Martin McCarthy KC

Martin is ranked as a new silk in both leading directories and for many years has been ranked as a Leading junior in Band 1 in the Crime section as well as in the Financial Crime section of the Legal 500 edn 2023.

He is described in legal 500 2024 new silks section as follows:

Martin is a superb barrister. He is a wise and considered practitioner who shows great judgment in which battles to pick. He has a delightful Court manner which charms judges and juries alike as well as a steely resolve. Martin is a stellar performer who was made for silk robes.

Described as ‘a forceful, formidable advocate who is adept in heavyweight crime and financial crime cases' as well as 'known for his well-prepared, meticulous and devastating cross-examination.'

Martin was ranked in Band 1 in the Crime section of Legal 500 2022. Described as 'in command of his papers' and someone who 'robustly cross examines witnesses'

In the Financial Crime section he was described as 'A junior who possesses expert tactical acumen, both in his submissions and his dealings with witnesses and juries'.

Chambers & Partners 2022 said that Martin is "A strong and insidious barrister with excellent judgment and who knows how to handle the opposition and get what he wants'.

In the Financial crime of the same directory he was rated as 'an accomplished junior ....very experienced and great to deal with. A very good jury advocate who is excellent at witness handling'.

Legal 500 2021 Fraud crime directory ranked Martin as a leading Junior in both general and Fraud crime. He is described as "charismatic" and someone who "fights tirelessly....one of the most talented fraud and business crime juniors at the bar...". He is the "go to Counsel in heavyweight crime, particularly drugs, People Trafficking and Serious Organised crime". He is a rare breed of leading junior advocates who has a firm, tenacious manner in Court mixed with charm and charisma"

Chambers & Partners 2021 ranked Martin as a leading junior in Fraud and general crime.

"well thought of and a real fighter"

"A very, very good jury advocate".

In the 2020 general crime section as follows:

"A walking disclsoure manual whose cross examinations are effective"

In Fraud:crime the same directory reads as follows:

"A thorough practitioner who will fiercely fight his clients corner"

Legal 500 2019 had the following comments:

"He can absorb and understand vast amounts of complex material and explain it to a jury".

He was recognised in the 2019 edition of Chambers & Partners directory in the area of Financial Crime and is the only member of Farringdon Chambers to be included.

"Accomplished Junior with a strong track record of defending in financial crime cases. He is esteemed for his ability in cases of fraud, money laundering and serious organised crime"

"He is brilliant on the law and has a superb cross examination technique"

He is instructed in the most substantial and complex cases of murder, fraud, drugs, corruption, money laundering, people trafficking and all aspects of organised crime. Martin has extensive experience of serious fraud and related confiscation proceedings. He has advised and appeared in complex contested cases in the Crown Court, the High Court and the Court of Appeal. He is used to working with substantial amounts of paperwork and is computer literate.

Martin is particularly experienced in cases involving experts in cell site, computers, telephone, accountancy and other such evidence.

In the last few years Martin has developed a niche practice in appeals against costs decisions and has been reported in decisions of costs Judges, the High Court and the VHCC appeals committee where he has been unusually successful in taking points of principle (R v Mooney, R v Mehmetaj, R v Zigaras, R v Sereika, R v Francis & R v Carter - all of which successfully challenged decisions of the LAA before the Costs Judge on behalf of Litigators and/or Counsel).

Martin has substantial experience of VHCC cases. Martin was formerly an Independent Costs Adjudicator (formerly known as a member of the LSC VHCC appeals committee). He is a former elected member of the Criminal Bar Association executive and is co-opted to the CBA remuneration Committee. Martin is able to give lectures to Solicitors and the Bar in Costs and costs appeals.

In relation to Cyber Crime, Martin's experience focuses on various types of Cyber Fraud, in addition to matters involving Malware, Ransomware and Phishing offences.

Martin also has experience of the whole array of sexual offences and Indecent Images over many years.

Fraud including Business Crime.

General Crime, especially Homicide & People Trafficking.

Cyber Crime / Cyber Fraud 

Serious Sex Offences 

Martin has been instructed in a number of serious cases in recent years but as a guide, the following cases reflect the type of work Martin undertakes:

Fraud/money laundering

Martin is currently instructed in 2 vast fraud cases at Southwark and Northampton in 2026 in which he acts for principal defendants charged with £multi millions.

R v RG - £1m plus money laudering

Leading Junior

R v S - £10m car ringing conspiracy

Leading junior

R v S - multi-million pound international fraud

Prosecuted by QC and junior. 15 defendants. 3 months at Southwark CC

R v S - multi-defendant parcel fraud

4 weeks Blackfriars

R v M - Fraud

Leading junior must-defendant mortgage fraud/money laundering

R v M - Multi-defendant money laundering

3 weeks Canterbury

R v M - Multi-defendant fraud and money laundering

Leading Junior - 2.5 months Southwark

R v S- Fraud

Currently retained to advise in a multi jurisdiction computer phishing fraud

R v M - Fraud

10 week money laundering/fraud

R v W - Money Laundering

Retained to advise at pre charge restraint stage in International fraud and money laundering

R v G - Money Laundering

Currently acting as sole junior in fraud/money laundering likely to last 2 months Kingston CC

R v C - Fraud

Leading junior in a diamond boiler room fraud Southwark CC

R v D - Blackmail

major money lending and blackmail case at Wood Green CC

R v H - Huge courier fraud

Leeds CC

R v H - substantial courier fraud

Worcester CC

Drugs

Martin has extensive experience of Encrochat cases and has appeared in some of the largest cases in the Country. He has recently led in a long case at the Old bailey in which his client, who denied the offending, was the only defendant against whom the Crown decided not to proceed.

R v D - sole junior organised crime group importing and onward selling Class B

Lincoln CC

R v P - Leading junior Stafford CC - Organised Crime group

Acted for lead defendant

R v M - Sole junior Birmingham CC

Acted for lead defendant in substantial multi defendant Class A organised crime group

R v X - Two drugs conspiracies involving in excess of 20 defendants in all

Split trials in Nottingham and Bristol

R v K - Drugs

Currently retained to advise on restraint and act for lead defendant in substantial telephone based drugs investigation involving multiple defendants - Peterborough CC

R v B - Drugs

Currently acting for one of the main defendants in a multi defendant organised crime drugs cas

People trafficking/Modern Slavery

R v D – vast sexual trafficking case in which Martin led for a principal defendant.

Martin is currently instructed in other such cases and has a particular interest in s.45 MSA defences.

R v M - People trafficking/Modern Slavery

Leading junior 10 weeks slavery Newcastle CC

R v C - leading junior - People trafficking/Modern Slavery

Case lasted over 4 months Prosecuted by QC and two juniors. Birmingham CC

R v H - People trafficking/Modern Slavery

Leading junior people trafficking.

R v D -People Trafficking/Modern Slavery

6 week case leading junior

R v G - Modern Slavery/Sexual Trafficking

6 week case - leading junior

Homicide

In R v KF Martin acted for the first of three defendants charged with a Murder. The victim was shot and stabbed to death. Martin was the only one who secured the acquittal of a defendant on all charges.

R v H - Murder - Worcester CC

Led by QC in a 6 weeks murder. 

R v N - Murder - Wolverhampton CC

4 weeks murder. Junior alone against QC and junior and with other defendants represented by Silks. Martin's client was the only Defendant in six to be acquitted of murder.

R v KF – 3

Handed cut throat Murder with a firearm. Martin’s client was the only one acquitted of all charges after a lengthy trial

Reported cases

Lord Chancellor v McCarthy

High Court "friendly appeal" against the costs Judge's decision to categorise a case from an A to a B in graduated fee case resulting in decision being overturned in our favour...

R v Smith (Henry Lee) [2007] Crim.L.R 325

(Archbold 2011 Para 4-40 & 13-29)

Lord Chancellor v Purnell QC & McCarthy [2010]

Costs L.R. 81, QBD

Lord Chancellor v AJ Solicitors & McCarthy [2011]

EWHC 2113 (QB)

Smith v CPS [2005]

EWHC 3506 (Admin)

MO, & Others, R [2011]

EWCA Crim 2854 (8 Dec 2011)

Lord Chancellor v McCarthy [2012]

EWHC 2325 (QB).

Firearms

Martin has extensive experience in Firearms cases and has recently led in a vast case at the Old Bailey involving the possession of guns and ammunition. He is also currently instructed in a vast case in Sheffield.

Serious Organised Crime

Martin has experience of acting in such cases and is currently instructed in R v C, a multi defendant drugs case involving importations of vast quantities of drugs. The defendant was said to be involved in setting up Companies as fronts for the importations.

Martin is also reported in a vast array of costs decisions acting for Litigators and Counsel, where he has taken a significant number of points before the Costs Judge on issues such as PPE, stayed indictments, start of trial, category and Newtons. Many of his cases have found their way into the LAA manual of Guidance for Criminal Costs. He is sought out for his uptodate knowledge and analytical approach to costs appeals.

LL.B (Hons)

• Chambers Director
• Chambers Criminal Bar Association representative
• Member of Fraud Lawyers Association
• Advocacy teacher Grays Inn

Link to cost appeals bundle

Professional Memberships

• Former Member of the Executive committee of the Criminal Bar association.
• Criminal Bar Association 
• South Eastern Circuit
• Proceeds of Crime Lawyers Association
• Former Independent Costs Adjudicator for the Legal Aid Agency
• Association of Fraud Lawyers
• CBA Remuneration Committee

‘Martin is an exceptional practitioner who is the rare combination of a brilliant brain and an excellent advocate. He reads the room and even in the most challenging of cases ensures that the jury and judge are on board with him.’

Legal 500 2024 edition

Martin McCarthy has an established defence practice across both crime and financial crime. He has experience of serious matters including those relating to people trafficking and terrorism. His cases regularly have cross-border elements.

"Assiduous and extremely organised, his preparation for a case is excellent. He has an unrivalled sense of which direction a case is going once it's underway."

"He has a very good forensic mind and the ability to dial it up or down in response to the mood of the courtroom."

"Martin is an astute tactician and a very good lawyer both in terms of his written and oral advocacy."

Chambers and Partners 2024 edition