About

Mark is a defence specialist.‍

He has a reputation for building a strong rapport with both lay and professional clients based on meticulous preparation, coupled with a direct no-nonsense approach both in and out of court.

He also a reputation for being able to get the best out of young and vulnerable defendants, including those on the autistic spectrum and clients suffering from mental incapacity and mental illness. His experience extends to cases where an intermediary was required. Mark regularly appears in cases alleging Murder, Kidnap, Serious Violence, Firearms, Large-Scale Drugs Supply, and Offences of Dishonesty, including Large-Scale Fraud and Money Laundering Cases. He also defends in trials involving Serious Sexual Offences (including Historic Sex Cases).

Mark’s experience includes representing defendants charged with evasion of Import Duty and Value Added Tax. He has particular experience in representing defendants charged with Causing Death by Dangerous Driving.

Mark is regularly privately instructed to advise on the merits of appeal on cases in which he was not originally instructed.

Mark Is Direct Access qualified.
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Memberships & Scholarships

Criminal Barristers Association

Middle Temple

Middle Temple Harmsworth Scholar 2001‍

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Legal 500

2019 - Crime - Tier 3

"Passionate defence counsel who fights for his clients with every essence of his being. Robust advocate with a courteous style."

2020 - Crime - Tier 3

"A powerful advocate with the ability to look beyond the obvious. He has a manner that immediately puts any client at ease and his client care is second to none. He is sharp and insightful, but never overbearing and he is as persuasive an advocate outside as inside the courtroom."

2021 - Crime - Tier 2

"A sharp, insightful, and very smooth advocate. Brilliant with clients and making them feel at ease. Fantastic at analysing the finer points (such as cell site evidence) and breaking elements down succinctly."

Experience

Murder & Serious Violence

2021 - R v LW – Murder – Central Criminal Court – Junior Counsel instructed for one of four defendants charged with murder and s18 GBH, both by stabbing.

2021 - R v IS – Murder – Central Criminal Court – Junior Counsel instructed for one of three defendants charged with offences including murder following an alleged gang “shoot out” in North West London.

2021 - R v RK – Murder – Sheffield Crown Court – Junior Counsel instructed for one of three defendants in what is alleged to be a home invasion and gang related execution.

2021 - R v RM – Attempted Murder – Central Criminal Court – Counsel instructed for one of two defendants charged with a shooting in the midst of a car chase in a London suburb during daylight hours.

Fraud & Money Laundering

2021 - R v MM - Money Laundering – Southwark Crown Court – Junior Counsel instructed for one of three defendants charged with money laundering in excess of £36,000,000 through two Money Service Bureaus.

2021 - R v WMK – Money Laundering – Bristol Crown Court – Counsel instructed for the now sole defendant alleged to have laundered over £1.9m, alleged to be in part derived from prostitution and trafficking for the purpose of exploitation

2021 - R v JSS – Money Laundering – Isleworth Crown Court – Counsel instructed for one of two defendants found in possession of over £200,000 in cash.

Drugs Offences

2021 - R v MO – Conspiracy to Supply Class A Substances and Money Laundering – Manchester Crown Square – Leading Counsel instructed for the first of three defendants who is alleged to be the head of a local OCG and supplying hundreds of thousands of pounds of Class A Drugs weekly. Enchrochat Evidence is relied upon

2021 - R v FP – Production of A Class B Substance – Maidstone Crown Court - Counsel instructed for one of 13 defendants charged with conspiracy to produce cannabis on an industrial scale.

2021 - R v JM – Conspiracy to Supply Class A Drugs, Exploitation and Money Laundering – Maidstone Crown Court – Counsel instructed for one of two defendants alleged to be at the heart of a County Lines Drug Operation utilising young and vulnerable youths.

2021 - R v JC - Conspiracy to Supply Class A Drugs, Exploitation and Money Laundering – Kingston Crown Court - Counsel instructed for one of eight defendants alleged to be at the heart of a large-scale County Lines Drug Operation utilising young and vulnerable youths.

Firearms

2021 - R v DM – Firearms – Inner London Crown Court – Counsel is instructed for one of two defendants alleged to be in possession of firearms and ammunition (including a submachine gun) with intent to endanger life.

2021 - R v SO – Firearms & Conspiracy to Rob – Harrow Crown Court – Counsel is instructed for one of six defendants alleged to have planned and carried out a home invasion and robbery with the use a firearm.

2021 - R v BJ – Firearms – Wood Green Crown Court – Counsel is instructed for a defendant alleged to have entered a residential property following a stabbing (of the victim) whilst in possession of a firearm with intent to rob.

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Other Serious Crime

2021 - R v JC – Kidnap & Robbery – Inner London Crown Court – Counsel instructed for the first of three defendants alleged to have kidnapped, beaten and then robbed a young female as a result of a money dispute.

2021 - R v JA – Prison Mutiny (retrial following a hung jury) – Maidstone Crown Court – Counsel instructed for one of 23 defendants tried in relation to a riot at HMP Swaleside in December 2017.

Notable Cases

2020 - R v RBL – Murder – Central Criminal Court – Junior Counsel instructed for one of two defendants standing trial in relation to a shooting captured on CCTV and ID not in issue. Acquitted

2020 – R v RN – Murder – Isleworth Crown Court – Junior Counsel for a defendant charged in relation to a “one punch” murder. Following a successful submission of no case in relation to Murder, he was acquitted by a jury of Manslaughter.

2020 – R v JA – Conspiracy to Transfer a Firearm – Counsel was instructed to represent one of three defendants and following continued requests for disclosure during the trial, the crown was “forced” to offer no further evidence. Acquitted.

2019 – R v KD – Murder – Was instructed as Junior Counsel to represent the first of three defendants who were inmates within HMP Wormwood Scrubs and were alleged to have planned and carried out a fatal attack on a fourth inmate. Acquitted.

2019 - R v BD – Double Murder – Was instructed as Junior Counsel to represent one of two defendants alleged to have been part of a group of thirteen or more males who embarked on a series of violent attacks across parts of central and east London. A rampage that left two young men dead and another seriously wounded. Five separate incidents were identified that took place in under two hours.

2019 – R v CM – Human Trafficking – Preston Crown Court – Counsel was Instructed to represent one of eight defendants alleged to have been the central figure and organiser) following a police investigation into an international operation trafficking women who had been brought into the country for the purposes of prostitution. These women were transferred between brothels situated in northern and midland towns and cities.

2019 - R v LB – Firearms & Explosives – Counsel was instructed to represent one of six defendants charged with possession of explosives, firearms, component parts of firearms and thousands of rounds of ammunition

2019 – R v HEA – Money Laundering - Harrow Crown Court – Counsel was instructed to represent one of three defendants said to be involved in a conspiracy to launder the proceeds of crime through an MSB of which he was in control. Acquitted.