Building a Career in Commercial Property: Matthew Days' Career Journey

Matthew Day is a Commercial Property Solicitor primarily based out of our Stamford Office. Matthew joined Chattertons in August 2024 whilst coming to the end of his Solicitor Apprenticeship, before becoming a fully qualified Solicitor in November 2025.

Here, Matthew shares how his breadth of training has impacted his career, the elements of Commercial Property law he has a particular focus in and the advice he would give to anyone considering a career in law.

Can you introduce yourself and tell us about your current role?

I am a Solicitor specialising in Commercial Property matters, primarily acting for Developers, Landowners and individuals in the acquisition and disposal of land and commercial properties, dealing with simple and complex . I also handle complex residential conveyancing matters involving land or difficult title issues, cases that are not run-of-the-mill residential transactions.

How long have you been with Chattertons, and where did you begin?

I joined Chattertons in 2024, after beginning my apprenticeship at another firm in 2018.

I was fortunate enough to benefit from seats in family and criminal law for the first two years of my training, before also spending some time in the private client department alongside beginning my commercial property seat. My focus did quickly turn almost entirely on commercial property, with some more complex residential property work alongside.

How has your career progressed since then?

Since joining Chattertons, I have been able to sit and pass the SQE Exams and qualified as a Solicitor in November 2025.

My career has continued to progress smoothly at the firm and with the preparation and training provided through my Apprenticeship, qualification has felt like a natural continuation of that progress.

What are your main responsibilities?

In terms of the progression of a transaction, I am often one of the main liaisons with the client and also internally. I often lead the due diligence exercise in relation to our clients' drafting needs or the initial fact-finding and review exercises. Tasks like these, of course, give rise to further questions and need for reporting to clients. At this stage in my career, where there are more complex points or niches, senior colleagues are always happy to offer guidance and support. I often assist as part of the legal team on larger commercial transactions and assist in progressing matters as smoothly and efficiently as possible.

What attracted you to Chattertons?

Whilst at my previous law firm, I often had Solicitors on the other side of commercial transactions from Chattertons. Seeing the type of work and the standard of client that Chattertons were acting for was one of the attractions. The draw of being involved in higher-profile transactions and forming relationships with prestigious clients as well as being able to hone my skills with support from talented colleagues really appealed to me.

What has been your proudest achievement at Chattertons?

Naturally, qualifying as a Solicitor has to be one of my proudest career achievements. The years of studying late into the evening whilst working during the week, and also trying to balance an element of a social life was well worth it. I am also proud to have built myself a strong early reputation in the area, which I hope will enable me to continue to attract the quality of client and work that I aspire to.

What is one thing your career has taught you?

There is always a solution to a problem. It may require us to think outside the box or find a niche approach, but my career has taught me that there is almost always a solution to be found. Following that comment, I have also learnt that where you may not have the answer available, there will be another set of hands that can assist with finding the best outcome.

How do you spend your time outside work?

I do spend most of my time outside of work in the gym, splitting my working day up with some form of cardio in the morning and then some strength training in the evening. When I have a bit more free time on my hands at the weekend, I do often head out for a round of golf.

What is your favourite thing about working at Chattertons?

My colleagues in the Commercial Property team are fantastic to work with. I have found that regular catch-ups, the exposure to higher-profile transactions and the support and guidance is continuing to benefit my growth as a Solicitor.

What advice would you give to someone considering a legal career?

It can often be a slow-burner career to begin with. Becoming a lawyer takes a lot of time, patience and perseverance both from an educational point of view but also with balancing career growth and your personal life – but it is well worth it! You are always learning and growing, and while it can take time before everything clicks, finding the balance between being a lawyer during the day and enjoying time away from the office is so rewarding.