Guy Martin

Practice Areas

With over 20 years’ experience at the forefront of sanctions and international law, Guy advises on all aspects of sanctions regimes, export controls, and international trade law. He also brings decades of expertise in reputation management, including media law, defamation, copyright, intellectual property, and data protection.

Guy was the strategic lead in landmark sanctions cases before the European Court of Justice, including Sheikh Yassin Kadi v Council of the EU — known globally as Kadi 1 and Kadi 2. Both were heard before the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Justice, the highest court in Europe, where the court sharply criticised the absence of due process and rule of law protection in the application of sanctions.

Working with trusted legal advisers in the US and EU, Guy has secured the worldwide delisting of Sheikh Yassin Kadi as well as many other clients. These cases have helped shape new legal protocols for challenging international sanctions across multiple jurisdictions.

Guy has particular experience of UN sanctions, and of advising businesses and investors on compliance with economic sanctions around the world.

Guy’s clients include ultra-high-net-worth individuals, philanthropists, royalty, rulers of states and their families, international religious organisations and leaders, and internationally recognised figures in the arts and media.

One client stated: “[Guy Martin is] peerless in international sanctions work, with a combination of huge experience and excellent client care.”

In 2001 Guy founded and subsequently led a top-ranking sanctions department in a Central London law firm, described as “Renowned for its distinct expertise in sanctions against states and targeted asset freezing against individuals, and for its involvement in highly sensitive cases. Strong track record in the Middle East and Africa, notably in matters relating to the Arab Spring”.

He has successfully led many clients in their legal and administrative challenges to asset freezing measures – or “targeted sanctions” — by judicial review applications in England, direct actions for annulment to the General Court of the EU in Luxembourg, appeals to the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg, and petitions before the United Nations Ombudsperson, OFAC and other international bodies.

Since 2001 Guy has devised the strategy for, and led, the landmark litigation establishing the modern law of sanctions in the cases of Kadi 1 and Kadi 2. These cases have been relied on and continue to be cited globally as the foundation of modern sanctions law.

Many of Guy’s clients have been denied the protection of the Rule of Law, an effective tribunal, or due process, and have suffered other injustices, often as a result of international crises, political upheaval or armed conflict.

Sanctions and International Law – Recent Case Experience

Sheikh Yassin Abdullah Kadi, mistakenly sanctioned around the world by the UK, US, EU and UN. In what was to become the defining case in this sphere, Guy represented Mr Kadi in his successful appeals to the ECJ in 2008 and 2013. He has acted for Mr Kadi for over 20 years.

His Majesty King Juan Carlos I of Spain faced unwarranted allegations concerning conduct pre-dating his 2014 abdication. Guy led the team in the litigation before the Court of Appeal which in December 2022 upheld the King’s sovereign immunity.

The family of former Egyptian President Mohamed Hosni Elsayed Mubarak were wrongfully subjected to sanctions by the EU, following the Arab Spring. Following challenges brought by Guy, the UK removed them from its sanctions list, and in 2021 and 2022 the EU lifted all remaining sanctions.

Burmese national Pye Phyo Tay Za erroneously sanctioned by the Council of the EU. He was first listed by the EU in 2003 at the young age of 16. Guy instructed the legendary Sir Sydney Kentridge KC to appear on his behalf before the European Court of Justice which held that the application of restrictive measures to persons on the “sole ground of their family connection with persons associated with the leaders of [Burma] irrespective of the conduct of such persons is at variance with the Court’s case law”. This resulted in unequivocal delisting for my client.

Syrian businessman Nizar Assaad, who was the victim of mistaken identity by the EU Council. His successful challenge fully vindicated Nizar Assad’s position throughout and caused the EU Council to substantially revise its practices by engaging Arabic language experts to work on its designation lists, to the ongoing benefit of all EU-designated persons from Arabic-speaking countries.

Syrian businessman Mazen Al Tabbaa whose designation by the EU I successfully challenged before the European General Court.

Moldovan politician and businessman Vladimir Plahotniuc former vice president of the Parliament of Moldova, successful in challenging the 2023 restrictive measures imposed on him by the EU Council.

Guy is committed to promoting the Rule of Law as the indispensable foundation of a civilised society and a healthy democracy.