About Martin
Martin is a Partner working across our Intellectual Property Disputes, Commercial Disputes and Music teams.
Martin has wide experience of contentious IP and commercial litigation, particularly in the media and entertainment fields where he focuses on contentious music and copyright litigation.
He is regularly instructed in High Court litigation for leading UK collecting societies, Phonographic Performance Limited and PRS For Music.
Martin also acts for other rights holders and leading brands to assist with protection of trade marks, copyright and design rights. He is also an Associate Member and acts for the music merchandising body Trade Mark and Rights Holders Against Piracy (TRAP Worldwide).
Martin also spearheads the firm’s Consumer law offering having been instructed for a number of years in consumer finance disputes and regulatory matters. Martin has extensive experience defending business and financial institutions in court proceedings (often brought under section 75 and/or 140A of the Consumer Credit Act 1974), including in relation to high-value group actions and in investigations by consumer regulators. Martin acted for two timeshare providers in one of the most important Judicial Reviews in the consumer finance sector of recent years, which led to some key legal findings. See: Shawbrook and Barclays Partner Finance v Financial Ombudsman Service.
Martin also advises several other clients ranging from SMEs to large international business in various contentious matters in High Court litigation, Arbitration and Alternative Dispute Resolution. Long-standing clients include a major hotel brand, a large high street retail chain and an international holiday business.
Martin is recognised by Legal 500 as a Leading Partner for music and as a Recommended Lawyer for commercial litigation and intellectual property. He is also a ranked lawyer by Chambers & Partners.
Work highlights
Martin regularly acts for rights holders in claims for copyright infringement. He has obtained successful rulings against Defendants in claims in the High Court for injunctions and for infringers to be committed to prison for contempt of court.
Several of these important cases have been reported as follows:
- Phonographic Performance Ltd -v- Fletcher [2015] EWHC 2562 (Ch)
- Phonographic Performance Ltd -v- Nash [2014] EWHC 3986 (Ch)
- Phonographic Performance Ltd -v- John t/a Socialite [2015] EWHC 3394 (Ch)
TV Catchup
Acting on behalf of TVCatchup in one of the leading judgments of recent years in the IP and media sector. Hamlins advised on the defence of claims brought by broadcast powerhouses ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5 and others. The case concerned the live streaming of broadcasts over the internet.
- ITV Broadcasting Ltd & Ors v TV Catchup Ltd [2011] EWHC 1874 (Pat)
- ITV Broadcasting Limited and Others v TVCatchup Limited and Others
Further reported cases are as follows:
- FA Premier League Ltd v QC Leisure & Others [2008] EWHC 1411 (Ch) UEFA v Euroview Sport Ltd [2010] EWHC 1066 (Ch)
- Football Association Premier League Ltd and others v QC Leisure and others [2012] EWHC 108 (Ch)
- UEFA v Euroview Sport Ltd [2010] EWHC 1066 (Ch)
- Football Association Premier League Ltd and others v QC Leisure and others [2012] EWHC 108 (Ch)
- Phonographic Performance Ltd and Performing Rights Society Limited v CGK Trading Ltd & Ors [2016] EWHC 2642 (Ch)
- Phonographic Performance Ltd v Balogun (t/a Mama Africa) [2018] EWHC 1327 (Ch)
- Shawbrook Bank Ltd, R (On the Application Of) v Financial Ombudsman Service Ltd [2023] EWHC 1069 (Admin) (05 May 2023) (bailii.org)