Matt Higgins is widely regarded as one of Northern Ireland leading Criminal Solicitors.  He has extensive experience in all aspects of the Criminal Law and related Civil Litigation.  Over the past thirty years Matt has been involved in some of the most high profile criminal/civil cases throughout the island of Ireland.  Matt’s work in Criminal Law, Judicial Review and protecting his clients’ human rights has gained him a reputation as a tenacious and purposeful advocate.   His reputation has led him to be instructed by the N.I. Human Rights Commission, Belfast Solicitors Association and Rights Watch UK.

Matt has successfully defended numerous allegations of rape and other sexual offences both current and historic.  He acted on behalf of a number of prominent businessmen caught up in the notorious Operation Ore case.  Their credit card details were discovered at the centre of a child internet porn ring. Through meticulous investigation Matt and his team were able to establish identity theft through a major international crime gang acting in South America and Jakarta and stay the prosecutions.

In the aftermath of the acquittal of Matt’s client in R v Yuen murder trial Mr Justice McLaughlin stated, “I wish to commend the Solicitor’s exceptional investigative work and attention to detail from the initial police interviews thorough out the investigation and trial as an example to the profession”.

Matt led a team of lawyers to successfully defend Northern Ireland’s largest and longest running civil/criminal trial.  Matt recognises the stigma which attaches to an investigation can impact negatively on a client’s business and personal life as many of the matters which he advises bring with them unwanted media attention, he is well versed in managing relations with the media through both formal and informal means.

His energetic pursuit of justice goes beyond the norm and has taken him from Belfast throughout the island of Ireland to the Netherlands, England, Poland and Hong Kong to investigate leads and source evidence as required.

He is active within the wider legal arena including being appointed chairman of the Belfast Solicitors Association 2008/2009, Treasurer of N.I. Criminal Bar Association and is a lead member of the Law Society of Northern Ireland’s Criminal Rules Negotiating Team.

Outside the Law Matt is fully engaged our local community. He is a regular participant at our local Parkrun and continues with dance classes following his surprise victory at Park Lodge Primary School Strictly Come Dancing competition in 2016.

Matt is a Board Member of the Belfast Charitable Society, Director of the Metropolitan Arts Centre in Belfast, Chair of The Friends of St Malachy’s, Board Member of Jog Belfast, Committee member of the North Belfast Harriers and was Chairman of the Belfast Beltway Boxing Project NI from 2013 to 2017.  Matt is a Notary Public, an Advanced  Advocate and is also qualified as a Solicitor to practice with the Law Society of England and Wales.

If you would like to contact Matt directly, please send him an e-mail at MatthewHiggins@hhdsolicitors.com.