Matthew Reeves BA, BSc

Public Law Caseworker
Telephone: 01922 645 429 Ext: 1024

Matt joined Fountain Solicitors in 2016 assisting Natalia Garcia, Head of Public Law, with the firm’s Public Law caseload, taking action against Public bodies across the public sector including healthcare, education and local authorities.

His main practice concerns Public Law and Human Rights issues faced by asylum seekers but has a particular expertise in unlawful detention claims and age assessment disputes, which were among the first cases he acted for in 2016 and are areas for which has continued to develop his knowledge and experience.

With the majority of Matt’s casework being focussed on unlawful detention claims, he has gained extensive experience in successfully settling unlawful detention claims for clients with hugely varying circumstances including;

• Simple claims for basic damages alone;
• Claims including awards for aggravated and exemplary damages;
• Clients with a history of offending, non-compliance and absconding/overstaying;
• Claims for personal injury arising from detention;
• Vulnerable Adults – Those who were detained with health conditions or who developed health conditions as a result of detention;
• Detention of victims of trafficking, torture and modern slavery;

Through his experience with age assessment disputes, Matt has developed in-depth knowledge of both the age assessment process and the processes required for challenging a decision on age.

He has acted for clients in challenging decisions made by the Home Office and/or Local Authorities, has successfully challenged decisions through representations alone and through the use of independent expert reports and has assisted with claims through each stage of litigation – from obtaining the Defendant’s disclosure, to Pre-Action Correspondence and throughout Judicial Review proceedings.

Matt also works closely with his colleagues in our Immigration and Asylum department and external organisations to provide asylum seekers with comprehensive support and legal advice.

He therefore regularly acts for clients in matters ranging from provision and suitability of accommodation, negative Conclusive Grounds/Reasonable Grounds decisions and social services support for vulnerable adults and unaccompanied asylum-seeking children.