Martin Jones > Hugh James > Cardiff, United Kingdom > Lawyer Profile

Somewhat of an anomaly in the ranking, Hugh James largely focuses on regulatory and business crime matters, as opposed to conventional crime and fraud. In this context, while it does handle some defence work for existing corporate clients of the firm, the focus remains on prosecution matters for public sector clients including local authorities and the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency. The ‘extremely knowledgeable’ Justin Davies handles much of this and is best-known for his representation of the South Wales Fire & Rescue Service on its fire safety prosecution work, an area that he conducts  his own advocacy. Regulatory head Martin Jones  is the key contact for defence work, including in the context of fraud, money laundering and financial regulation matters.

Hugh James ‘gets to grips quickly with a large and diverse range of work’, both on the prosecution and defence front. Combining specialist knowledge in regulatory and health and safety work ‘with an affable and charming manner that clients find to be reassuring’, senior associate Justin Davies is the key contact and has developed a market leading reputation in relation to fire safety law matters. His specialism in this area sees him handling high-profile prosecutions for numerous fire and rescue authorities, often handling the advocacy himself. Martin Jones  heads up the overarching regulatory practice and has substantial coronial law experience, appearing in inquests throughout the UK where health and safety issues are at the forefront.

Drawing upon a ‘strong collaborative working’ arrangement, both from within the firm (across a range of practice areas), as well as with the instructing clients, Hugh James provides ‘highly knowledgeable expert advice’ to central and local government, education and healthcare providers. Regulatory advice informs much of the firm’s workflow, with ‘consummate professional’ Martin Jones particularly noted for his social care expertise, where he combines an ‘authoritative approach with humility and pragmatism’ for local authorities in relation to safeguarding matters. Jones is also adept at representing non-police prosecutors throughout Wales and England, as is ‘exceptionally knowledgeable’ senior associate Justin Davies, who ‘has built a unique practice in regulatory work and in particular fire safety prosecutions’. The firm is also engaged in a significant amount of property-related public sector mandates, including Caroline O’Flaherty‘s work for Welsh and English registered social landlords, and construction partner Ioan Prydderch‘s regular engagements on contentious and non-contentious matters for core firmwide clients including Natural Resources Wales.

The gaming, betting and licensing team at Hugh James is well regarded for its IP licensing, and sports betting and licensing work. Engaged by both land-based and online clients, the unit is also equipped to handle an array of domestic and international commercial, regulatory and compliance work across. Practice head Aled Walters, who divides his time between Cardiff and London, is active across business purchase agreements in foreign jurisdictions.  Cardiff-based Martin Jones  is well acquainted with matters involving anti-money laundering regulations.

Based in Cardiff, Martin Jones serves as the lead partner at the Hugh James team, drawing on over 20 years’ experience in alcohol and gambling licensing matters – both contentious and non-contentious. He regularly undertakes advocacy before licensing sub-committees and advises on large-scale applications to licence festivals, pub and club applications.