Matthew Corn
Partner - Head of Serious Crime

Matthew Corn qualified as a barrister in 1995. He transferred to become a solicitor in 2002 and joined us in April 2014.
His background is as a Serious Crime Specialist and he is a supervisor for VHCC cases for both fraud and non fraud. His litigator caseload invariably involves cases prosecuted following National Crime Agency (NCA) investigations as well as HM Revenue and Customs and also the Counter Terrorism unit. He also deals with a number of complex proceeds of crime confiscation matters and has appeared in high profile cases involving fraud, drugs importation conspiracies, murder and terrorism.
The Legal 500 2025
The Legal 500 2025 commented as follows in relation to Matt.



- ‘Matthew Corn is sought out by hardened career criminals. Matt is a fighter and does not give up until he has got the very best deal available for his clients, one of the most experienced solicitors for gang related murders and absolutely the number 1 choice for juveniles facing the most serious criminal charges in the Crown Courts.’
‘Matt Corn is an able practitioner – diligent, thorough and always committed to his client’s case. He is a pleasure to work with, not least because he is pro-active and sensible. I should add that his concern for client welfare shines through. Excellent.’
- ‘Matt Corn deals with heavy crime. He is assiduous in keeping on top of his cases and clearly is 100% committed, with very good judgment.’
Chambers Guide 2025
Chambers UK Guide 2025 commented as follows in relation to Matt.


- ‘Matthew Corn is sought out by hardened career criminals. Matt is a fighter and does not give up until he has got the very best deal available for his clients, one of the most experienced solicitors for gang related murders and absolutely the number 1 choice for juveniles facing the most serious criminal charges in the Crown Courts.’
‘Matt Corn is an able practitioner – diligent, thorough and always committed to his client’s case. He is a pleasure to work with, not least because he is pro-active and sensible. I should add that his concern for client welfare shines through. Excellent.’
- ‘Matt Corn deals with heavy crime. He is assiduous in keeping on top of his cases and clearly is 100% committed, with very good judgment.’
Chambers Guide 2025
Chambers UK Guide 2025 commented as follows in relation to Matt.
- “Matthew Corn is really excellent and I frequently recommend him. Clients get good value for money from Matthew Corn. He is one of the best solicitors I have worked with. He is a real champion for his clients’ interests. He is very hardworking and determined. He was really important in ensuring we put the best defence forward, and we were only able to because he put in so many hours. Overall, he is a really good lawyer and a passionate advocate for his clients’ interest.”
“In financial crime, Matthew Corn is extremely astute and always contactable. He works extremely hard for his clients and is very sensible. He is a real star.
The Legal 500 2024
- ‘Matthew Corn is an exceptional solicitor. He is the go-to solicitor for serious criminal cases in Manchester. He is extremely thorough and leaves no stone unturned. He is calm and personable, gaining the confidence of clients from the outset.’
As well as being a member of the Law Society, he remains a (non practising) member of the Bar of England and Wales.
Here Matthew discuses the explains the importance of using a specialist criminal defence solicitor if you face serious criminal charges.
Watch Matthew Corn discussing defence statements
Testimonials
- “I used Olliers for a huge ‘firearms’ case for my son. Matt Corn represented him for just short of a year & took it to trial (in which my son got acquitted). Matt was excellent and I found him to be absolutely amazing… Not only was he empathetic with us as a family, keeping us informed every step of the way, I feel he went the extra mile for my boy & attended every hearing when some solicitors resort to video link or representatives ( as he was detained in a prison out of town) & really believed in my sons innocence & was passionate his job. He remained professional & very assertive to the case.
- Also behind the scenes was a very kind, supportive legal secretary Maria Douglas whom was there also every step of the way lending a friendly ear & talked the family through all the things we needed to know from a legal & friendly prospective!”
- “I honestly can not credit those two people individually… They both a a true credit to the firm!!!! This case was a very serious/complex one & we had full faith in them & to our avail justice was served.”
- “I can not recommend this firm enough! Thank you for an amazing outcome!”
Matthew in the media
- Matthew was asked to comment on what we can expect from Southport attacker Axel Rudakubana’s sentencing. ” Because he has pleaded guilty to murder, he will receive a mandatory life sentence. As he is under 21 the Judge cannot pass a whole life term. He is 18, and at the time of the offence was 17. The Judge will set the ‘tariff’ or minimum term that he must serve in prison before being eligible for parole. It is a complicated sentencing exercise where the Judge will have regard to the sentencing guidelines and will consider the aggravated features of this terrible crime along with the young age of the defendant. It would not be appropriate for me to predict what the minimum term will be. His guilty plea may serve as a minor mitigating factor in that it prevented a trial, and the distress that would have caused to the victims’ families, but it was entered very late, i.e. on the day of trial. In any criminal case, credit for a guilty plea reduces the closer you get to a trial. By remaining silent at the plea hearing, a not-guilty plea was presumably entered on his behalf and the amount of credit will likely have reduced accordingly. In murder cases, credit for a guilty plea is less than for non-murder cases in any event.” Click here to read the full article.
- Matthew was asked to speak to appear on a Podcast for the Institute of Chartered Accountants (ICAEW) who were presenting a feature on the effects of the war in Ukraine in terms of the current commentary around financial crime which has increased massively in view of the sanctions imposed on Russian billionaires. The Institute were mindful of new guidelines announced by the Financial Action Task Force relevant to their profession and in particular were keen to focus on the new Economic Crime Bill which has now in fact become law. Matthew was asked to comment on whether the new Economic Crime Act could have a significant impact in tracking down Russian assets covered by western sanctions and how it differs from what is already in place in terms of the Proceeds of Crime Act. Click here to listen to the Podcast.
- Matthew was quoted in Compliance Week discussing the criticism of the Serious Fraud Office in the recent ENRC Ruling. Click here to read.
Recent Cases
2025 – Olliers client handed a suspended sentence for role in a multi million pound fraud. Olliers represented a client charged as part of a large scale Trading Standards investigation into a model agency fraud in the sum of over £13million.The client received a 10 month suspended sentence was an outstanding outcome.
- 2025: R v X – Manchester Crown Court. Representing Defendant charged with manslaughter.
- 2025: Operation Golf – Minshull Street Crown Court – Representing defendant in multi-handed conspiracy to supply Class A drugs on a re-trial
- 2025: Operation Utah – Newcastle Crown Court; representing defendants charged with a large-scale pension fraud conspiracy. Our client was found not guilty after 20 days of jury deliberation and on day 154 of the trial. The client was charged with a conspiracy to defraud in what was said to be a sophisticated and complex pension liberation fraud. In September 2024 anther of our clients was found not guilty at the half-way stage at the Judge’s direction when he concluded that there was no case to answer.
- 2024 – 2025: Operation Pollux – Southwark Crown Court. Representing client charged with conspiracy to defraud and money laundering
- 2024: Operation Sandpiper – Manchester Crown Court; represented juvenile defendant in multi-handed murder case.
- 2024: Operation Golf – Minshull Street Crown Court – Representing defendant in multi-handed conspiracy to supply Class A and B drugs.
- 2024: R v X – Bristol Crown Court – represented juvenile defendant in multi-handed murder case.
- 2024: Operation Tay – Manchester Crown Court, representing juvenile defendant charged with conspiracy to commit GBH
- 2024: R v X – Manchester Crown Court; representing juvenile defendant charged with murder (joint enterprise)
- 2024: Operation Combat – Manchester Crown Court; representing defendant charged with conspiracy to supply Class A drugs (Encrochat case)
- 2024: Operation Rockingham – Preston Crown Court; representing defendant charged in multi handed conspiracy to supply class A drugs.
- 2024: R v X Inner London Crown Court; representing defendant charged with fraud by abuse of position.
- 2024: R v Z Manchester Crown Court : representing defendant charged with conspiracy to import and supply class A drugs
- 2023: Operation Golf – Minshull Street Crown Court – Representing defendant in multi-handed conspiracy to supply Class A and B drugs.
- 2023: Operation Perth – Liverpool Crown Court – Representing defendant in high profile multi handed murder case.
- 2023: Operation Blennoid – Southwark Crown Court; representing a defendant charged with conspiracies to defraud and money laundering.
- 2023: Operation Pavecrest – Leeds Crown Court; representing a defendant charged with a historic murder case.
- 2023: R v Z – Norwich Crown Court; representing a defendant charged on a “County Lines” conspiracy to supply class A drugs.
- 2023: Operation Orkney – Manchester Crown Court Representing juvenile defendant charged with murder in multi handed case
- 2022: Manchester Crown Court – Operation Lagotto; representing defendant in multi handed conspiracy to supply class A and B drugs.
- 2022: Manchester Crown Court – Operation Ceramic; representing a defendant in multi handed Conspiracy to supply cannabis.
- 2022: Teesside Crown Court – Operation Zagreb; representing defendant prosecuted by trading standards in money laundering conspiracy.
- 2022: Carlisle Crown Court – Operation Denmark; representing defendant accused of Assisting an Offender (murder case)
- 2022: Liverpool Crown Court – R v X; representing defendant accused of Assisting an Offender (murder case).
- 2022: R v S – Inner London Crown Court; representing defendant charged with multiple counts fraud by false representation
- 2022: R v J – Bolton Crown Court , representing defendant charged with multiple counts of large scale fraud by abuse of position
- 2022: R v T – Sheffield Crown Court; representing defendant charged with attempt murder and possession of offensive weapons
- 2022: R v B – Manchester Crown Court representing defendant charged with attempt murder
- 2021: R v M – Manchester Crown Court; represented defendant accused of conspiracy to possess a firearm with intent to endanger life
- 2021: Operation Adios – Leicester Crown Court – represented defendant charged with conspiracy to transfer firearms and ammunition.
- 2021: Operation Rampur – Manchester Crown Court – representing defendant in multi handed conspiracy to supply class A and B drugs.
- 2021: R v P – Manchester Crown Court – representing defendant in multi handed conspiracy to supply class A and B drugs
- 2021: R v M – Minshull Street Crown Court – representing defendant in conspiracy to possess firearms and grenades.
- 2021: R v F – Minshull Street Crown Court – representing defendant charged with supplying class A drugs and producing cannabis
- 2021: R v K – Old Bailey – representing defendant charged with conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.
- 2021: R v P – Stoke on Trent Crown Court – representing a defendant charged with multiple counts of fraud and also perverting the course of justice.
- 2021: R v O – Inner London Crown Court – representing a defendant charged with fraud against an employer
- 2021: R v J – Bolton Crown Court – representing a defendant charged with large scale fraud against an employer
- 2021: R v U – Court of Appeal – representing an appellant who succeeded in having his POCA quashed.
- 2021: Operation Landseer – Manchester Crown Court , representing defendant in multi handed murder case
- 2021: R v B – Manchester Crown Court; representing defendant charged with murder
- 2020: Operation Erath 3 – Manchester Crown Court; representing defendant charged with conspiracy to supply class A and B drugs
- 2020: Operation Malling – Minshull Street Crown Court, representing defendant in multi handed allegation of supplying class A drugs
- 2020: R v A – Sheffield Crown Court, representing defendant charged with conspiracy to supply firearms, ammunition, class A drugs and also money laundering.
- 2020: Operation Nimrod – Southwark Crown Court. Representing defendant charged with supplying large quantities of class C drugs.
- 2020: Operation Erbium – Sheffield Crown Court ; representing defendant charged with conspiring to supply class A drugs and transferring firearms.
- 2020: Operation Brutus – Warwick Crown Court; representing defendant charged with conspiracy to supply class A drugs.
- 2020: Exeter Crown Court – Operation Release; Representing defendant charged with attempted murder, and conspiracy to supply class A drugs.
- 2019-20: Represented a suspect in SFO investigation into a group of companies suspected of bribery, corruption and related offences. No further action taken. Read more.
- 2020: Leeds Crown Court – R v B represented a defendant in complex POCA proceedings arising from a fraud matter prosecuted by HM revenue and customs
- 2020: Manchester Crown Court – R v A – Represented a defendant charged with money laundering arising from a Conspiracy to Defraud.
- 2019: Lincoln Crown Court – R v W – Represented a defendant charged with Murder.
- 2019: Manchester Crown Court – R v A and O. Represented two defendants charged with conspiracy to supply Class A and B drugs
- 2019: Leicester Crown Court – Operation Buster – representing defendant charged as part of a multi handed importation, supply and production of Class A and B drugs.
- 2019: Manchester Crown Court – Representing two defendants charged in multi handed drug supply allegation.
- 2018: Operation Cosmetic – Manchester Crown Court representing defendant charged with a conspiracy to supply class A drugs and possession of a firearms.
- 2018-2019: Operation Blush – Liverpool Crown Court. Representing defendant charged with conspiracy to possess firearms and to supply class A and B drugs.
- 2018-2019: Operation Quartz –Manchester Crown Court. Representing defendant charged with production of amphetamine.
- 2018-2019: Operation Hemisphere – Sheffield Crown Court. Representing defendants charged with conspiracy to supply class A drugs.
- 2018: Operation Pelican – Preston Crown Court; representing defendant in money laundering allegation involving 2 other defendants.
- 2018: Operation Image – Manchester Court; representing a defendant in multi handed gang related murder.
- 2017/8: R v K – Leicester Crown Court, represented defendant charged with entering into a money laundering arrangement and subsequent confiscation proceedings.
- 2017: R v T – Manchester Crown Court; represented defendant charged with murdering his friend.
- 2017-2019: Operation Crew – Nottingham Crown Court. Representing defendant in multi handed conspiracy to supply class A drugs.
- 2017: Operation Legend – Manchester Crown Court. Representing defendant in large scale drugs and money laundering conspiracy.
- 2017: R v L – Maidstone Crown Court. Representing defendant charged with fraud by abuse of position.
- 2017: R v G Manchester Crown Court. Representing defendant charged in a multi handed kidnapping, robbery and wounding allegation.
- 2017: Operation Jasper – Preston Crown Court. Represented defendant in multi handed large scale conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.
- 2017: Operation Troop – Manchester Crown Court. Successfully represented defendant in multi handed “gang related” murder case. Client acquitted of murder and guilty of manslaughter.
- 2017: Operation Crackle – Birmingham Crown Court. Representing defendant in multi handed conspiracy to rob and supply a firearm.
- 2016: Operation Coda – Liverpool Crown Court. Represented defendant in a multi handed gangland style murder case.
- 2016: Operation Reactor – Chester Crown Court. Represented defendant charged with murder. Jury acquitted of murder and convicted of manslaughter
- 2016: Operation Afterburn II – Portsmouth Crown Court. Currently representing 2 defendants in a multi handed conspiracy to supply Class Drugs.
- 2016: Operation Cornwallis – Manchester Crown Court. Currently representing defendants in a money laundering and illegal money lending case.
- 2016: Operation Quad – Norwich Crown Court. Representing defendant in a conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.
- 2016: Operation Limited – Liverpool Crown Court. Represented defendants charged with mortgage fraud and money laundering.
- 2015: Operation Yap – Sheffield Crown Court. Represented client in POCA proceedings where just £1 ordered. Read more
- 2015: Operation Calzone – Northampton Crown Court. Currently representing one of 19 defendants charged with conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.
- 2015: Operation Measure – Caernarfon Crown Court. Represented defendant in multi handed conspiracy to supply class A drugs.
- 2015: Operation Destiny – Leeds Crown Court. Currently representing two defendants charged with conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, and Money laundering.
- 2015: Operation Wreckage – Manchester Crown Court. Represented defendant charged with conspiracy to supply Class B drugs.
- 2014: R –v– S Liverpool Crown Court. Represented defendant charged with conspiring to import half a tonne of cocaine.
- 2014: R –v– B Manchester Crown Court. Represented former bank manager charged with fraudulently transferring over half a million pounds of client money into his own accounts.
- 2014: R –v– S Manchester Crown Court. Representation of defendant charged as part of a multi million pound money laundering operation prosecuted by HMRC.
- 2014: R –v– R Liverpool Crown Court. Representing defendant charged with importation of drugs previously known as “legal highs”.
- 2014: Operation Cobweb – Teesside Crown Court, represented defendant in large scale conspiracy to supply Class A Drugs.
- 2011: Operation Munda – Manchester Crown Court. Representation in terrorism case involving the use of undercover officers infiltrating a group said to be recruiting for the Taliban.
Articles written by Matthew
Manchester
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- matthewcorn@olliers.com
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