Matthew Wilshaw

Senior Associate Advocate

Litigation experience built at Advocates Smith Taubitz Unsworth Ltd.

Matt is a Senior Associate Advocate with a substantial practice in civil litigation, personal injury, clinical negligence and commercial disputes.

Commissioned in 2016, Matt joined Advocates Smith Taubitz Unsworth Ltd shortly afterwards as a newly qualified Advocate with no previous litigation experience.

Since then he has developed his practice through hands-on involvement in contentious work and courtroom advocacy, progressing within Advocates Smith Taubitz Unsworth Ltd from newly qualified Advocate to Senior Associate.

His career provides a good example of the firm’s approach to developing Advocates: meaningful responsibility, practical experience and senior support.

Straightforward advice. Practical litigation.

Civil & commercial litigation

Matt acts for individuals, businesses, insurers and organisations across a broad range of civil and commercial disputes.

His experience includes contractual disputes, professional negligence, insurance litigation and other claims requiring detailed factual analysis and court proceedings.

Years spent conducting litigation have given him an understanding of how cases develop from an initial disagreement into formal proceedings — and where opportunities may exist to prevent that happening.

Personal injury & clinical negligence

Personal injury and clinical negligence form a significant part of Matt’s practice.

He deals with cases involving medical records and expert evidence, questions of liability and causation, and the assessment of financial loss.

These cases require careful preparation.

Understanding the medical evidence is only the starting point. It must then be connected to the legal test and the practical consequences for the person involved.

Advocacy

Matt has significant experience of appearing before the Isle of Man Courts.

His experience encompasses contested hearings and the day-to-day advocacy required to progress litigation effectively.

As with all Advocates Smith Taubitz Unsworth Ltd Advocates, courtroom experience informs the way he prepares cases from the outset.

Evidence that has to withstand scrutiny in court needs to be identified and tested long before the hearing.

Developing at ASTU

From newly qualified Advocate to Senior Associate.  Matt’s development has taken place alongside Advocates Smith Taubitz Unsworth’s own growth.

He arrived at the firm shortly after commissioning without a background in litigation.  Through exposure to real cases, increasing responsibility and practical advocacy, he has built a substantial contentious practice and progressed to Senior Associate, and has a stellar reputation as a litigator.

That experience also places him in a strong position to support junior lawyers now following the same path.

Working with Matt

Matt’s approach is practical and straightforward.

He focuses on understanding the evidence, explaining the options clearly and identifying what needs to happen next.

Not every dispute needs to become more complicated simply because lawyers are involved.

Understand the problem. Keep the advice clear. Get on with solving it.