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.
View our teams in full detail, or browse by expertise to find a barrister.
Call 2020
Matthew Moore-Taylor principally accepts instructions in the areas of Crime, Family and Parole Board/Prison Law.
Matthew became a tenant in 2022 following the successful completion of pupillage under the supervision of Helen Chapman
Matthew enjoys a mixed criminal practice and is regularly instructed for both Prosecution and Defence in all areas of crime in the Crown Court. His experience spans myriad offences which include sexual offences, violent offences, dishonesty offences, and drugs offences. This experience has demonstrated a proficiency in dealing with expert witnesses and issues such as cell-site analysis and telephone evidence.
Matthew also has experience of private prosecutions such as those involving the RSPCA and an increasing instruction in fraud, and Proceeds of Crime Act matters.
Matthew has developed a reputation as a hardworking, meticulous and articulate advocate, and has received praise for the standard of submissions exceeding his level of Call.
Matthew is a Grade 2 CPS panel advocate.
Operation Mencos - Led Junior
Instructed by Serious Economic, Organised Crime and International Directorate of the Crown Prosecution service as prosecution junior to James Lake to prosecute a police officer who had stolen up to 4kg of cocaine from Greater Manchester Police evidence stores and supplied back onto the streets of the Greater Manchester area as well as various acts of misconduct in public office relating to his use of sensitive police systems. The Defendant was convicted following a trial in Liverpool Crown Court.
Operation Novel - Led Junior
Instructed by the HMRC and The Serious Economic, Organised Crime and International Directorate of the Crown Prosecution Service as prosecution junior to Angus MacDonald and James Lake respectively in two trials concerning the evasion of VAT, both led to convictions. The first part concerning the illegal sale of kerosene and the latter the illegal use of kerosene and other rebated fuels in HGVs.
R -v- N
Represented youth Defendant charged with violent disorder within a Youth Offenders Institute
R v B
Prosecuting a Defendant charged with 3 counts of making indecent images of Children in Sheffield Crown Court.
R v W
Successfully prosecuted a Defendant charged with s.20 GBH at trial in Harrogate Magistrates’ Court.
R v C
Represented a Defendant in Bradford Crown Court who was charged with three counts of Assault on an Emergency Worker (biting, kicking and spitting blood/phlegm), securing a suspended sentence order.
R v W
Secured a community order for a Defendant found guilty of ABH after a trial in a domestic context.
R v H
Representing a Defendant in Sheffield Crown Court at sentence who had pleaded guilty to a second-strike bladed article offence which involved attacking a man in a car with a machete, securing a suspended sentence order.
R v W
Successfully prosecuted a Defendant in the Magistrates’ Court charged with a number of ABHs in a domestic context despite the Complainant not attending Court and needing to rely on res gestae.
R v W
Defending at sentence in Leeds Crown Court a Defendant who had breached a suspended sentence order by attempting to headbutt a police officer – able to avoid activation of the custodial term.
Matthew has established a practice in child law, both public and private representing all parties.
Matthew has received instruction in cases which involve issues of drug misuse, non-accidental injury, neglect (including medical negligence) as well as physical and sexual abuse. He has been instructed for parents who have varying mental health and learning difficulties and has been praised for his compassionate treatment of their needs.
Matthew is regularly instructed in the Family Courts, in private and public law children matters and appears for parents, local authorities, and Children’s Guardian, at various stages of proceedings up to and including final hearings.
Re K, G & L - Led Junior
Led by Simon Bickler KC for the Children’s Guardian in a composite final hearing spanning 7 weeks involving allegations of sexual and physical abuse both historic and recent.
Re H & J
Counsel for the Local Authority in a 6-day in a hearing involving a mother appearing in-person and an intervenor involving allegations of abuse by both the mother and intervenor.
Re I
Counsel for a mother with significant mental health and learning disabilities in a final hearing for adoption.
Matthew’s interest in criminal law has also led to an interest in prison law, appearing regularly before parole board panels in applications for the release of inmates who have been recalled to prison or are applying for initial release. Matthew’s instruction regularly involves inmates with significant psychological conditions and the cross-examination of experts. Matthew has regularly obtained the release of such offenders who have committed wide-ranging offences, including people trafficking, robbery, rape and murder.
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]
