Olliers

Partner

Gareth joined the firm in 2023 and is an experienced criminal and regulatory solicitor with over 15 years post qualification experience. Gareth has built strong relationships with both clients and fellow professionals in the sector and is well regarded for his attention to detail, as well as, his firm but reassuring approach to his role.

Gareth has worked primarily with privately funded clients in recent years, but also has considerable experience assisting insured individuals and businesses facing both regulatory and criminal investigation/proceedings, as well as, professionals being pursued by various regulators and membership organisations.

Gareth has successfully represented those pursued by Trading Standards for various offences including alleged breaches of consumer protection regulations. He has acted for businesses and individuals in matters brought by the Health and Safety Executive for breaches of safety legislation and clients prosecuted by the Environment Agency for alleged breaches under the Environmental Protection Act 1990. Gareth has also provided advice and assistance to those facing action by the police and local authorities.

He has advised individuals at all stages of the professional disciplinary process from investigation through to final hearings including, doctors before the General Medical Council, dental professionals before the General Dental Council, nurses with the Nursing and Midwifery Council, and optical professionals before the General Optical Council. He has also assisted many health care professionals facing investigation and proceedings brought before the Health and Care Professions Council and counselling professionals before the UK Council for Psychotherapy, British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy and the Association of Christian Counsellors, amongst others.

Gareth was instructed to represent one of the Core Participants in the Public Inquiry into the deaths of 22 people at the Manchester Arena on 22 May 2017. This is testament to how well-respected Gareth is by peers and clients alike given that the Inquiry was one of the most significant in recent years.

He represented a number of individuals, including former council officials called to give evidence as part of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse.

Gareth was also instructed to provide advice and assistance to a number of former Detention Custody Officers from Brook House in relation to the Public Inquiry into the treatment of detainees at the Immigration Removal Centre which was the subject of an undercover Panorama programme.

Gareth was personally instructed to represent an individual in relation to the far-reaching and ongoing Metropolitan Police investigation into the circumstances surrounding the fire at Grenfell Tower in June 2017 which resulted in the death of 74 people.

Gareth is focused on ensuring that the team at Olliers are amongst the go-to lawyers for all regulatory matters including health and safety, inquests and public inquiries, licensing (firearms appeals, in particular) and professional discipline matters.

Gareth has been ranked as a Next Generation Partner in the Legal 500 since 2020 and in the most recent edition (2024) was listed in both the crime and health and safety categories. He was also shortlisted for lawyer of the year in the crime category for The Legal 500 Northern Powerhouse Awards 2023. Testimonials “Gareth Martin is a stand-out, no nonsense solicitor who goes the extra mile.”

“I dealt with Gareth Martin extensively and felt that he was available to me at every step of the way, irrespective of office hours.”

“As soon as Gareth took our case we felt reassured and in the best possible hands.”