Martin accepted an invitation to join 1 Pump Court in September 2008 having practised for many years at chambers based at 8 Kings Bench Walk (now 1 MCB). His practice is predominantly in the area of housing, Local Government law and Public Law although he also undertakes work in the fields of Personal Injury, property disputes and general civil common law. He is also a trained family law mediator.
Martin considers himself fortunate to have come to the Bar at a time when it was still common for Barristers to have mixed practices because this provides invaluable experience. After pupilage at two sets within Francis Taylor Building and a brief period as a common law devil to the late Don Harvey QC, he joined his former set in 1983 (then based at 11 KBW). Over the years, housing, property and local government work became more prominent and these are the areas that he mostly practices in. He ceased practicing Criminal law after about twelve years to concentrate on civil work. During his career Martin has appeared in the Court of Appeal in Crime, Family, Personal Injury, Real Property, Local Government and Housing cases. More recently, he has appeared in the Supreme Court in 2 cases. In the past he has been instructed regularly by social landlords but he is best known for his work representing tenants. After many years, this is an area of law that Martin still enjoys and it gives him tremendous pleasure to have an expertise that can make a real difference to people’s lives.
Martin is committed to social housing and protecting private sector tenants from unscrupulous landlords. He would like to work more closely with responsible social landlords who put the needs of their tenants at the forefront and with local authorities dedicated to tackling rogue landlords.
In the past Martin has given seminars to solicitors on aspects of housing, family and personal injury law. In 1994 he was the British Lawyer invited to address a seminar in Brussels of European jurists on the Human Rights aspects of trial by jury, especially in relation to long fraud trials. He firmly believes that homelessness and the threat of homelessness is a devastating blow to family life and will always try (pressure of work permitting) to make myself available to assist where loss of the home is at risk.
He has a good working knowledge of French, and has been an approved Pupil supervisor since the late eighties.
Interests
His family, the company of friends, travel, music, scuba diving. When he was younger and slimmer Martin was a keen Karate practitioner. Nowadays, he practices Chi Kung and is trying to learn Kung Fu.
Lomax V Gosport BC (Equality & Human Rights Commission intervening) [2018] EWCA Civ 1846; [2018] HLR 40 A
Housing authority must focus sharply on an applicant’s disabilities to comply with its Public Sector Equality Duty and must consider its duty to take steps to meet the different needs of a disabled person which may involve treating her more favourably than a person who is not disabled. Further, the duty arises at each step of the decision making process.
Arnold V Mann & Others [2018] UKFTT 0210 (PC)
Acted for 8 Respondents in successfully resisting a claim for adverse possession of a disputed service road and right of way.
Poplar Housing V Begum & Rohim [2017] EWHC 2040; [2018] 1 P & CR DG4
Illegal sub-letting of social housing. Issue on appeal was whether the trial judge erred in law or was plainly wrong in making a suspended possession order rather than an outright possession order and whether housing benefit should be taken into account when making an unlawful profit order