Matt is a lawyer and one of the two founder directors of the firm.

 

He has spent nearly 20 years working as a media lawyer, first at media law firm Schillings and then through his own law firm Himsworth Scott (now called Slateford) he brings a wealth of experience in understanding digital communication, developing safe cultures and protecting reputation and privacy in sport and beyond.

​

Matt still works with his former colleagues at Slateford as a consultant so that he can continue to serve his clients when legal issues arise (Slateford profile).

​

Legal Work

​

During his time as a lawyer he has acted for some of the most celebrated names in sport on matters relating to reputation and privacy. Matters which can be mentioned include Lance Armstrong's libel action against the Sunday Times (which Matt has blogged about here), Rowan Atkinson's libel proceedings against the Daily Mail, Steve Morgan CBE's libel claim against the Daily Mail (in which the Mail's defence was struck out), Rachel Thompson's ground-breaking claim against Apple and comedian Louise Beamont's successful defence of a claim brought by her estranged husband about her show.

​

Matt has secured numerous published apologies on behalf of clients including: Manchester City, James Haskell, Raheem Sterling, Fernando Torres and Steve Morgan CBE. 

​

Digital harms

​

One of Matt's passions in recent years has been in protecting individuals and campaigning in relation to digital harms. In Matt's work, with both B5 and as a lawyer, he has seen the evil and harm caused by such crimes as digital hacking, online threats and revenge porn. He has acted pro bono for victims of revenge porn and iCloud hacks and is making submissions to the Law Commission to seek to have the law tightened to criminalise the abusive behaviours which are carried out online and also those websites which facilitate and encourage this behaviour.

​

Retained Work

​

Matt has worked for many years, and continues to work, as a trusted adviser to many top Premier League and Championship Football Clubs as well as player associations and other sports organisations and companies.

​

He provides reputation and privacy protection services to players, coaches and executives and has worked hard with the clubs’ education and player care departments to deliver a unique education and mentoring programme for Academy and Elite Development squads in relation to reputation, privacy, the media and social media, as well as other safe off-field behaviours. Matt continues to extend this educational, support and advice offering to other sectors including FTSE 100 companies, government organisations and high-net-worth families.

​

Working with individuals, particularly young sportspeople, to develop safe behaviours is a real passion. The three off-pitch and online behaviours he talks about are being risk averse, respectful and defensive. No person is perfect and we all make mistakes (and are entitled to be redeemed and rehabilitated when we do) but the more we can do with our young people to equip them for this unforgiving digital world, the better. The clubs and sports organisations we work with have been so progressive and innovative in allowing both Matt and Fraser to help bring out positive cultures. One particular example is the forward-thinking approach at Norwich City.

​

Media Work

​

Matt has appeared on television and radio a number of times including on: Radio 5 Live, BBC Breakfast, talkSPORT, LBC, This Morning, BBC Radio London and Sky News. He has also been quoted and interviewed for publications including the Telegraph, the Times, the Athletic, the Independent, the Mirror and the Daily Mail.

​

He has also featured on the Legal Cheek legal entrepreneurs podcast, Melissa Reddy's Between the Lines and, of course, hosting the Football Journeys podcast.

​

​