‘Martin is an outstanding criminal lawyer. He is able to draw on a remarkable combination of experience at the English Bar and as a prosecutor before international courts, he is extremely incisive and penetrating in legal and factual analysis, and his advice is unfailingly practical.’ –  Legal 500, 2024

OVERVIEW

Martin Hackett is an experienced Criminal and International Law Barrister who specialises in the most serious and complex cases both domestically and internationally.

He currently splits his time between domestic complex court work and sensitive advisory work at the highest level internationally.

Domestic Criminal work

Cat 4 Prosecutor. Specialist Prosecution panel membership Counter Terrorism and RASSO both at category 4.

He regularly appears in court as Leading prosecution Counsel often against defence silks.

Recently prosecuted Terrorism cases involving dissemination or terrorist materials, inciting racial hatred, possession of explosive substances, possession of documents likely to be of use to a terrorist and encouraging support of proscribed terrorist organisations. Additionally, he has given pre-charge advice in possible genocide prosecution.

Further he has case experience as leading prosecution counsel in multi defendant complex county lines and people/child trafficking and exploitation.

He was Leading prosecution Counsel in a terrorism case described as a ‘national first’ relating to the storage of documents in concealed Telegram channels relating to the printing of 3D firearms.

His international work particularly in the Middle East have made him expert in presenting relevant context and terrorist mindset evidence.

International Work

Martin is currently working with a number of international consultancies advising upon War Crimes/genocide and counter terrorism matters.

United Nation Office of Counter Terrorism (UNOCT) as a counter terrorism expert.

Working with the Director of Public Prosecutions office of international crimes in Kampala Uganda.

Advising on investigative and prosecution strategies in terrorist cases involving ISIS linked groups.

European Union Project Pravo Justice in Kyiv Ukraine.

Providing advice to the Ukrainian Office of the Prosecutor General and Ukrainian Military Intelligence in accordance with international standards regards international crimes committed within the current conflict. War crimes, strategic investigative case building and national strategy advice relating to , genocide, CRSV, sexual slavery, the crime of aggression, targeting of civilian infrastructure and electricity power stations. Wider strategic advice regards planning of large scale war crimes investigations. Related witness care and protection issues and national strategy. Reviewing and advising on proposed new legislation relating to war crimes, CRSV and victims. Advising upon individual case files focusing upon CRSV.

Member of the Atrocity Crimes Advisory Group working with other international agencies to provide advice and legal guidance relating to genocide and conflict related sexual violence prosecutions linked to the current conflict in Ukraine.

He also has worked closely with Ukrainian prosecutors to improve victim care strategies and achieving best evidence interviews especially as they relate to victims of conflict related sexual violence.

Counter Terrorism Consultant working with UKGOV in Iraq and Kurdistan

International legal consultant working on Human Rights Justice projects with UK FCDO in Baghdad, Erbil, and Sulaymaniyah in Kurdistan Iraq focused on improving in accordance with international human rights standards fair trial conditions for detained terrorism suspects, from investigation through detention and then at trial.

Working with defence lawyers, Judges and investigators to ensure fair trial standards are worked towards.

He hopes to take up the position of Principle Prosecutor in the Turks & Caicos islands in April 2025. This will involve being leading prosecution counsel in murders, cross border investigations, and gang related criminal activities.

Other International work and appointments

Senior Trial Counsel Office of the Prosecutor at the United Nations Special Tribunal for Lebanon in The Hague. 2015 to 2021

Duties as Senior Trial counsel included leading the prosecution and investigation of serious terrorist offences committed in Lebanon against prominent political figures.

He Managed a large department in a United Nations Tribunal. This involved directing senior police officers, lawyers and expert analysts to investigate and build cases.

Working within a UN mandate and advising upon matters related to its jurisdiction.
Experience with complex communication evidence and covert multi-layered terrorist telephone networks. As well as associated expert surveillance, planning and detonation evidence. Complex political evidence relating to Lebanon and terrorist organisations with links throughout region. Also liaising with international security services. Creating witness protection strategies to meet individual witnesses needs.

He also had to appear before UN Management committees in parliamentary style hearings to outline the workings of his department and present plans for future development.

Prosecutor Special Prosecution office for the Republic of Kosovo (SPRK). Head of War Crimes Unit.

Seconded by the FCDO to EULEX Kosovo, European Union Rule of Law Mission. 2013 to 2015.

Seconded by FCDO to the European Union Mission in Kosovo. Working as one of the Special Prosecutors with the Special Prosecution Office for the Republic of Kosovo (SPRK).

Martin was Head of war crimes prosecution unit in SPRK. Prosecuting and investigating war crimes committed by senior military commanders during Kosovo war.

He Appeared as Leading Prosecuting Counsel in a yearlong war crimes trial against 19 defendants. Involving SGBV and genital mutilation. This was the highest profile war crimes trial ever tried by the Kosovo courts. It was highly sensitive, and many issues were encountered.

He had to manage the War Crimes Prosecution Unit within a challenging political setting. Developing with Kosovo Police a war crimes investigation unit and working with the Kosovo Chief Prosecutor regards future prosecution strategies. Member of War crimes working group. Martin was responsible for managing over 800 war crimes investigations held by his unit.

Further he represented the Mission diplomatically with Serbian authorities especially when involved in meetings and negotiations surrounding the return of human remains from a mass grave.

Martin is passionate about speaking at schools and colleges to encourage students and pupils from non-traditional legal backgrounds to take up a career in law.

He was a guest speaker at the Northern Pupillage fair in Leeds talking to bar students and pupils about his international work and has spoken to bar students from Manchester Metropolitan University on the same topic.

He has also work with NGO’s relating to cases of sexual violence and victim’s rights.