He will join the firm’s leadership team to ensure it meets its strategic objectives.
The previous head, employment partner Julian Hemming, steps down after serving two consecutive three-year terms.
Matthews advises trustees and employers on all aspects of pensions law, including scheme establishment, mergers, winding up, compliance issues and drafting scheme documentation.
He also advises employers on managing risk, self-administered small schemes and self-invested personal pensions.
In addition, he advises trustees on contentious or potentially contentious pension issues, including the Pensions Regulator, pensions ombudsman investigations and mainstream High Court pensions litigation.
Matthews trained in London with McKenna & Co (now CMS Cameron McKenna), before joining Osborne Clarke in 1993. He became a partner in 1999.
He is a member of the Association of Pension Lawyers, serving on its international sub-committee, and is a member of National Association of Pension Fund’s south-western regional committee.
Osborne Clarke’s managing partner, Simon Beswick, said: “Julian hands over a practice group packed full of highly skilled lawyers, and with a client base of major corporates and dynamic growth businesses.
“I am grateful to Julian for his assured leadership and vision and I am keen to ensure that we continue to benefit from his leadership skills and experience as the firm moves forward.”
