evidence in court (a desirable outcome in the circumstances.)
Matthew has experience representing clinicians at both Substantial Order Review Hearings and final Fitness to Practice Hearings (FtPHs) before the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). He continues to grow and develop his Regulatory & Disciplinary practice and is willing to accept new instructions in all related areas.
Matthew acts for both Claimants and Defendants in data compliance cases. Matthew has extensive knowledge of current UK Data law and has experience of both prosecuting and defending such cases at trial.
Matthew represented a national energy firm in a claim brought against it for pure psychiatric damage resulting from a breach of UK GDPR provisions – the Claimant’s claim for pure psychiatric harm was successfully resisted and the Claimant’s recoverable costs were heavily limited by the awarding trial judge.
Regional Counsel to the Crown on Panel C. The Government Legal Department (GLD)
2019-2020
Bar Professional Training Course (Outstanding)
2018-2019
Graduate Diploma in Law (Commendation)
203-2018
PhD – Earth Science
2009 – 2013
BSc Physics – Geology
Chambers is centrally located within walking distance of the train station, secure car parks and the Courts.
St Pauls Chambers
Park Row House
19-20 Park Row
Leeds
LS1 5JF
For out of hours assistance please call the senior clerk on 07854170429.
The switchboard will open from 08:30 until 17:30
Phone: +44 (0)1132 455 866
Email: [email protected]
CJSM: [email protected]
