Criminal barrister turned disputes solicitor Matthew Blower worked for Magic Circle and US firms before joining Punter Southall Law. He shares a day in his working life with The Brief.

As a partner specialising in commercial litigation, arbitration, dispute resolution and investigations at Punter Southall Law, my working days are very varied. I deal with complex, high-value domestic and international disputes for a wide corporate client base.

What sets my current role apart is the level of professional freedom it offers. After many years in the traditional corporate legal market, I really enjoy the flexibility that comes with working at Punter Southall Law rather than being bound to a conventional "Big Law" firm structure.

Instead of operating within billing targets and administrative constraints, I can direct and shape my own practice, giving me much more flexibility in terms of how, where, and when I work and the type of cases I take on.

I usually work from the central London office just off Trafalgar Square, with a spectacular view over Nelson’s column on one side and Charing Cross Station on the other, and I am otherwise based at home in North London.

My path to Punter Southall was slightly unusual. I spent the early years of my career practising at the English Bar as a criminal barrister. Followed by six years at the Magic Circle firm Slaughter and May where I requalified as a solicitor.

What sets my current role apart is the level of professional freedom it offers. 

This was followed by nearly two decades at the London office of a prominent United States based law firm, where I was ultimately a partner.

This diary outlines a typical day in my practice.

7.00am: Early morning routine

My day usually begins at around 7.00am, although sometimes a bit later if I am working from home. After a quick cup of tea and making my son breakfast, I head out into the local park to walk my Cocker Spaniel, Jumble. Watching the dog run excitedly around after his ball in the park gives me a moment of calm before the day gets going.

Once back from the park, I sit down at home to check my emails and deal with anything urgent. This is particularly useful for overnight messages from overseas clients or sorting out time-sensitive tasks before the standard working day begins.

With the most critical priorities handled, if I am working from the office I head into town taking the Picadilly Line to Covent Garden, usually listening to an episode of my favourite The Rest is History podcast on the way in. At the moment I am immersed in the history and origins of the First World War.

9.30am: In the office

Having already cleared the morning's urgent messages at home, I can dive straight into answering complex incoming correspondence on active disputes. It is an area where I routinely rely on the advocacy roots I developed during the first phase of my career.

Handling criminal cases taught me to process large amounts of evidence under time pressure and get straight to the core of a dispute.

I began my professional life at the English Bar, completing my pupillage and practising as a criminal barrister specialising in defence and prosecution. Handling criminal cases taught me to process large amounts of evidence under time pressure and get straight to the core of a dispute.

This morning, I am drafting a detailed response to a lengthy pre-action letter received from an opponent, working through the large number of contractual documents and emails that the client has provided by way of background to the dispute. 

11.00am: Advising overseas clients on cross-border disputes

By mid-morning, the focus shifts. I host a lengthy video conference with a client based in Scandinavia to advise them on a high-value contract dispute that is subject to English law and jurisdiction. During this call, I walk the client through the pros and cons of litigation and the various pitfalls and likely costs.

1.00pm: Lunch

Lunch is rarely just a sandwich at the desk. Today, I am meeting with a corporate partner from the wider Punter Southall network. One of the major benefits of practising at Punter Southall Law is our direct connection to financial, actuarial, and corporate advisory businesses.

After lunch, I spend an hour preparing lecture notes as I am a regular guest lecturer at the University of West London, where I teach on Commercial Litigation and Arbitration.

I also act as a Senior Advisor to a litigation funder. This is separate to my work for Punter Southall Law. In that advisory role I review cases to determine whether they meet the funder’s investment criteria.

I am a regular guest lecturer at the University of West London, where I teach on Commercial Litigation and Arbitration.

This is work that I particularly enjoy. I usually spend a couple of hours in the afternoon on this work when I am based at home, or in the evening when I am working from the office during the day.

Teaching keeps my technical legal knowledge sharp. Explaining the complexities of contractual obligations or international dispute frameworks to bright, aspiring lawyers forces me to strip away legalese and focus on core principles. If you can't explain a legal concept simply to a classroom of students, you won't be able to explain it clearly to an overseas client.

2.30pm: Managing a complex insolvency matter

My afternoon shifts to another area of my practice: corporate restructuring and insolvency. Today, I am advising a corporate creditor regarding a high-stakes individual bankruptcy matter. My client needs to navigate the insolvency process to maximise asset recovery.

I roll up my sleeves and dig straight into the mechanics of the case.

At Punter Southall Law, our model is built around partner-led service, meaning I roll up my sleeves and dig straight into the mechanics of the case. Because I am not bound by traditional Big Law overheads or forced to delegate to layers of junior staff, I can handle these matters directly. We are reviewing the debtor’s financial statements, assessing potential claw-back options, and coordinating with insolvency practitioners.

6.00pm: An evening cooking and on the sofa

By 6.00pm, the demands of the day begin to calm down. I handle final reviews of the day's correspondence, double-check the next day’s calendar, and make a few brief tactical notes for our team. The ability to decide when to stop work for the day is a massive benefit of my current firm; I leave the office around 6.00pm to make my way home.

Once back, it is time to put on the running kit and go out for a short run in the streets and parks around home. This really helps to clear the mind and draws a dividing line between the working day and the evening.

I usually spend the rest of the evening relaxing with my wife and son, sometimes cooking dinner. We usually try to watch something on TV together before we all call it a night. Recently that has mainly been World Cup matches.

Before turning off the lights by around 10:30pm, I try to read a few chapters of a historical biography or fiction.

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