Matthew Goucke

Matthew Goucke

Partner

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Matthew Goucke joined the firm in 2007 and is a partner in the Insolvency & Dispute Resolution Group, specialising in corporate recovery and contentious insolvency. He is also a member of the Distressed Funds Group and has significant experience on matters arising out of distressed investment vehicles, particularly hedge funds, from both fund and investor perspectives. Matthew works closely with all of the major insolvency practitioners in the Cayman Islands (and often with various of their foreign offices) and is well-known for his advisory work, especially in contentious cross-border liquidations. Matthew is also experienced in shareholder / LP disputes, as well as the implementation of schemes of arrangement and other forms of corporate restructuring.

Matthew regularly appears in the Grand Court's specialist Financial Services Division, as well as in the Cayman Islands Court of Appeal. He has also been involved in multiple cases which have reached the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council.

Matthew has been involved in many of the largest and most high-profile fund / private equity disputes in the jurisdiction over the past 12 years, including the Luckin Coffee Inc. Group, the Abraaj Group, Madoff (Herald Fund, Senator Fund, Primeo Fund, Kingate, etc.), China Fishery Group Limited, Hadar Fund, China Huishan Dairy, Washington Special Opportunity Fund, China Branding, Tangerine Investment Management, PAC Limited, Camulos Capital, Laurus Capital Management, Sextant Funds, TYG Capital Fund, Matador, Brazil+ TI Limited, Basis Yield Funds, Amerindo Internet Growth Fund, TVG, ElitePerformance, BES Finance Limited, Asia-Cell Telecommunication Company Limited, amongst others.

Amongst other current mandates, Matthew presently advises the joint official liquidators of (i) Herald Fund SPC, a Cayman Islands hedge fund involved in multi-jurisdictional litigation concerning a US$2bn exposure to the Madoff Ponzi Scheme (this role has included advising in connection with a successful $1bn+ settlement with the SIPC Trustee, as well as ground-breaking representative proceedings regarding the validity and priority of certain claims for redemption proceeds (Privy Council) and the ability of a liquidator to rectify the share register on a "net equity" basis (Court of Appeal)) and (ii) BTU Power Company Ltd, a private equity structure holding middle-eastern power generation assets valued in excess of US$100m (this case has also involved a number of complex, cross-border issues and has included a Privy Council determination).

Matthew is ranked in all of the major directories. 2020 Chambers and Partners - Notable Practitioner (Dispute Resolution) - "Matthew Goucke is praised by market commentators saying: “His strength is advocacy in front of judges. He grasps issues very quickly and is extremely articulate in expressing arguments and positions of clients before the court.” One source added: "He is easy to work with. He is very knowledgeable, very commercial and gets the job done."

Before joining Walkers, Matthew worked in the commercial litigation department of Clayton Utz for over four years. Matthew's practice included all areas of corporate and commercial litigation, with a particular focus on insolvency and banking and finance related matters. Matthew regularly advised some of Australia's largest banks, listed companies and a significant number of insolvency practitioners.​

Admitted in:
Cayman Islands
Western Australia (not practising)

Qualifications:
Bachelor Degrees in Law and Arts, University of Western Australia
Fellow of INSOL International 2010/11

2023 Chambers Global - Notable Practitioner - Dispute Resolution - "He is very diligent. He has high standards."

2022 Who's Who Legal - Recommended - Asset Recovery

2022 Who's Who Legal - Recommended - Restructuring & Insolvency - "Matthew Goucke draws plaudits from peers for his wide-ranging experience of corporate recovery and contentious insolvency proceedings."

2022 Who's Who Legal - Thought Leader - Commercial Litigation 

2022 Chambers Global - Notable Practitioner - Dispute Resolution - "Matt is a seasoned Cayman attorney. He really knows his insolvency law."

2022 Legal 500 - Leading Individual - Dispute Resolution - 'Matthew Goucke is at the top of his profession and widely respected as a litigator. Highly professional, highly responsive and extremely pragmatic in his approach.'

2021 Who's Who Legal - Recommended - Commercial Litigation - Matthew Goucke is "a great technical practitioner" with exceptional knowledge of corporate recovery and contentious insolvency matters. 

2021 Who's Who Legal - Recommended - Asset Recovery - 'Matthew Goucke enjoys a sterling reputation in the market thanks to his impressive understanding of contentious insolvency and liquidation proceedings.'

2021 Who's Who Legal - Thought Leaders - Litigation

2021 Chambers and Partners - Notable Practitioner - Dispute Resolution - Matthew Goucke is "very well respected for his advocacy skills." One peer reported: "I have a lot of respect for him. He's been in the market a long time and knows the court system very well."

2021 Who's Who Legal - Thought Leaders - Restructuring & Insolvency - Matthew Goucke is “a star in the market” who “has pin-point accuracy in identifying issues and the value drivers behind them”. He is “always focused on getting the work done for his clients and does so with tremendous skill and efficiency”.

2021 Legal 500 - Leading Individual - Dispute Resolution

2020 Who's Who Legal - Global Leader - Restructuring & Insolvency

2020 Chambers and Partners - Notable Practitioner - Dispute Resolution - "Matthew Goucke is praised by market commentators saying: “His strength is advocacy in front of judges. He grasps issues very quickly and is extremely articulate in expressing arguments and positions of clients before the court.” One source added: "He is easy to work with. He is very knowledgeable, very commercial and gets the job done." 

2020 Who's Who Legal - Thought Leader - Litigation

2019 Who's Who Legal - Thought Leader - Restructuring

2019 Who's Who Legal - Global Leader - Asset Recovery

2019 Who's Who Legal - Global Leader - Litigation

2020 Legal 500 - Leading Individual - Dispute Resolution

2019 Chambers Global Guide - Notable Practitioner (Dispute Resolution) - "Clients appreciate Matthew's "sensible, reasonable and practical" approach, and one added: "I'd recommend him to anybody who asked for a good insolvency lawyer."

2019 Who's Who Legal - Restructuring & Insolvency: Analysis - Recommeded Lawyer - "Matthew Goucke is “the most gifted advocate in the Cayman Islands”, with specialist insight into private equity matters and superb expertise on cross-border insolvency litigation. Sources note that he is “very good technically”."

2019 Legal 500 - Recommeded Lawyer - Dispute Resolution - "Matthew Goucke is 'hugely popular with clients'" 

2018 Who's Who Legal - Litigation

2018 Chambers Global Guide - (Dispute Resolution) A Notable Practitioner. "He does a lot of sophisticated work and is an astute and conscientious lawyer." He is also further praised as "a quality advocate who is wonderful when dealing with contentious cases."

2018 Legal 500 - Recommended Lawyer - Dispute Resolution - "Matthew Goucke is ‘an exceptional advocate’."

2017 Who's Who Legal - Litigation

2017 Who's Who Legal - Asset Recovery

2017 Chambers Global Guide - (Dispute Resolution) A Notable Practitioner. "Sources say that Matthew Goucke's strengths include 'his ability to respond quickly and decisively,' adding that 'he's pretty fearless in the way he takes a point - he's very committed to his client's case'."

2017 Legal 500 - Recommended Lawyer (Dispute Resolution)

2016 Who's Who Legal - Restructuring & Insolvency

2016 Who's Who Legal - Asset Recovery

2016 - Chambers Global Guide – (Dispute Resolution) A Notable Practitioner. "A strong advocate who's very good on his feet."

2016 Legal 500 - Recommended Lawyer (Dispute Resolution) - "Matthew Goucke is recommended for corporate recovery and contentious insolvency."

2015 - Chambers Global Guide – (Dispute Resolution) A Notable Practitioner - 'Matthew Goucke earns widespread recognition from peers as a "very bright and talented" lawyer. Clients add: "We find him superb, clear-minded, tenacious in his advice and excellent in court."'

2015 Legal 500 - Recommended Lawyer (Dispute Resolution) "Matthew Goucke is a 'very bright lawyer, who narrows in on the material issues quickly and efficiently'."

2014 Legal 500 - Recommended Lawyer (Dispute Resolution) - "...his ‘knowledge of the law, attention to detail and capacity to work are second to none, as is the quality of his advice and guidance’." ​

2013 - Chambers Global Guide - "Matthew Goucke is very highly rated by the market and is described as 'very solid and a good strategist when it comes to litigation'."

Matthew obtained the qualification of "Fellow of INSOL International" upon successfully completing the 2010/2011 Global Insolvency Practice Course (the pre-eminent advanced educational qualification focusing on international insolvency). He is also a life member of INSOL, a member of the Editorial Committee for the INSOL International Technical Electronic Newsletter and a member of the Cayman Islands Law Society.

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