Matthew Barnett
Matthew is a partner in the Private Client team and is Head of Private Client UK.
Matthew acts for high-net-worth individuals on a wide range of estate and succession planning issues. He has extensive experience in advising high-net-worth clients on lifetime gifting and on the use of wills and trusts for the protection of wealth for future generations. He regularly advises trustees on their duties, responsibilities and specific aspects of tax and trust planning. Matthew also advises business owners and entrepreneurs on business succession planning.
He has vast experience in probate and estate administration and has dealt with many high value, complex and multi-jurisdictional estates throughout his career. He often advises beneficiaries of estates on succession planning involving post-death variations.
Matthew also has particular experience in advising clients on mental capacity issues such as Lasting Powers of Attorney and Deputyship applications to the Court of Protection.
He joined the firm in 2019.
Expertise
Private Client
Trusts
Wills
Credentials
Recommended as a ‘Leading Individual’ in The Legal 500 2026
Ranked in the Private Wealth Law category in Chambers High Net Worth 2025
Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives – June 2002
EXPERIENCE
Matthew’s experience includes:
Administering a complex international estate containing a wide variety of assets (including various properties, high value vehicles and a stable of top-tier eventing horses), substantial liabilities, dealing with employee-related issues and the establishment of a charitable foundation.
Administration of a sizeable trust whose main asset was the copyright, rights and interests in a successful deceased author’s literary estate including liaising with agents regarding the ongoing commercial exploitation of rights, collecting royalties, preparing VAT and annual tax returns and dealing with beneficiary distributions.
Advising two business owners each owning a 50% share of their business to provide for succession planning for their respective families and for the future continuation of the business on the death or incapacity of one of the owners through drafting complex Wills and Lasting Powers of Attorney, working with Corporate colleagues regarding revisions to company documentation and liaising with the clients’ financial advisers and accountants.
Successfully applying to the Court of Protection for an order to approve (i) a deed of variation of a Will to divert assets qualifying for business property relief away from the 90 year old mentally incapacitated surviving spouse to the next generation and (ii) ongoing (and obtaining retrospective approval for) gifting.
Matt has a detailed knowledge of the law and puts it to very good effect. He is down to earth and explains the most complicated issues in a way that non-lawyers can easily understand.
Chambers High Net Worth 2025
Matthew Barnett is incredibly good with clients and probate law. He is very good at making clients feel at ease.
Chambers High Net Worth 2025
Matthew really 'read the room' in a situation that was highly emotional and volatile. His calm and collaborative approach allowed us to work through the highly complex situation.
Chambers High Net Worth 2025
Matthew Barnett has a rightly devoted client following, repeatedly delivering solutions which work perfectly.
The Legal 500 UK 2025
Matthew Barnett is particularly experienced in advising on the protection of wealth for future generations.
The Legal 500 UK 2025
Matt Barnett is an excellent lawyer and a safe pair of hands on UK wills and probate work. He also has an excellent bedside manner.
Chambers High Net Worth 2024
Matthew Barnett can relate to any client from any background and explain complex things in a really easily digestible way. He really cares about his clients.
Chambers High Net Worth 2024
Matthew Barnett advises high net worth clients on succession planning, tax and trusts, and estate administration.
Chambers High Net Worth 2024
Partner Mathew Barnett is another tremendous asset for the firm and a rock for his clients.
The Legal 500 UK 2024
Matthew Barnett & Anna Primrose are both excellent private client lawyers. Their mastery of administration of complex estates is extremely impressive.
The Legal 500 UK 2024
Matthew Barnett is approachable, likeable, personable, professional & knowledgeable. I enjoy working with Matthew & trust him to take good professional care of my clients.
The Legal 500 UK 2023
Matthew is an expert at the top of his game in respect to onshore and traditional estate planning law.
The Legal 500 UK 2023
Matthew Barnett is exceptionally knowledgeable and able to communicate complex advice in a way that is understandable and practical. Matthew is down to earth, approachable and clients and colleagues love him.
The Legal 500 UK 2022
Thank you for your ongoing help and approachability, it make a huge difference to the situation.
Client feedback 2021
We contrast your approach to the abysmal service we received from our parents solicitor when we were trying to close their affairs - we are in awe of you!
Client feedback 2021
Matthew Barnett has long been my go-to man to send clients to for wills and trusts and he always gains their trust.
The Legal 500 UK 2021
Matt is always a pleasure to work with and is particularly strong on non-contentious tax and wealth planning.
The Legal 500 UK 2021
Excellent knowledge and understanding of the tax and wider issues confronting private clients and trustees. Well able to compete on equal terms with all the majors in this field.
The Legal 500 UK 2021