Mark in an experienced ancillary relief and Trusts of Land practitioner. Before choosing to specialise in this area, he practised for a number of years as a business and commercial barrister. This experience makes him the ideal choice for disputes involving businesses, partnerships and companies, complex accounts, and insolvency issues.
In 2007 and 2010 Mark was by the appointed Attorney General as Junior Counsel to the Crown (regional panel), which allows him to be instructed by the Treasury Solicitor to undertake civil work for government departments and other publicly funded organizations: and, for example, he acts for the Child Support Agency.
He specialises in financial disputes, and in particular:
- Matrimonial property (all aspects, including enforcement)
- Property disputes between cohabitants (ToLATA)
- Claims under Schedule I of the Children Act
Areas of Expertise
He is regularly instructed in matrimonial property cases involving very substantial assets, including:
- disputed company and partnership valuations
- disputed company and partnership accounts
- disputed pension valuations (including SIPPs)
- farms
Notable Cases
By way of example, his recent cases have included:
- very high value matrimonial disputes (involving assets of up to £9 million)
- private companies, particularly family businesses
- farm valuations
- discretionary family trusts
- foreign assets
- the validity of alleged foreign marriage ceremonies
- disputes between former cohabitants over business assets (as well as residential property)
- claims brought (simultaneously) under both the Married Women's Property Act and the Trusts of Land Act (including factual disputes as to engagement)
- claims brought (simultaneously) under both Schedule I of the Children Act and under the Trusts of Land Act.
- 5 major competitive Bar Scholarships and Awards
