About Martin Shume

Meet Barrister
Martin Shume

Martin Shume is a leading barrister predominantly practising safety based regulatory crime.

Martin has a national practice focused on supporting clients from investigation through to finalisation of litigation. He supports clients in the areas of workplace health and safety, heavy vehicle national law, food safety and environmental pollution. He also appears at inquests and inquiries.

Martin has particular expertise across a wide range of industries including aeronautical, building and construction, education and training, farming, mining, manufacturing, transportation, and timber (felling, transportation and milling).

Martin regularly works with leading senior counsel in his areas of expertise. He has developed a practice that involves working on lengthy, complicated and technical matters.

Martin has developed his skill set over a period of 35 years, originally working exclusively in police criminal matters. He then spent several years working as counsel assisting at the State Coroners Court. He then worked as a solicitor at WorkCover NSW. Moving to the NSW bar in 1997.

Since 1997 Martin has worked in safety related regulatory prosecutions, inquiries and inquests.

He is considered to be very knowledgeable in his chosen fields with a down to earth practical approach.

Selected Cases

Nash v Resource Pacific Pty Ltd (No 3) [2018] NSWSC 42

The last matter to be heard in the Industrial Court of NSW and completing in the Supreme Court of NSW.

Inspector Nash v Perilya Broken Hill Limited

A long running defended case in the District Court of NSW testing a number of issues, including the nature and extent of the duties imposed by the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 and the application of the defence of honest and reasonable mistake of fact.