Michael Bromley-Martin KC

Call: 1979 / Silk: 2002

"If you need someone to attack police evidence, he's your man."

Chambers UK 2023: Licensing

"Effortlessly grasps the key points of a case and is highly persuasive before judges and juries."

Chambers UK 2023: Crime

“Michael is absolutely first-rate and still one of, if not the, very best Silks at the Bar.”

Legal 500 2023: Crime

"He is a skilled and polished advocate and a master tactician.”

Legal 500 2023: Crime

“… one of the most effective and charismatic Silks of our time.”

Legal 500 2022: Crime

Michael Bromley-Martin KC practises in crime, licensing, regulatory and disciplinary law.

Legal Expertise

Crime overview

Michael Bromley-Martin’s criminal practice sees him defending at the top end of serious crime, in particular murder, firearms, fraud, money laundering and drugs. His expertise in fraud includes tax, mortgage, investment and commercial fraud. He has extensive experience in confiscation proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime Acts, both in the United Kingdom and in the Republic of Ireland. His practice includes Public Law aspects of the criminal law, both domestically and internationally. He has been highly ranked in the leading directories since their inception, both as a junior and in silk.

Notable Crime cases

R v Jonathan Cohen & Others

Blue Arrow - allegation of investment fraud relating to the £837 rights issue of Blue Arrow shares.

R v Clarke & Others

Brinks Mat - the £26m gold bullion robbery at Heathrow Airport.

R v David Norris & Others

Murder of Stephen Lawrence.

R v Goran, Goran & Goran

Honour killing murder of Tulay Goran.

R v Eren & Ors; R v Sagir; R v Murat; R v Lunkulu, Arslan & Ors

Series of Turkish gangland murders.

R v Mumin & Ors; R v Lewis; R v O'Neill-Henry & Ors; R v O'Neill-Crichlow & Ors

Series of murders involving teenage defendants.

R v Dacres

Conspiracy to import/supply firearms.

R v McDermott & Others

Conspiracy to supply ship borne cocaine with a street value of £1billion.

R v Alexander Macgregor

Conspiracy to manufacture Anabolic Steroids.

R v Crawley & Others

Operation Cotton - £5m Land Banking fraud.

Murphy & Anor v Gilligan [2017] IESC 3

Irish Supreme Court case in relation to the Irish Proceeds of Crime Act, representing John Gilligan.

R (Smith) v Secretary of State Home Department Nos. 1 & 2 [2003] EWHC 406 (Admin) | [2003] 3 WLUK 203 | [2004] Prison LR 211

Vulnerable prisoner's rights.

R (Asif Ali Zardari) v Secretary of State Home Department

International Co-Operation, representing the erstwhile President of Pakistan and husband of the late Benazir Bhutto.

R (on the application of Carman) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2004] EWHC 2400 (Admin) [2004] 7 WLUK 985 | [2005] 2 Prison LR 172

Prisoner’s rights; licence conditions.

R (on the application of Secretary of State for the Home Department) v Southwark Crown Court [2013] EWHC 4366 (Admin) | [2014] 1 WLR 2529 | [2014] 3 All E.R. 354 | [2013] 12 WLUK 659 | [2014] ACD 51

International Mutual assistance; Production orders; Search warrants; Statutory interpretation of Crime (International Co-operation) Act 2003 .

Licensing overview

Michael Bromley-Martin’s licensing expertise and experience spans nearly forty years, in particular in relation to gambling, liquor, entertainment, sexual entertainment venues and taxi licensing. He has consistently been highly ranked in all the directories in this field.

Notable Licensing cases

R (Chorion Plc) v Westminster City Council

Central London entertainment licensing.

Essence Bars (London) Ltd (t/a Essence) v Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court [2016] EWCA Civ 63 | [2016] WLR 3265 | [2016] CP Rep. 18

Mistake in the name of the appellant in a nightclub licensing appeal; attempt by the licensing authority to deny the licence holder its right of appeal.

Cummings v Cardiff CC [2004] EWHC 2295 (Admin) | [2004] 10 WLUK 707 | [2005] LLR 27

Taxi licensing in Cardiff.

R (on the application of Bednash) v Westminster City Council [2014] EWHC 2160 (Admin) | [2014] 2 WLUK 684 | [2014] LLR 755

Interim authority notices for premises licences.

Regulatory

Regulatory overview

Michael Bromley-Martin has undertaken both prosecutions and defences and has considerable experience in the Regulatory field, in particular in relation to the General Medical Council, the General Optical Council, the Broadcasting Standards Authority (now Ofcom), the Police Complaints Authority (now IOPC), Coroner’s Inquests and in the fields of Trade Marks, Trade Descriptions, Food Safety and Health and Safety.

Notable Regulatory cases

R (Anderson) v HM Coroner for Inner London

Inquest into the death in custody of Roger Sylvester.

R v Clockwork Apparel, Tendler & Ors.

Allegation of conspiracy to possess and trade in multimillion pounds worth of counterfeit and grey market clothing.

R v M; R v C; R v T [2017] UKSC 58 | [2017] 1WLR. 3006 | [2018] 1 All ER 304 | [2017] 8 WLUK 56 | [2017] 2 Cr App R 30

Landmark case on the statutory interpretation of section 92 of the Trade Marks Act 1994.

Police Misconduct overview

Michael Bromley-Martin has for many years practised in the representation of the police and police officers in both criminal and disciplinary proceedings, as well as inquests and judicial review proceedings in relation to crime, discipline and employment.

Notable Police Misconduct cases

R v Solley

Police officer who reported in the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry charged with rape.

R v Lowe

City of London police officer charged with murder.

R v Bohannan [2011] 1 Cr App R (S) 106

Conspiracy/Misconduct in Public Office - TSG field officer in corrupt relationship with Class A drug dealers.

R (Bhoti) v Secretary of State for the Home Department

Judicial Review in relation to police disciplinary proceedings in cases of drink/driving.

R (Anderson) v HM Coroner for Inner London

Death in custody of Roger Sylvester.

Death in custody of Christopher Alder

R v Jonathan Cohen and Others
Blue Arrow

R v Clarke and Others
BrinksMat

R v David Norris and others
Murder of Stephen Lawrence

R(Bhoti) v Secretary of State for the Home Department
Judicial Review in relation to police disciplinary proceedings in cases of drink/driving

R (Asif Ali Zardari) v Secretary of State Home Department
International Co-Operation, representing the present President of Pakistan

R (Chorion plc) v Westminster City Council
Central London entertainment licensing

R (Anderson) v HM Coroner for Inner Lon
Death in custody of Roger Sylvester

R (Smith) v Secretary of State Home Department Nos. 1 & 2
Vulnerable prisoner’s rights

Death in custody of Christopher Alder

Cummings v Cardiff County Council
Cardiff taxi licensing

R v Goran, Goran and Goran
Honour killing murder of Tulay Goran

R v McDermott and others
Conspiracy to supply ship borne cocaine with a street value of £1billion

R v Crawley and others
Operation Cotton – Land Banking fraud

Key contacts

“If you need someone to attack police evidence, he’s your man.”  Chambers UK 2023:  Licensing

“He is sharp and experienced.”  Chambers UK 2023:  Licensing

“He is extremely able and very smart.”  Chambers UK 2023:  Licensing

“Effortlessly grasps the key points of a case and is highly persuasive before judges and juries.”  Chambers UK 2023:  Crime

“Michael is absolutely first-rate and still one of, if not the, very best Silks at the Bar.”  Legal 500 2023:  Crime

“He is a skilled and polished advocate and a master tactician.”  Legal 500 2023:  Crime

“Michael is always first choice for contested licensing applications with a criminal element. He is superb.”  Legal 500 2023:  Licensing

“His long career and experience in licensing, together with being a Recorder, makes him a first choice in contentious licensing matters.”  Chambers UK 2022:  Licensing

“He is absolutely first rate and still one of, if not the, very best Silks at the [Criminal] Bar.”  Legal 500 2022:  Crime

… one of the most effective and charismatic Silks of our time. If I was ever in trouble I would stretch every sinew to get him on my side.”  Legal 500 2022:  Crime

“He is intelligent, charming and ruthless in court.” and “gives straightforward, sensible and no-nonsense advice.”  Chambers UK 2021:  Licensing

“A master of tactics and a superb advocate.”  Chambers UK 2021:  Crime

“An extremely powerful advocate.”  Chambers UK 2021:  Crime

“He is one of the best around at the Criminal Bar. If I was in trouble, I would want him to defend me. He is supremely bright, a tactical genius and a superlative advocate.”  Legal 500 2021:  Crime

“He was exemplary in his conduct of our case and we would not hesitate to recommend him for any licensing matter requiring a QC.”  Legal 500 2021:  Licensing

“An exceptional jury advocate and a fearsome cross-examiner.”  Chambers UK 2020:Crime

“A brilliant advocate” who is “excellent in a scrap and fantastic in cross-examination.”  Chambers UK 2020:  Licensing

‘A devastatingly effective cross-examiner and willing to fight points that others would give up as lost.’  The Legal 500 2019:  Licensing

‘A stunning, effective, clever and second-to-none advocate.’  The Legal 500 2019:  Licensing

‘One of the very best jury advocates around.’  Chambers UK 2017:  Licensing

‘A formidable intellect, who oozes charm and fights with every sinew.’  The Legal 500 2016:  Crime

“He is a highly regarded and accomplished advocate who is also very personable.”  “He is the one you’d want to have defending you if you got in trouble …” Chambers UK 2016:  Licensing

‘A tenacious, fearless and supremely effective trial advocate.’  The Legal 500 2015:  Crime

‘An outstanding trial lawyer.’  The Legal 500 2014:  Crime

…‘a brilliant advocate, and the best cross-examiner for this area’.  The Legal 500 2013:  Licensing

“On his day, unbeatable.”  Chambers UK 2010

“A doyen of the [Licensing] scene … he shows dogged determination when faced with tricky cases.”  Chambers UK 2009:  Licensing

“Exceptional, … one of the most persuasive advocates at the Bar”  The Legal 500 2008

  • 1979 Called to the Bar of England and Wales
  • 1976 B.Sc. (Civil Engineering) Soton
  • Recorder of the Crown Court (2002)
  • Advisor to the Police Complaints Authority (1996-2002)
  • Appointed an Inspector for the Department of Trade and Industry under the Financial Services Act in relation to John Michael Design PLC (1990)
  • Appointed as an Inspector for the Department of Trade and Industry under the Financial Services Act in relation to Talbex PLC (1989)

I, Michael Bromley-Martin KC, am a data controller and can be contacted at 3 Raymond Buildings, Gray’s Inn, London WC1R 5BH or by telephone on 020 7400 6400 or by email at mbm@3rblaw.com. My Data Protection Policy can be found below.

All personal data that I process is for the purposes of providing legal services, conducting conflict-checks, marketing, defending potential complaints, legal proceedings or fee disputes, keeping anti-money laundering records, training other barristers and pupils and when providing work-shadowing opportunities, and/or exercising a right to a lien. The types of data I process vary upon the nature of the legal matter in relation to which I am engaged to advise, but can include names, contact details, biographic details and ‘special category personal data’ (such as details of racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious or philosophical beliefs, health, sex life and criminal convictions and proceedings).

Depending upon the circumstances of the case, the legal bases upon which I process personal data are (i) the performance of a contract to which the data subject is a party or in order to take steps at the request of the data subject prior to entering into a contract, (ii) the processing is necessary to comply with legal obligations to which I am subject, or (iii) the processing is necessary for the legitimate interests set out above, except where such interests are overridden by the interests or fundamental rights and freedoms of the data subjects which require protection of personal data, in particular where the data subject is a child. When I rely on (iii) legitimate interests, my ‘Legitimate Interests Assessment’ can be found here. When I process data which has not be obtained directly from the data subject (e.g. personal data contained in evidential materials), it will have been supplied to me as part of my instructions in circumstances covered by legal professional privilege.

Depending upon the circumstances of the case, I may share the personal data with:

  1. my Chambers, which supplies professional and administrative support to my practice;
  2. Courts and other tribunals to whom documents are presented;
  3. my lay and professional clients;
  4. potential witnesses, in particular experts, and friends or family of the data subject;
  5. solicitors, barristers, pupils, mini pupils and other legal representatives;
  6. ombudsmen and regulatory authorities;
  7. current, past or prospective employers;
  8. education and examining bodies;
  9. business associates, professional advisers and trade bodies.

I retain personal data for no longer than 7 years after the case has come to an end or as otherwise required by law.

I do not intend to transfer data to any country which is not either within the European Union, ‘white listed’ by the EU or otherwise permitted by EU law (e.g. to the USA under the provisions of the ‘Privacy Shield’).

Under the GDPR, data subjects whose personal data I process have the right to request from me access to, and rectification or erasure of, their personal data, the right to the restriction of processing concerning them, the right to object to processing as well as the right to data portability. Data subjects also have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ico.org.uk).

In cases where there is a contract between me and the data subject, the provision of personal data is a contractual requirement and the data subject is obliged to provide the personal data in order that I can supply legal services. A failure to provide such data may mean that I will not be able to provide the legal services.

 

Rev 1.1 08.02.2019

Data Protection Policy

Legitimate Interests Assessment