Matt has practised exclusively as a Family Law barrister for 16 years, having been called to the Bar of England & Wales in 2010 and the Victorian Bar in 2021.
He has been recognised as a leading Family Law barrister in Australia since beginning his practice in 2021 and continues to be recognised in the English legal directories as a leading Family Law barrister.
Matt’s expertise is in the division of property after separation and parenting disputes. He is briefed to advise and appear in cases involving disputes about equitable interests in property, trusts and commercial issues, including Corporations Act oppression claims.
He regularly appears in interlocutory and defended hearing in FCFCOA Registries across Australia.
When he is in England, Matt sits part-time as a Judge of the Family Court. He was first appointed in 2019. In January 2022 HM The Queen appointed Matt to be a Recorder hearing trials in the Family Court in cases about children and family property.
Matt has a unique background in professional sport as a former elite match official and is instructed to represent players from a wide range of sporting backgrounds before disciplinary panels and in other regulatory environments.
Matt arbitrates parenting and property disputes in England and is an Australian Nationally Accredited Arbitrator and Mediator.
Appointments
2022 – Recorder (Family Court, England)
2021 – Deputy District Judge (Family Court & County Court, England)
2019 – Judge of the First-Tier Tribunal (fee-paid) (England)
Matthew chairs Tribunals, arbitrates disputes and determines sports regulatory matters for:
- The National Sports Tribunal
- Rugby Australia
- Rugby Victoria
- Sport Resolutions Panel of Arbitrators & Mediators
- National Safeguarding Panel (UK)
- International Mixed Martial Arts Federation
- Rugby Football Union
- European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR)
- Rugby Europe Disciplinary Committee
- England Boxing Disciplinary Panel
- Professional Golf Association (PGA) European Tour
- The Football Association Judicial Panel
- Specialist Member of The Football Association Safeguarding Review Panel
- British Equestrian
Legal Directories
“Leading Family Law Junior Counsel – Australia” – Doyle’s Guide
“Leading Family Law Junior Counsel, Victoria” – Doyle’s Guide
“Leading Family Law Mediator, Victoria” – Doyle’s Guide
“Matthew is very thorough and organised, has a strong breadth of knowledge and confident representation in court setting. He always provides clear and succinct advice to clients, helping them sort the emotive issues from those issues which are relevant for the purposes of negotiating a settlement or preparing for a hearing.” – Legal 500 UK Bar
“The set is recommended …for the work of experienced counsel such as … Matthew O’Grady undertaking complex matrimonial and financial disputes.” – Legal 500 UK Bar
“A team player and consummate professional.” Legal 500 UK Bar
“Leading junior: divorce and financial remedy.” – Legal 500 UK Bar
“Leading junior: child law.” – Legal 500 UK Bar
Sports Background
Matt has a considerable background in professional rugby. He was a professional referee in England and could often be spotted officiating on live television when not in Court. Matt refereed in the Gallagher and Aviva Premierships and Greene King IPA Championship. He officiated at the very highest levels of European Cup rugby and travelled across world. Amongst his officiating highlights are his involvement in Rugby World Cup 2015; refereeing the Army v Navy in front of a capacity 82,000 Twickenham crowd and his overseas trips including to; Japan, South Africa, USA, Malaysia and the Dubai 7s.
