Profile
Crime: Mark’s practice sees him appearing at first instance and appellate level involving cases including murder, serious violence, drugs & county lines conspiracies, proceeds of crime, fraud, political campaigns & serious public disorder. Mark has also appeared before the Parole Board representing prisoners across disciplinary matters.
Employment: Emphasis on whistle blowing and anti-discrimination work. Unfair dismissal, redundancy, TUPE, breach of contract involving working time, NMW, as well as confidentiality & compromise agreements.
Regulatory & professional disciplinary tribunals (Doctors, Dentists, Health care professionals)
Civil – Actions against the Police
Mark is always happy to discuss potential issues, tactics and strategies, prior to any formal Instructions, and is equally amenable to being contacted, even if matters are at a very early stage, with a view to being instructed at a later stage. He is commended as being very approachable and hands-on with his approach to dealing with professional and lay clients alike.
Education
1989-1992: Leeds University, Law, LLB Hons
1994-1995: Nottingham University, International Human Rights law, LLM
Memberships
CBA
ELA
Amnesty International
Languages
French (basic)
Oriya (basic)
Interests
Five-a-side Football
Cycling (Charity Bike rides)
Squash
Mad Cricket (India & Lancashire) supporter
Even madder Tennis (Roger Federer) and Football (Liverpool FC & Burnley FC) fan
Practice Areas
Civil
Crime
Public
Cases
R v P [2021] – Confiscation proceedings. Technical abuse argument resulted in Defendant avoiding a potential high-level sum being awarded against him.
G v C, S & D [2020-2022] – Sensitive assault sex discrimination, sexual harassment case involving cross allegations with anonymity orders & interpreters. (Ongoing)
Drs S & H [2020] – TUPE-transfer and Unfair Dismissal. Involved tri-partite parties looking at issues connected with the actual transfer provisions and technical nature of service providers. Settled with both transferor and transferee Respondents.
Dr T [2020-2021] – Whistleblowing and Race complex race discrimination claims. Involved GMC referral issues too. Settled as against the NHS Trust and with GMC.
Dr P [2019-ongoing] – Complex & historical Whistleblowing complaints stretching back over 5years. Currently trial set for Sept-Oct 2022
R v A & Ors [2020-ongoing]: 30-handed drugs conspiracy. Involves issues surrounding Modern Day Skavery. Currently four trials listed for later this year and next
EA v H, B & M [2017, 2018 & 2019]. Environmental Agency prosecution involving over £1m damage. Complex abuse of process arguments.
R v A & Ors [2019] Cuckoo-ing county lines drugs conspiracy.
R v JW & Ors [2018 & 2019]. Attempted murder & violent disorder involving 17 defendants.
R v SM & Ors [2018 & 2019]. Led Junior. Fatal stabbing involving five youth defendants. Currently with Leave to Appeal against Conviction.
R v S [2017]. A 15 yr old accused of a vicious stabbing and use of a cs spray cannister. Involved complex background evidence, analysis of post-incident phone downloads and multiple bad character applications.
R v C [2017]. Junior. Grooming and sexual exploitation case. Involved detailed CCTV phone and social media evidence and complicated joinder & severance arguments.
R v P [2016]. Firearms, drugs supply and money laundering. Successful half-time submissions in respect of four out of five counts. Currently leave to appeal granted before the Court of Appeal.
R v A [2015]. Rape. At the third trial, involving expert medical witnesses and a complainant who gave evidence via video-link from a different court centre, this involved careful cross-examination of approaching a dozen different types of documents in which the complainant had provided at various times, widly differing and conflicting information as to the alleged incident. The defendant, was a once-child refugee.
R v T & Ors [2013 & 2014]. Led Junior. Multi-handed human-trafficking conspiracy. Involved multi-juridictional legal submissions on abuse or process, involving the Spanish police and a known Spanish-operating OCG.
Drs K, C, B & Ors v West Suffolk NHS Trust [2011]. New Deal Pay disputes. Complex breach of contract case which successfully settled after several days of a full merits hearing with the Trusts’ representative QC eventually conceding heavily.
T v Alstom [2010] EWCA 1308. Led Junior. Before the Court of Appeal, this appeal raised the question whether an agency worker had a contract of service with the end user, within a quad-partite employment relationship.
GSCC v H [2010] UKFTT 128 (HESC). First-Tier Care Standards Tribunal case against the decision of a regulatory body in the wake of the Victoria Climbie Review.
H v London Borough of Brent [2009] EWCA. Judicial Review which questioned the role of a local authority’s adoption panel and the IRM’s independent review process.
R v H (Spring 2006). Successful challenge to lawfulness of the police’s Banning Order of demonstrations campaigning against the fur trade outside Harrods.
R v G & Ors [2005]. Trial of five hindu priests accused of allegations of ritual beating, blinding and false imprisonment of a worshipper at their temple during prayer time. Involved complex and sensitive issues surrounding new ‘bad character’ provisions as well as involving vast disclosure investigations.
R v E & Ors [2004]. Multi-handed drug-smuggling operation into HMP Albany prison.
R v P(H)(Reported in the Daily Express, 6.4.05). Benefit Fraud over several years amounting to over 50k involving overseas assets and culminating in prolonged confiscation proceedings.
SB’B v Family Housing Association (Autumn 2002-Winter 2004). Complex Race Discrimination, Victimisation & Whistle-blowing case.
L (deceased) v Royal Mail (Reported in The Guardian, The Independent, 9.1.02.) Case which extended the ambit of the class of persons who can bring a claim for unlawful discrimination – to include the family of a deceased victim.