Matthew Maxwell Scott speaking at an event last year
Tributes have poured in for Matthew Maxwell Scott, CEO of the Consumer Legal Association (CLA), who died suddenly at the weekend at the age of 49.
He was a very well-known figure in the civil justice world, first as a director of Access to Justice and then executive director of the Association of Consumer Support Organisations (ACSO).
In April, he announced the launch [1] of the CLA, a trade body for claimant lawyers representing consumers, particularly in personal injury and medical negligence cases.
Though different in its goals, the CLA was ACSO’s successor body.
CLA chair David Whitmore said: “Matthew was a highly respected and highly popular figure throughout the consumer legal industry and beyond.
“A champion of consumer rights and access to justice, he was a persuasive and energetic voice in Westminster and beyond with his work for the Association of Consumer Support Organisations and, latterly, as the CEO of our organisation.
“We have all lost a friend and a colleague who still had so much more to achieve but our thoughts right now are with his wife, his two sons and family for whom this loss will be far greater. They have lost a devoted husband, a proud father and a loving family man.
“RIP Matthew. We will miss you terribly.”
Mr Maxwell Scott’s career began in communications, most notably at the CBI. He was then speechwriter to the director-general and president of the CBI from 2009 to 2012, before moving onto the same role first for the chief executive of RSA and then the director-general of the BBC.
A Conservative councillor in the London Borough of Wandsworth from 2010 to 2014, he stood as the Conservative candidate for Carshalton & Wallington in South London in the 2015 and 2017 general elections, losing out narrowly both times to Liberal Democrat Tom Brake.
From 2021 to 2025, he was a Conservative councillor at Lancashire County Council.
He moved into the law in 2015 as government relations lead at Slater & Gordon, taking on the role at ACSO in 2019.
Mark Duffell of MCD Advisory, who worked closely with Mr Maxwell Scott on the creation of the CLA, said: “Just 49, Matthew leaves a wife and two sons, a family whom he adored. They have lost a devoted husband, a proud father and a loving family man.
“My thoughts, those of my CLA colleagues and, I’m sure, those of Matthew’s many friends within our industry are with them and with his wider family at this incredibly sad time.
“Matthew was a highly respected and highly popular figure throughout the consumer legal industry and beyond. A champion of consumer rights and access to justice, he was a persuasive and energetic voice in Westminster and beyond with his work as CEO of ACSO and, latterly, for the CLA.
“But more than anything, he was a joy to know and to spend time with. I was proud to work with him and will always be proud to have been able to call him a friend. He’ll be missed by many. I will miss him terribly. RIP buddy.”
Ben Welsh, director of Certus Communications Consultants, who also worked closely with him at Access to Justice, ACSO and the CLA, said: “Matthew was an urbane, joyful individual who loved politics but equally was exasperated by it too, not least as a Conservative parliamentary candidate in two general elections.
“Latterly he was a guiding force at the heart of two campaigning organisations, passionately committed to supporting consumers stymied by a collapsing civil justice system.
“A natural raconteur, Matthew was as happy speaking to a conference of claimant lawyers about the detailed impact of the whiplash reforms as he was holding forth about the state of English cricket in the pub over a pint.
“He was easy company and had a natural gift for making friends with everyone he came across. His untimely death is a great sadness; he’ll be much missed. RIP.”
Andrew Twambley, a leading figure in the claimant world over the past two decades, said: “I have known Matthew for over 10 years and have worked with him throughout that period. Aside from his professional acumen, he was nicest and most entertaining of friends.
“He retained a positive outlook on all aspects of life – and was the poshest person I knew, hence his nickname ‘Posh’. I will miss him immensely.”
Anthony Hughes, chair and CEO of the CHO, said: “We were all shocked and saddened by the news of the passing of Matthew, a long-time friend of the credit hire sector.
“He was a tireless champion of consumer rights, and a warm and steadfast ally of the CHO. Many will remember his speeches at CHO conferences over the years, providing members with valuable insights into the workings of government and how policy and politics impacted our industry.
“He was a leading light in the fight against the whiplash reforms, which, he argued, reduced the rights of consumers in favour of big business, and more recently he has continued, through the establishment of the CLA, to battle on behalf of the legal and claims sector and the millions of people we support following an accident or injury.
“Matthew was unfailingly good-humoured, and always interested in and friendly to people from all walks of life. His nickname, Posh, belied the fact that he was a down-to-earth individual, warm, articulate and happy to stand up for his beliefs and debate the issues without rancour.
“All of us in credit hire will want to extend their deepest sympathies to Matthew’s family at this very sad time.”
Legal Futures Editor Neil Rose said: “Matthew was a great ally of injured people and the lawyers who help them access justice. He connected people, brought competitors together and was tireless in pressing claimants’ interests with ministers, backbenchers and other stakeholders.
“He was also a great friend of ours, speaking at many of our conferences and offering sage advice behind the scenes.
“More than anything, he was charismatic, a great storyteller and a man with his finger on the pulse. He will be hard to replace and impossible to forget.”
Mr Maxwell Scott leaves his wife, Mel, and two teenage sons.