Matthias Kelly QC

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Qualified: 
Mediator
Specialist Areas: 
Employment and workplace
Personal injury and clinical negligence
Professional Negligence
Education: 
Trinity College, Dublin

BA (Hons) Legal Science, LLB 1975-1978
Council of Legal Education, London. Bar Finals 1978-1979
Additional Experience: 
CALL: 1979
SILK: 1999

1983: Called to the Bar in Kings Inn, Dublin and the Inn of Court, Belfast
1986: Admitted as Attorney; New York State Bar
1987: Admitted as Attorney; U.S. Federal Bar
2005: Appointed Senior Counsel, Republic of Ireland

RECOMMENDATIONS

Chambers & Partners recommends Matthias for personal injury, highlighting his “sheer technical brilliance” and his “ability to understand how an insurer perceives a claim”.

He is also regarded as a leader in personal injury by Legal 500 which describes him as “a confident advocate who can be relied upon to give an honest and forthright appraisal of the merits”. (2006)

EXPERIENCE AND EXPERTISE

Matthias is well known for his expertise in the fields of clinical negligence, personal injury, health & safety and related professional negligence. He also undertakes employment work. Since the end of his term of office as chairman of the Bar Council, he has developed a practice in administrative law focusing on the intersection of politics and law and mainly acting for Government Departments, Institutions and Trade Unions.

Committee Appointments: 
  • Bencher of The Hon. Society of Gray’s Inn, London (2002)
  • Recorder of the Crown Court (2002)
  • Chairman: General Council of the Bar of England and Wales, 2003(vice chair 2002)
  • Chairman, Bar Conference committee,  2001 (vice chair 2000)
  • Chairman, Personal Injuries Bar Association, 2001-2002 (vice chair 2000-2001)
  • Chairman of the Policy Committee of the Bar Council of England and Wales, 2000
  • Member Inter-Professional Working party on the actuarial assessment of damages in personal injury and fatal accident litigation (‘The Ogden tables’ 3rd and 4th editions) 1997-2002
  • Member of the Committee of Inquiry (‘Blackwell Committee’) established by the Lord Chancellor to inquire into the activities of non-legally qualified loss adjusters, 1999-2000
  • Consultant to European Commission on UK Health and Safety Law, 1994-96
  • Member Gray’s Inn Management Committee 1993-1995
  • Member Bar Council of England and Wales, 1998-2004
  • Member, General Management Committee of the Bar Council of England and Wales, 1999-2004
  • Chairman, Public Affairs Group of the Bar Council of England and Wales, 2001. Vice Chairman 1999-2000
  • Member, Remuneration and Terms of Work Committee, Bar Council of England and Wales 1998-1999
  • Member, Remuneration Committee of the Bar Council of England and Wales, 2000
  • Member of the ‘Funding of Access to Justice’ working party of the Bar of England and Wales 1998-2000
  • Secretary Personal Injuries Bar Association, 1994-2000
  • Instructor on Gray's Inn advocacy course, 1991-
Other Appointments: 
  • Director (Non Executive), Allied Irish Bank (UK) PLC, 2004 -
  • Trustee Free Representation Unit, 2004 -
  • Founder “Bar in the Community”, 2001 –
  • Vice Chairman, Disciplinary Panel, Institute of Actuaries, 2000-
  • Advisor to CHAR and Crisis, 1990-92
  • Board member, then Chairman, Alcohol Recovery Project (ARP) 1993-1996
  • Chairman, “Children Act Housing Action Group”, 1990-1994
  • Legal advisor in the Free Legal Aid Centre, Crumlin, Dublin 1974-1977
Memberships: 
  • Honorary life member British Society of Criminology
  • Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts