Mark took silk in 2017, following a highly successful career as a junior specialising in serious and heavy crime (both for the prosecution and the defence). He undertakes a significant amount of private work and has, for many years, been ranked in Chambers and Partners as a leader in the field of crime at the London Bar. Mark is also ranked in the Legal 500 as a leading individual in the field of crime at the London Bar.
Mark is also experienced in cases involving regulatory and disciplinary issues and has significant experience of acting and advising in cases of Judicial Review.
In addition to maintaining a high-end defence practice Mark was, at the time of taking silk, admitted to the CPS list at the highest grade (Grade 4) and the Serious Fraud Office list at the highest grade (the ‘A’ list). Mark has extensive experience of prosecuting cases involving serious violence and homicide, allegations of conspiracy and substantial and complex fraud. This includes dealing with cases raising highly complex disclosure issues, including the most sensitive of intelligence material.
Mark has appeared in countless confiscation cases and regularly deals with forfeiture and asset recovery. In 2016, he led for the defence in very high value confiscation proceedings described by the Recorder of Cardiff as “extremely complex”. During a fully contested hearing, arguments were advanced relating to trusts, partnerships, registered tenancies and accounting principles. A claim, in excess of £4m, was successfully reduced to a little over £126K. Mark was also instructed to defend in the confiscation proceedings that resulted in the important case of R v. Powell  EWCA Crim 1043. Although Mark had to return the case, prior to the appellate stage, it was the corporate veil argument identified by Mark which eventually won out in the Court of Appeal.
Mark also specialises in financial crime, including corporate offences, regulatory offences and substantial conspiracies to defraud. In 2016, Mark was privately instructed by Kingsley Napley to defend in a very high value Bureau de Change fraud and, at the time of taking silk, Mark was instructed for the lead defendant in an extremely serious allegation of Care Home fraud, due to be tried in Liverpool over six months. The case held a heavy civil element, due to substantial proceedings in the Chancery Division (which involved many of the same issues raised by the fraud allegation).
Mark is a highly experienced criminal barrister with expertise in homicide, sexual offending and fraud. He also has considerable experience of acting in large-scale conspiracy cases covering the full range of serious offences.
In recent years Mark has acted in prominent murder trials at the Central Criminal Court and in Manchester. Since taking silk, he has acted for the lead defendant in an extremely serious and high-profile conspiracy to murder before Dove J. in Stafford Crown Court. He continues to act in another high-profile murder trial due to be heard at the Central Criminal Court in 2017.
Mark’s experience in relation to serious sexual offending is vast. His profile includes expertise in advising and defending professional athletes, including Premiership and Championship footballers. Mark has also developed substantial expertise in cases where medical professionals are accused of sexual offending within a clinical setting. He has represented eminent consultant surgeons across the country in this regard. His success within this area of work is well established.
Mark’s experience in cases involving drug conspiracies is also particularly extensive, including issues relating to public interest immunity and covert surveillance.
Mark’s client care, attention to detail and disciplined work ethic led him to be instructed to act as a leading junior on countless occasions prior to his taking silk. He is consistently in demand with many of the most reputable firms of solicitors in the country.