Mark is a partner in the firm’s Mishcon Private department, specialising in trust and estate litigation. Mark recently represented Dr Christine Gill in her successful Court of Appeal challenge that overturned a will leaving the RSPCA a £2.35m farmhouse and land.

He has significant experience in advising charities, private individuals and trustees on Will disputes, Inheritance Act 1975 claims, estate administration issues, breach of trust, proprietary estoppel claims and court of protection matters. He works closely with the Fraud and Family Departments in relation to international trusts disputes often involving asset tracing and recovery in offshore jurisdictions.

Mark is a recognised leader in his field. He is considered by Chambers as "a formidable protector of clients' interests" (Chambers 2012) and recommended by Legal 500 for his ‘expertise, enthusiasm and tenacity.’ (Legal 500 2011).

Key Experience

Mark represented Dr Christine Gill in her successful Court of Appeal challenge that overturned a will leaving the RSPCA a £2.35m farmhouse and land.

Mark acted for Dr Christine Gill against the RSPCA in her successful challenge to the validity of her late mother's will. In October 2009 the High Court in Leeds ruled that the will leaving the family’s £2 million farm to the RSPCA was invalid. [2009] EWHC 2990 (Ch) Dr Gill also succeeded in her alternative claim to the farm under the doctrine of proprietary estoppel.

Mark recently represented Dr Alison Martin in her successful claim against TWM solicitors in which it was held that her late husband’s Will had not been drafted in accordance with his instructions Martin v Triggs Turner Barton and Ors [2009] EWHC 1920 (Ch) and also see Martin v Triggs Turner Barton and Ors [2008] EWHC 89 (Ch).

Dr Martin also succeeded in her claims that the solicitors had given negligent advice to her concerning the tax treatment of national savings certificates held by her late husband’s estate and her entitlement to a widow's pension.

Mark recently acted for a major charity in its successful defence of a legacy dispute involving a substantial Estate.

Mark recently acted for Mrs Zoe Stow in a complex trust and succession dispute Stow -v-Stow [2008] EWHC 495 (Ch).

Mark was recently appointed by the court to administer a multi-million pound disputed estate, which recently settled. The case involved allegations of forgery lack of due execution and want of knowledge and approval and settled at a multi-party mediation.

Mark has been appointed to act as a Professional Deputy of the Court of Protection for a young woman who is incapable of managing her financial affairs. Mark had represented the young woman in her negligence action against her local Health authority which settled out of court.

Mark acted for the successful Defendants, in their challenge to the validity of their late grandmother's Will. The court found that Mrs Franks, who had testamentary capacity, did not know and understand the contents of the Will which had been prepared for her by her son who was a solicitor (Franks v Sinclair [2006] EWHC 3365 (Ch)).

Career History