Gareth Martin

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. 

Gareth acts 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 is also able to provide advice and assistance to those facing action by the police and local authorities.

Specialist professional discipline lawyer

Gareth has a particular interest in professional discipline matters which complements Olliers’ well-established DBS and Pre-Charge Engagement departments with some clients requiring advice and assistance with multiple issues. He has advised individuals at all stages of the professional disciplinary process from investigation through to final hearings meaning that we are able to offer a truly holistic approach to criminal and regulatory defence.  

He has experience assisting 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. 

Inquests and public inquiries

Gareth also has considerable experience with inquests and public inquiries. 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. 

He 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 was one of the most significant public inquiries in recent times. 

More recently, Gareth provided advice and assistance to an individual called upon to provide witness evidence to the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry which was set up to establish a clear account of the workings of and more significantly the failings of the system over its lifetime which spanned more than 20 years. 

Gareth is also 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 (2025) was listed in both the crime and health and safety categories. Following his arrival, Olliers have also been recognised as a “Firm to Watch” in the health section of the Legal 500 which is testament to the commitment to further grow the already successful regulatory offering. 

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.” 

Recent cases: 

Professional discipline/Regulatory Proceedings 

• Ongoing –NMC/CQC – instructed by the owner of an aesthetics clinic under investigation by both regulatory bodies 
• Ongoing – GOC investigation – instructed by the owners of a franchise business following concerns about their registration and general operations 
• Ongoing – GMC investigation – instructed by a GP currently under investigation by both the police and the GMC in respect of historical sexual offences.  
• 2024- HCPC proceedings– represented a paramedic in respect of an investigation into alleged professional misconduct following concerns raised by a colleague. 
• 2024- NMC proceedings – representing a nurse following the concerns raised about potential fraud at Yunnik Technologies Test Centre in Ibadan, Nigeria.
• 2024- TRA proceedings – currently representing a teacher due before a Professional Conduct Panel in relation to allegations of inappropriate and sexually motivated conduct towards a pupil. Olliers have already successfully resisted a minded to bar letter through our DBS department. 
• 2024- TRA proceedings – representing a teacher in respect of allegations of misconduct of a sexual nature. We recently successfully opposed a TRA application for the imposition of an Interim Prohibition Order with comprehensive written submissions on behalf of our client. 
• 2024- TRA proceedings – representing a teacher in relation to parallel criminal and TRA matters following allegations of supporting a proscribed organisation through online posts made in relation to the ongoing Israel/Palestine conflict which are being investigated by Counter Terrorism officers from the Metropolitan Police. 
• 2024- GMC proceedings – represented a junior doctor from abroad with issues relating to their UK registration when concerns were raised about the legitimacy of their supporting documentation. 
• HCPC v K – instructed by a paramedic facing allegations of professional misconduct 
• GMC v Dr W – instructed by a consultant under both criminal and regulatory investigation 
• GMC v Dr V – instructed by a GP facing proceedings before the MPTS 
• TRA v M – instructed by a teacher in respect of matters brought by the TRA. Successfully defended allegation of sexual misconduct /sexually motivated behaviour 

Health and Safety /Serious Crime 

• R v R 2025 – Gareth recently represented a former team leader who was contracted to work on the Metrolink across Greater Manchester; he and his team were tasked to assist with revenue protection and the reduction of anti-social behaviour on the trams across the region. Our client, along with three colleagues, faced one allegation of unlawful killing following an incident in Manchester city centre in October 2016. He also faced a further charge of perverting the course of justice. It was alleged that he and his co-accused pursued two members of the public who had been causing trouble on the tram network throughout the evening of 11 October 2016. There had been a confrontation with staff outside Victoria Station, during which they were subject to not only verbal but physical abuse. The workers were accused of then chasing the individuals across the city before detaining them just off Deansgate in the Spinningfields area; during the incident, one of the individuals suffered a cardiac arrest and died some weeks later in hospital. The prosecution alleged that the workers had acted unlawfully in pursuing and detaining the male who died, and much was made of comments attributed to our client whilst he and his colleagues waited for the police to arrive. After a 3-week trial before Mr Justice Goss sitting at Liverpool Crown Court, a jury acquitted 3 of the defendants of unlawful killing and acquitted Olliers’ client on the separate charge of perverting the course of justice. They were unable to reach a verdict in respect of the unlawful killing count and were duly discharged by the Judge. Having reviewed the case, the prosecution decided not to seek a retrial , therefore our client has now also formally had a not guilty verdict recorded in relation to the allegation which he always denied. This was a lengthy and complex case which heard evidence from multiple medical experts, particularly in relation to the effects of the drug commonly known as “Spice”, which has come to devastating prominence in recent years. The case once again highlights the experience and expertise which Olliers has in providing advice and assistance to clients facing the most serious allegations.

• Operation Northleigh – Ongoing Metropolitan Police investigation into the Grenfell Tower fire 
• HSE v C – currently instructed by a multinational meat processing company in respect of proceedings brought by the HSE following an incident which resulted in an employee amputating a finger. 
• HSE v B – instructed by a roofing company in relation to an ongoing HSE investigation into a fall from height incident which sadly led to the death of a sub-contractor. 
• HSE v N – providing advice and assistance to an telehandler driver under investigation by the HSE following the death of a male on a construction site  
• Companies House v S – instructed by a multinational company and its directors in relation to proceedings brought by Companies House 
• R v L – representing a former solicitor in respect of an alleged large-scale fraud being prosecuted by the Insolvency Service and listed for a 6-8 week trial later this year. 
• R v D – instructed by a company director facing multiple allegations of fraud and due to stand trial in 2026   

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