Martin is a partner in the insurance and reinsurance litigation group. His work includes advising on policy disputes of all kinds between insureds and insurers, involving issues of non-disclosure and construction of a wide variety of types of policies, and between reinsureds and reinsurers.
He has acted in a wide variety of actions involving claims against professionals including brokers and solicitors, and product liability claims. He has wide experience of conducting overseas litigation on behalf of UK insurers and their insureds, international disputes involving the insurance and reinsurance markets and market arbitrations. He also advises on policy wordings, including the drafting and negotiation of policies, as well as dealing with regulatory matters affecting the insurance market of a contentious and non-contentious nature.
Credentials
- the provisional liquidators of Independent Insurance Company
- leading firms of City lawyers in connection with significant professional negligence claims made against them.
- Tioxide, in relation to numerous claims against it, alleging discolouration caused by Tioxide's product.
- Mabey & Johnson, in relation to its claim against its professional indemnity insurers (reported at [2003] EWHC 1523 and [2004] Lloyd's Rep IR 10).
- for Lloyd's Underwriters in relation to various reinsurance claims against the Outhwaite, Meacock and Merrett syndicates arising out of the reinsurance of the run-off of old years of account (including the Cockell, Harvey Bowring and Syndicate 90 claims)
- Messier Dowty, in relation to a major product liability claim and involving significant issues of English private international law
- ChevronTexaco in relation to the Buncefield explosion
- a leading firm of insurance brokers in relation to regulatory issues
- a major reinsurer in multiple arbitrations relating to hurricane losses.
Accolades
Martin is named as a leading lawyer in the latest edition of Chambers in the field of insurance (general claims) and Legal 500 insurance and reinsurance litigation.
Chambers UK 2007 & Legal 500 2006
Observers also singled out Martin Bakes for his "first-class brain" and sound judgement.
Chambers UK 2007
A "cerebral lawyer," Martin Bakes is capable of tackling the complex cases with which the team is perennially associated.
Chambers UK 2006
"takes a sensible line in his advice and never fails to see the big picture."
Chambers UK 2005
'superbly capable'
Legal 500 UK 2006