Disciplinary Record - Matthew John Boyden

Barrister Status:

Disbarred

Called:

Jul 2007

Inn:

Middle Temple

Hearing type:

Disciplinary Tribunal (5 Person)

Decision date

12/01/2023

Breach details:

Professional misconduct contrary to Core Duty 3, Core Duty 5, Core Duty 9 of the Code of Conduct of the Bar of England and Wales (9th Edition), Bar Standards Board Handbook (Version 4), and professional misconduct contrary to rule 8 of the Scope of Practice, Authorisation and Licensing Rules, and professional misconduct contrary to Conduct Rules 8, 64.1and 64.2 of the Code of Conduct of the Bar of England and Wales (9th Edition), Bar Standards Board Handbook (Version 4).

Offence details:

Matthew Boyden acted dishonestly when he caused or allowed the website of his employers to display a profile which contained a description of him as a ‘commercial barrister’ who provides legal services to his employer and clients, from at least 08 February 2022 to 16 May 2022, when he knew that:

(a) on 21 January 2021 the Disciplinary Tribunal made an order which prohibited him from applying for a practising certificate for a period of three years, from 21 January 2021 to 21 January 2024, and

(b) on 22 March 2019 the Disciplinary Tribunal made an order which prohibited him from applying for a practising certificate from 22 March 2019 to 22 March 2022.

Both of these orders were sent to him and were published on the websites of the Bar Standards Board and the Bar Tribunal and Adjudication Service. At all material times, from 1 April 2016, Matthew Boyden was an unregistered barrister.


Matthew Boyden caused or allowed the website of his employers to display a profile which contained a description of him as a ‘commercial barrister’, who supplied or offered to supply legal services to his employer and clients, from at least 08 February 2022 to 16 May 2022, during which time he was prohibited from applying for a practising certificate by virtue of orders of the Disciplinary Tribunal dated 21 January 2021 (applying a prohibition from 21 January 2021 to 21 January 2024), and 22 March 2019 (applying a prohibition from 22 March 2019 to 22 March 2022), and was or ought to have been aware of the same. At all material times, from 1 April 2016, Matthew Boyden was an unregistered barrister.

Matthew Boyden failed to comply in due time or at all with a decision imposed by the Disciplinary Tribunal [BSB case reference: PC/2019/0391/D5] dated 21 January 2021 which ordered him to pay costs in the sum of £1770 to the Bar Standards Board, which he was ordered to pay by 26 February 2021.

Matthew Boyden behaved in a way which could reasonably be seen by the public to undermine his honesty and/or integrity in that he:

.1 acted without integrity when he failed to comply with an order of the Disciplinary Tribunal [BSB case reference: PC/2019/0391/D5] dated 21 January 2021 in respect of payment of the Bar Standards Board’s costs in the sum of £1770.00 in due time or at all; and/or

.2 acted with dishonesty and/or without integrity when he caused or allowed the website of his employers to display a profile which contained a description of him as a ‘commercial barrister’, who supplied or offered to supply legal services to his employer and clients, from at least 08 February 2022 to 16 May 2022, when he knew, or ought to have known, that on 21 January 2021 the Disciplinary Tribunal made an order which prohibited him from applying for a practising certificate from 21 January 2021 to 21 January 2024, and that on 22 March 2019 the Disciplinary Tribunal made an order which prohibited him from applying for a practising certificate from 22 March 2019 to 22 March 2022, both of which orders were sent to him, and were published on the websites of the Bar Standards Board and the Bar Tribunal and Adjudication Service.

Matthew Boyden behaved in a way which is likely to diminish the trust and confidence which the public places in him and/or or in the profession, in that he:

.1 failed to comply with an order of the Disciplinary Tribunal [BSB case reference: PC/2019/0391/D5] dated 21 January 2021 in respect of payment of the Bar Standards Board’s costs in the sum of £1770.00 in due time or at all; and/or

.2 caused or allowed the website of his employers to display a profile which contained a description of him as a ‘commercial barrister’, who supplied or offered to supply legal services to his employer and clients, from at least 08 February 2022 to 16 May 2022, when he knew, or ought to have known, that on 21 January 2021 the Disciplinary Tribunal made an order which prohibited him from applying for a practising certificate from 21 January 2021 to 21 January 2024, and that on 22 March 2019 the Disciplinary Tribunal made an order which prohibited him from applying for a practising certificate from 22 March 2019 to 22 March 2022, both of which orders were sent to him, and were published on the websites of the Bar Standards Board and the Bar Tribunal and Adjudication Service.

Matthew Boyden failed to be open and co-operative with his regulator, the Bar Standards Board, in that between 8 February to 16 May 2022, he failed to respond promptly or at all, to requests for information sent in respect of a regulatory investigation under BSB case reference PC021/6527.

1

Sanction:

Disbarred (sentence will come into effect on 8 February 2023).

Costs:

£¤4,041.96

Status:

Final