Martin Forde KC

Martin Forde KC has a practice which covers all aspects of Health Law. He appears regularly in all the Regulatory and Disciplinary tribunals predominantly for practitioners including doctors, dentists, osteopaths, chiropractors and optometrists.

In 2021 and 2020, the Powerlist named Martin as one of the most influential people for their impact on Politics, Law & Religion. He was listed in The Lawyer’s Hot 100 lawyers of 2019. In June 2020, Counsel Magazine interviewed Martin about Windrush, citizenship and diversity at the Bar as their front cover feature (here).

He has acted for the General Medical Council and the General Dental Council. He has appeared in a number of major cases in the Privy Council and has been involved in medical related judicial review hearings in the Administrative Court as well as judicial review hearings involving mental health and immigration issues.

His clinical negligence and personal injury practice is exclusively undertaken in the High Court involving injuries of maximum severity.

His experience of Inquests is extensive particularly in cases involving a mental health element.

He has appeared on many occasions in the Employment Tribunal acting for NHS Trusts and medical practitioners. He has appeared in HC (90) 9 proceedings, internal Trust and PCT hearings and has an extensive FHSAA practice.

He has been recognised as a band 1 practitioner by Chambers & Partners since 2010. He was the Independent Advisor to the Windrush Compensation Scheme (2018 – 2021). Recently, Martin succeeded in a legal first for a freedom of speech claim.

In 2022, Martin was named Professional Discipline Silk of the Year at the Chambers & Partners UK Bar Awards.

The Forde Inquiry

Martin was appointed to undertake an independent investigation into the circumstances and contents of a report into antisemitism within the Labour Party by the National Executive Committee of the Labour Party. The report was published in 2022.

Notable cases include:

• The Forde Inquiry (2020)
• Windrush Compensation scheme (2018-2021)
• Dr Michael Jonathan Fish v GMC [2012] EWHC 1269 (Admin)
• R (on the application of X) v GMC [2011] EWHC 3271 (Admin)
• Dr Casey v GMC NIQB 95
• Negin Shamsian v GMC [2011] EWHC 2885 (Admin)
• Azzam v The General Medical Council [2008] EWHC 2711 (Admin)
• R (on the application of Anderson & Ors) v HM Coroner for Inner North Greater London LTL 3/12/2004 “The Roger Sylvester Inquest.”
• Preiss v General Dental Council – Privy Council 2001 HRLR56 2001 Lloyd’s Rep Med 491
• Bainton v General Dental Council Privy Council Times October 17 2000
• Bhanot v South West London St Georges NHS Trust 2000 Lloyds Rep Medical 324
• Dr Emmanuel Dibua Nwabueze v General Medical Council (2000)