Matthew Bunting joined Quinn Emanuel’s London office at the time of its opening in 2008, having previously worked as senior associate in the litigation department of a leading Magic Circle firm in London and in a prominent New Zealand firm. He has been a partner in Quinn Emanuel since 2011. Matthew is an experienced solicitor advocate with a background in large complex commercial litigation and arbitration, often with a significant cross-border element.
Matthew has particular experience in managing litigation with interconnected English and US elements and litigation involving serious issues of fraud in the corporate context. Matthew regularly appears in Court or arbitration proceedings as counsel for clients, and also works closely with the independent bar in appropriate cases. In addition, Matthew represents clients involved in regulatory disputes and investigations.
Matthew acts for a range of clients, including funds, investors, major corporates, professional trustees, bankruptcy office holders and high net worth individuals. Matthew also has considerable experience acting as litigation counsel alongside the corporate and/or restructuring teams of leading City firms that cannot act in litigation adverse to major financial institutions.
Matthew is recommended for Commercial Litigation and Banking Litigation in the Legal 500, which comments that he 'distils the most complex problems into plain English.' Chambers describes Matthew as “adept at handling a range of complex domestic and international banking disputes with corporate fraud being a particular area of specialism. He has noteworthy experience in co-ordinating litigation across multiple jurisdictions and is regarded by clients as "enormously mature and sophisticated counsel."” He is also listed as a rising star in Commercial Litigation in Thomson Reuters Super Lawyers and was named to The Lawyer’s Hot 100 2020 list.
- Acting for investment manager Quantum Global in successfully obtaining the discharge of a $3 billion worldwide freezing order obtained by an Angolan Sovereign Wealth fund and acting in related litigation and arbitration proceedings in London and Mauritius.
- Representing a number of secondary acquirers of books of consumer debt in relation to claims arising out of PPI mis-selling and Consumer Credit Act non-compliance by the original creator of the book.
- Advising an alternative investment manager in relation to regulatory inquiries arising out of the collapse of BHS.
- Advising the developer of a novel cigarette replacement product in a dispute with a joint venture partner, including in ICC arbitration proceedings.
- Advising an Italian engineering group in multi-jurisdictional litigation and arbitration proceedings arising out of the development of a biomass ethanol refinery in Brazil.
- Advising the receivers of the Libyan Investment Authority’s multi-billion dollar claims against a number of financial institutions.
- Acting for Irish financier Derek Quinlan in expedited proceedings alleging unfair prejudice and conspiracy in connection with the Maybourne Hotel Group (owners of Claridge’s, the Connaught and the Berkeley hotels) (Re Coroin). After a 30 day trial, all claims against Mr. Quinlan were dismissed in a judgment that was upheld by the Court of Appeal. Matthew continues to represent Mr. Quinlan in Chancery Division and Commercial Court proceedings commenced after the Court of Appeal’s decision.
- Representing Saudi interests in obtaining dismissal of proceedings in the English High Court in which Citigroup sought declarations of non-liability against our clients under the 2002 ISDA Master Agreement and Equity Derivates Definitions. The proceedings were, in substance, an attempt to pre-empt US arbitration proceedings worth around US$350m brought in New York under the rules of the US Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.
- Representing the owner of a London property group in a series of disputes with NAMA arising out of the failure of the Irish Nationwide Building Society and NAMA’s subsequent appointment of administrators to certain companies within the client’s group. The case involves multiple proceedings in the Chancery Division and Queen’s Bench Division of the High Court.
- Acting for a FTSE 100 company in a series of disputes arising in connection with the acquisition of a joint venture partner’s interest in a substantial listed company, including claims for breach of warranty and accounts of profits.
- Acting for an insurance investment group in proceedings against RBS and Direct Line, in which it is alleged that RBS and Direct Line misused the client’s confidential banking information.
- Acting for the administrators of the UK branch of an Icelandic bank in proceedings against a European investment bank arising from a mistaken settlement of a substantial trade immediately prior to institution of bankruptcy processes in the UK and Iceland.
- Acting for an online retailer in a series of warranty disputes arising out of business acquisitions, including serious allegations of dishonesty.
- Acting for private equity fund in a professional negligence claim against a ‘big 4’ accountant. The claim concerned the performance by the accountant of a due diligence assignment on a company acquired by the fund that later went into administration.
- Representing a senior banker in connection with the investigations and regulatory and criminal proceedings arising out of the action of UBS ‘rogue trader’ Kwaku Adoboli.
- Acting for a German municipal authority in major Commercial Court proceedings relating to CDO and CDS transactions entered into with a large investment bank and involving questions of German and European law, including in relation to jurisdiction and corporate capacity.
- Acting for MAN AG, the German industrial company, in Commercial Court proceedings in London and State Court proceedings in Portland, Oregon, arising out of the acquisition by MAN of the English truck manufacturer ERF. The English proceedings led to a judgment described by the legal press as the most valuable ever delivered by an English Court while the US proceedings led to the largest jury verdict in the United States in 2006 and the largest ever award of punitive damages in the State of Oregon.
- Representing the former chief executive of a Fortune 500 company in a substantial Commercial Court trial against an investment bank arising out of trading in complex foreign exchange derivatives, including proceedings in the United States to obtain deposition evidence relating to the case.
- Acting for a private equity placement agent in High Court proceedings relating to the payment of a success fee due following the raising of a private equity fund.
- Representing a major insurance broker in two sets of Commercial Court proceedings (and related proceedings in the United States to obtain discovery in support of English litigation) arising out of the PA LMX reinsurance spiral and involving serious allegations of fraud.
- Advising a range of institutions on issues arising out of transactions governed by the ISDA Master Agreement, including in particular disputes relating to the closing out of transactions.
- Acting on English law matters as conflict counsel to the Committee of Unsecured Creditors in the Lehman Brothers Chapter 11 proceedings, including work in relation to letters of request and undertaking depositions of English based witnesses in support of US proceedings.
- Representing a banker involved in the sale of Skype to eBay in proceedings resulting from that transaction and successfully challenging the jurisdiction of the English Courts in the dispute (in favor of US jurisdiction).
- Advising a range of entities on defamation issues arising out of disputes in the financial sector.
- Acting for the joint liquidators of Global Trader Europe, a CFD brokerage.
- Acting alongside a leading City firm as litigation counsel for the unsecured holders of bonds issued by the financial services group Cattles plc.
- Undertaking a range of sensitive corporate investigations in a range of contexts, including in relation to M&A transactions and corporate fraud.
- Lender Liability & Other Banking Financial Institution Litigation
- Bankruptcy & Restructuring
- Domestic U.S. Arbitration
- Insurance & Reinsurance Litigation
- Investment Fund Litigation
- Real Estate Litigation
- Securities Litigation
- Structured Finance & Derivatives Litigation
- Transnational Litigation
- Investigations, Government Enforcement & White Collar Criminal Defense Practice
- International Arbitration
- Accounting & Financial Reporting Litigation
- Victoria University of Wellington
(First Class Degree Law, Degree in Political Science and Public Administration, 2001)
- Solicitor, England and Wales
- Barrister, The High Court of New Zealand
- Solicitor, The High Court of New Zealand
- Slaughter and May:
- Associate, 2003-2008
- Associate, 2003-2008
- Buddle Findlay, New Zealand:
- Barrister and Solicitor, 2001-2003
- Listed as a Recommended Lawyer, in Legal 500 UK for Fraud: Civil, 2025
- Listed as a Recommended Lawyer, in Legal 500 UK for Banking Litigation: Investment and Retail, 2025
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"Other key figures are Matthew Bunting, who routinely manages litigation involving corporate-related fraud issues."
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"‘Outstanding litigator‘ Richard East leads the team and he is ably supported by Matthew Bunting, who acts for a diverse range of financial institutions, corporates, and high-net-worth individuals, demonstrating particular expertise in disputes with both UK and US aspects.”
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- Ranked by Chambers UK for Banking Litigation, Band 3, 2025
- Ranked by Chambers UK for Banking Litigation: Mainly Claimant, Band 3, 2025
- Named by Who's Who Legal - Commercial Litigation, Future Leaders, 2018-2022, 2024
- Selected by Lawdragon 500 Leading Global Litigators, International Disputes & Litigation, 2024
- Selected by Lawdragon 500 Global Litigation Lawyers guide, 2021 and 2023-2024
- Named a Global Leader by Who’s Who Legal in Commercial Litigation, 2022-2023.
- Ranked by Legal 500 UK 2022 for Banking Litigation, Band 3
- Named to The Lawyer ’s Hot 100 2020 list
- Ranked by Chambers UK for Banking Litigation, 2017-2020
- Listed as a key lawyer in Legal 500 UK 2020 for Commercial Litigation, 2019-2020
- Listed as a key lawyer in Legal 500 UK 2020 for Banking Litigation: Investment & Retail, 2017-2020
- Listed as a Super Lawyers’ London Rising Stars, 2013-2015
- Recognized in Turnarounds & Workouts for European Restructuring Practices of Major U.S. Law Firms, 2015
- Selected by Global Law Experts as a Cross Border Litigation Lawyer of the Year in England, 2015
- Bunting, M. and Dennehy, M. "Issues in Transatlantic Litigation" Practical Law Company (October 7, 2010).