As the Head of the Regulatory Department, Martin acts in a wide-range of regulatory crime and professional regulation matters. Martin has built up over 20 years of experience and a wealth of specialist knowledge.
He leads the firm’s cross-departmental alcohol and gaming licensing teams. Additionally Martin manages the teams providing a range of outsourced services to local authorities, including court representation of local authorities Adult and Children’s Services Departments. Martin has practiced in children’s services matters for over 22 years. Martin advises a number of local authorities across Wales and the South West of England and a professional regulator on issues arising from Public Law Children Act cases. Martin has acted on a number of complex cases in recent years, including those featuring very serious injury, Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and cases involving cross-border and cross-jurisdictional complications.
Martin has a wealth of specialist knowledge in the fields of regulatory crime and compliance. With vast experience in fraud, money laundering and financial regulation matters, Martin has dealt with numerous high-value cases, some concerning fraud valued in excess of £100 million.
For six years, Martin worked as a Health and Safety solicitor agent. Having advised in criminal health and safety matters throughout his career, he has worked in cases of the utmost gravity, including those arising from multiple-fatalities and disease outbreak.
In addition to his defence and advisory practice, he prosecutes on behalf of local authorities and the Welsh Government in health and safety related matters. Complementing his health and safety work, Martin has substantial coronial law experience, appearing in inquests throughout England and Wales for individuals, companies, the Welsh Government and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
The firm’s gambling licensing practice has grown considerably over recent years. Within this area, Martin advises operators on licensing issues of all types. This includes assisting clients in obtaining licences from the Gambling Commission and advising operators on compliance with their on-going obligations under Licensing Conditions and Codes of Practice. Within alcohol licensing, Martin specialises in contested matters.
Dealing with Professional Regulation matters on behalf of regulators and regulated individuals, Martin is very familiar with all three roles. That is, advising the regulatory panel or committee, presenting the case for the regulator and presenting the case for the regulated individual. For more than 10 years, Martin has been the lead legal advisor to the regulatory panel of Social Care Wales.
Martin is also a member of our Education sector team. He has advised education providers on a range of regulatory and health and safety matters, as well as advising on schools appeals.
Work history
Martin qualified in 1996, having trained at Price & Son and, after a period working in Essex, he returned to Wales to join Hugh James in 2000. He then became a partner in 2007. A Welsh-learner, Martin appreciates the opportunity to practise Welsh at any time.
A member of multiple leading associations following the areas in which he works; Martin has experience of a whole range of specialist fields. These include:
- Association of Regulatory and Disciplinary Lawyers
- Health and Safety Lawyers Association
- Inquest Lawyers Group
- Fraud Lawyers Association
- Children’s Panel
- Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH).
Having years of experience of training others on bribery policies and procedures and money laundering matters, Martin is very well-positioned to head up the firm’s role of Money Laundering Reporting Officer.
Memberships
- Institute of Licensing