Sinead Martin

Group Legal Director

I began my career as a media lawyer in private practice and then in television. I have worked in publishing since 2006 when I joined Random House, becoming its legal director in 2011 and Penguin Random House legal director in 2016. I am also the company’s Integrity and Compliance Officer and Company Secretary.

The breadth of work the legal team is responsible for, which includes publishing, commercial, brands, film and tv legal advice, means we are always kept stimulated, energised and on the alert!  There can be no such thing as a typical day in our world.  Responsiveness to the needs of our authors and the business is key each day and my goal is that we always strive to support the creative process and to be good strategic partners to the business.  

In my career, I have always particularly enjoyed the challenge of helping to get current affairs, different viewpoints and great stories before the public responsibly, and I am privileged to be part of the team doing this with the high calibre authors we publish at  Penguin Random House. 

A book that's left a deep impression on me:  The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot by Marianne Cronin – I read this lovely book in lockdown and it has stayed close to my heart since. It’s a delightful, funny, poignant and affirming story about life, death and the unexpected and really special relationships that can carry us through the most difficult times and make it all matter.

My literary hero:  I’m an animal lover so it has to be the iconic Black Beauty.

A book I'd recommend to everyone:  The Poetry Pharmacy by William Sieghart.  This simple, thoughtful and beautiful book was “prescribed” to me by one of the lawyers in our team and it offers, as it says in the sub- title “Tried and true prescriptions for the heart, mind and soul”.  It is an uplifting book that includes a reflection beside each poem and even some advice on how to read a poem to get most from it.  Great for poetry novices and poetry lovers equally. I know as I have recommended it to both!