Mathew Roper
Junior counsel

Mathew Roper

Call to Bar:2011

Legal 500 2022

"Highly competent and user-friendly."

Mathew has a busy contentious and non-contentious practice with a particular emphasis on trusts, estates, related professional negligence and the property and affairs jurisdiction of the Court of Protection.

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Legal 500 2023

"Mathew is extremely knowledgeable, reliable and hard-working. He is an valuable asset in any team and will fight his client's corner."

Legal 500 2022

"Highly competent and user-friendly."

Legal 500 2021

"Mathew has excellent attention to detail and is thorough and systematic in his approach."

Legal 500 2020

"Gets to the bottom of the evidence and provides good advice."

About Mathew Roper

Chancery

Mathew has a broad advisory and contentious and Chancery practice with an emphasis on the administration and taxation of trusts and estates. He also regularly advises and acts in cases of related professional negligence.

His cases include:

  • Almond v Goff [2021] EWHC 1703 (Ch) – (led by Tracey Angus QC) construction of a will and directions as to the due administration of a large estate.
  • Brown v New Quadrant Trust Corp Ltd [2021] EWHC 1731 (Ch) – application for an interim injunction to restrain a sale of shares for approximately £1.2M and an application for summary determination of the trustee’s counterclaim for a blessing of the proposed sale.
  • Bullard v Bullard [2017] EWHC 3 (Ch) – claim to rectify a settlement established as part of a “double trust scheme”.
  • RNLI v Headley [2016] EWHC 1948 (Ch); [2016] WTLR 1433; [2017] 1 P & CR DG4 – claim for disclosure of trust documentation and an account of the trustees’ dealings.
  • Fielden v Christie-Miller (2015) – (led by Penelope Reed QC) claim to rectify a deed of appointment in respect of a landed estate worth in excess of £40M and a counterclaim under the doctrine of proprietary estoppel.
  • Barton v Willey (2015) – (led by David Rees QC) defence of a claim to enforce an alleged contract to pay care home fees in excess of £10M.
  • Cotton v Earl of Cardigan (2013) – claim to for a blessing of a proposed sale of a mansion house for over £11M.
Court of Protection

Mathew acts for the Official Solicitor, the Public Guardian, professional deputies and other parties to applications for, amongst other things, authority to execute statutory wills, codicils and gifts, applications for the appointment of deputies, and applications concerning the validity, registration and revocation of enduring and lasting powers of attorney. He also regularly advises deputies and attorneys on claims and other issues arising in the administration of the property and financial affairs of individuals lacking capacity.

His cases include:

  • Re KP [2019] – application concerning the extent of a professional deputy’s entitlement to remuneration and expenses.
  • Re AR [2018] EWCOP 8; [2018] COPLR 274 – application as to the validity of various bulk orders made for the remuneration of a professional deputy.
  • A v D [2017] EWCOP 8; [2017] WTLR 819 – (led by Christopher Tidmarsh QC) a statutory will application concerning, amongst other things, the effect of a compromise in undue influence proceedings brought by P against one of her sons.

 

Ecclesiastical

Mathew is available to accept instructions at all stages of the Church of England’s faculty jurisdiction.

His cases include:

  • Re St Peter, Brighton (22 June 2012) – faculty for the removal of pews.
  • Re St Cyriac, Lacock (4 December 2012) – (led by Mark Blackett-Ord) faculty for permission to sell a medieval chalice known as “The Lacock Cup”.

 

Education

Mathew read Ancient and Medieval History at the University of Birmingham, graduating top of his year with First Class Honours. After completing the Graduate Diploma in Law at Nottingham Law School, Mathew was graded “Outstanding” on Bar Professional Training Course at City Law School. Mathew received the Terence Fitzgerald Scholarship and an accommodation award from Middle Temple and was called to the Bar in July 2011 with the Certificate of Honour.

Professional Memberships

Mathew is a member of the Chancery Bar Association, the Court of Protection Bar Association and the Ecclesiastical Law Society.

Publications and Lecturing

Mathew writes and lectures widely within his areas of expertise.

His recent articles and lectures include:

His recent articles include:

  • “Please, Sir, May I pay more tax? In the matter of the May Trust [2021] JRC 137”
  • Case note: Womble Bond Dickinson v Glenn [2021] EWHC 624 (Ch)
  • “Applications to vary trusts in England, Jersey and Guernsey”

His recent talks include:

  • Trusts Update
  • Recent Contentious Probate Cases
  • Often Overlooked Doctrines
  • The Forfeiture Rule
  • Changing the Terms of Trusts
  • “Illusory” Trusts
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