Matthew Wyard provides advice and representation on public law matters concerning education, health and social care, as well as private client matters, predominantly (but not exclusively) in the Court of Protection. He is described in the directories as “meticulous in his preparation and has a great way with clients, putting them at ease”, “is very detailed and will go that extra step in order to present the strongest possible case” and whose “advocacy is well beyond his year of call” (Legal 500).
For more information on Matthew’s specialist practice areas please see his area specific profiles below.
Matthew prides himself on “excellent, comprehensive and practical” advice as well as his “exemplar” client care (Chambers UK).
Matthew is a widely published legal author. He is a contributing author to the Education Law Handbook, the leading text for education law practitioners and a contributing editor to Clarke Hall and Morrison on Children. He regularly writes for Lexis PSL and Practical Law and has also been published in The Times Higher Education, the Education Law Monitor and the Solicitors Journal.
Matthew is committed to protecting and respecting your privacy. Please contact him for a copy of his privacy notice which sets out the basis upon which any personal data he may receive will be protected.
Matthew Wyard is one of a handful of barristers who specialises in the niche provision of regulatory advice in the life sciences sector. He has a particular interest in the regulations governing psychoactive medications and medicinal cannabis and has a working knowledge of the relevant international and domestic statutory regimes.
Examples of recent cases Matthew has been involved in within the cannabis and pharmaceutical regulatory field include:
Matthew is the author of a number of articles on cannabis regulation including: “Cannabis Based Medicinal Products” on Practical Law which provides an overview of the law; “Novel foods regulation: Getting your product to the UK market (including cannabis-based food products)” which reviews the law regulating novel food products in the UK; “The UK Market Authorisation for new medicinal products” and an “Update on UK tobacco law in light of Article 7 of the EU Tobacco Productive Directive”, which forbids the sale of any tobacco products with a characterising flavour.
Importation and exportation of cannabinoid products post-Brexit
3PB’s Matthew Wyard, a specialist regulatory barrister has issued a briefing, in tandem with Ricardo Geada, head of the cannabis and regulatory team at law firm Mackrell Solicitors aimed at companies working within the CBD industry post-Brexit.
The briefing is a must-read for all businesses continuing to trade cannabinoid products post-Brexit and has been distributed by the Cannabis Trades Association to its members.
Matthew Wyard acts for a wide range of clients, including several individuals and education institutions. He is particularly well-regarded for this work before the SEN Upper Tribunal and offers additional expertise in judicial reviews.
Strengths: "Matthew Wyard's advocacy is clear, concise and easy to follow. He is very personable with clients." "Matthew is very responsive and proactive, with great drafting and preparation skills." "Matthew is brilliant in his field, and his knowledge of both English and Welsh law is second to none."
Chambers UK 2025/Administrative and Public Law/Regions
Matthew Wyard is skilled in handling public law challenges arising from decisions made in relation to education and immigration. He is a member of the Attorney General's 'C' panel.
Strengths: "Matthew is prompt, sharp and effective." "Matthew is a fantastically pragmatic barrister with an eye for detail. He takes the complicated details of his cases and puts forward straightforward and sensible solutions. "His written work in age assessment matters is super strong. "Matthew is good at strategic advice."
Chambers UK 2025/Administrative and Public Law/Regions
Matthew Wyard is skilled in handling public law challenges arising from decisions made in relation to education. He is a member of the Attorney General's 'C' panel.
Chambers UK 2024/Administrative and Public Law/Regions
Strengths: “He is very good and knowledgeable in the education law field.”
“Matthew is very good at reviewing papers and picking up information and facts very quickly, and he is always on top of things.”
Chambers UK 2024/Education/London Bar
Strengths: “He is an outstanding advocate with a fantastic grasp of complex, factual cases and a thorough and detailed knowledge of the legal framework. His client care is exemplary.”
“Matthew is capable of dealing with complex matters at a rapid pace.”
“Matthew works tirelessly for his clients and puts up quite a performance within the special needs tribunals.”
Chambers UK 2023/Education/London Bar
Strengths: He is proactive, very knowledgeable and good at what he does." "His advice is excellent - comprehensive and very practical as well."
Recent work: Acted for the successful respondent in Nottinghamshire County Council v SF & Others, a challenge to the approach taken by the Upper Tribunal to a 'refusal to issue' appeal.
Chambers UK 2022/Education/London Bar
Matthew Wyard is noted for his expertise in judicial reviews and in special educational needs matters.
Matthew is a shrewd advocate, often finding nuance arguments in cases which other counsel may overlook. His advocacy is very reasoned, balanced, and he has a fantastic legal mind for untested areas of the law and judicial review. One to watch.
Legal 500 2025/Education/Leading Juniors/London Bar
Mathew is a conscientious barrister who will do his utmost for his client. He is a good lawyer and a very helpful junior in the quality of his legal research and his thoughts and ideas for advancing the case.
Legal 500 2025/Court of Protection and community care/Leading Juniors/London Bar
‘His knowledge and expertise make him a natural choice to instruct on judicial review matters. He knows the Welsh legislation inside out. He is tactically very astute in such challenges and delivers advice in a timely and sensitive manner.’
Legal 500 2024/Administrative and Public Law/Leading Juniors/Wales and Chester
‘Matthew is quick to get to the crux of a case and exhibits particular expertise in cases involving special educational needs. His ability to look at a case from all sides is a particular strength.’
Legal 500 2024/Education/Leading Juniors/London Bar
‘He quickly picks the issues in the case and is particularly great in a round table meeting which includes litigants in person. He is able to clearly take the parties through the main issues, which helps to progress the matter and discussion.’
Legal 500 2024/Court of Protection and Community Care/Leading Juniors/Wales and Chester - Ranked in Tier 1
‘He is calm under pressure, very reassuring with clients and has a keen eye for detail. He is measured in his approach and has particular expertise within the area of special educational needs law within Wales. He is fast becoming the go-to barrister in this area of law, which has seen major changes over the last couple of years. He appropriately adapts his style of advocacy to the relevant forum and is respected by fellow barristers and judges alike.’
Legal 500 2024/Education/Leading juniors/Wales and Chester - Ranked in Tier 1
‘Matthew is meticulous with his preparation and has a great way with clients, putting them at ease so that they can give clear and cogent evidence. His advocacy is well beyond his year of call. ’
Legal 500 2023/Education/Leading Juniors/London Bar
'Matthew is very detailed and will go that extra step further in order to present the strongest case possible. He is very approachable and clients like him.'
Legal 500 2023/Education/Leading juniors/Wales and Chester - Ranked in Tier 1
'An excellent advocate.'
Legal 500 2023/Court of Protection and Community Care/Leading Juniors/Wales and Chester - Ranked in Tier 1
‘A junior with good client care skills, and his advice is well-considered, comprehensive and clear.’
Legal 500 2022/Court of Protection and Community Care/Rising Stars/Wales and Chester - Ranked in Tier 1
‘A strong and detailed advocate who quickly identifies the relevant issues in a case. He has the ear of the Tribunal.’
Legal 500 2022/Education/Rising Stars/Tier 1/Wales and Chester
"[...] the addition of Matthew Wyard to the team has given real fire power to their Court of Protection offering in Wales.'"
‘His in-depth knowledge of Welsh social care law is an advantage.’
Legal 500 2021/Court of Protection and Community Care/Rising Stars/Tier 1/Wales and Chester
"[...] 3PB's presence in this region comes in the form Matthew Wyard… He specialises in public law challenges in the education sector, civil claims against education institutions and special educational needs appeals."
‘One of very few barristers in the Country who has a true grasp of Welsh Education Law.’
Legal 500 2021/Education/Rising Stars/Tier 1/Wales and Chester
“Thank you again for the excellent outcome you obtained for us yesterday. This note is also very helpful. I have shared it with our wider team because I am sure that the outcome will assist with the handling of many of the other data protection claims across [the organisation] at the moment.
It was a stroke of luck for us that you were able to assist with this matter at short notice and your work is very much appreciated. ’’
Instructing Solicitor, Data protection matter
“I did also want to mention that…we have received some excellent feedback recently for 3PB and thought it would be good to share this with you. I have received excellent reports from [team members] and most importantly of all, my clients, regarding the high quality and standard of the work that we are receiving…specifically in relation to…Matthew…I have worked closely with Matthew on one of my cases recently and I am hugely impressed, as are the clients, over his handline and management of the case. The clients are absolutely delighted with his professionalism, conduct and communication. This is a case where it has gone part-heard and the clients do not seem to mind a bit as Matthew has been just excellent”
Partner/Head of Education - National Law Firm
''I instruct Matthew regularly and am never disappointed by the level of professionalism and knowledge he brings to each case he is instructed on. Matthew has a unique way of identifying the key issues of a case and preparing submissions in a clear and persuasive manner, in order to achieve the best result possible. I can trust that he will always provide honest and efficient advice and am happy to have good working relationship with him.''
Instructing Solicitor
As you can imagine, it is extremely stressful for families to be going through this so I just wanted to say a big thank you for supporting me through [the] tribunal. I would recommend you to anyone going through similar proceedings. We are delighted with the outcome and have not stopped smiling since!
Client, Education
Firstly, the client would like for me to pass on their gratitude to Matt for all of his assistance on this matter. They described him as “a really nice guy who fought formidably for them and have nothing but praise for the work he has undertaken’’.
Clients feedback to instructing solicitor
Thank you so much for recommending and introducing us to Matthew. We’ve effectively been on hold for two years waiting to hear from the Coroner’s. It was painful for us to engage again with the legal process. We appreciate that you also experienced difficult emotions. We were on a very long journey that ultimately ended in tragedy, so we’d be lying to say we weren’t dreading the meeting at 3PB.
Matthew was so professional, on point and informative. But above all, he was kind and empathetic. We didn’t feel pushed into making a decision, but ultimately, his clarity in describing the potential road ahead allowed us to make a pragmatic decision. We did leave the Chambers convinced that pushing forward was the right thing to do. However, as the night wore on, and emotions fluctuated we were able to come to the view that there is little point in pushing for an Inquest to be opened. It’s a huge weight off our shoulders and we’d be grateful if you could convey to Matthew just how pivotal he was in helping us reach this point of release.
Clients feedback to instructing solicitor
