Mark is a highly regarded commercial lawyer with considerable cross-border experience. He has been a judge; worked in-house; worked in private practice; built hedge funds; advised governments and run private- and public-sector organisations. Much of his career has been spent finding solutions, negotiating deals and developing commercial trust and confidence.
Having lived for a number of years in the Middle East, and having worked across South Asia, Middle East and Africa, Mark is well connected with solid policy and multi-industry international experience dealing with stakeholders from the government, judiciary, regulators, legal and business communities, public and media across a number of geographies.
Mark is passionate about resolving problems: he is President of the International Association of Court Administration, a visiting fellow at Oxford University in the sphere of reputation building and management, a member of the World Economic Forum’s expert network and sits on a number of governmental taskforces related to AI and justice.
Expertise
Mark has extensive experience in commercial contract drafting, corporate finance, negotiating settlements, risk and compliance, and outside counsel management.
Experience
Drafted complex commercial contracts across multiple jurisdictions.
Advised on corporate finance transactions and cross-border deals.
Negotiated settlements for high-value commercial disputes.
Implemented risk management and compliance frameworks.
Managed outside counsel to ensure efficient legal delivery.
Mark specialises in commercial disputes, enforcement of contracts and awards, and dispute resolution, across internationally recognised frameworks and tribunals.
Experience
Established the Dubai World Tribunal, facilitating US$25bn restructuring across 1000+ subsidiaries.
Created the DIFC Dispute Resolution Authority, including DIFC-LCIA Arbitration and Mediation Centre.
Developed the DIFC Courts into a leading global commercial court.
Implemented systems to enforce contracts and awards across jurisdictions.
Mark advises governments and organisations on AI, blockchain, and smart contracts, including mitigating cross-border legal risks. He has led initiatives integrating technology in courts and dispute resolution, addressing emerging legal frameworks such as China’s Belt & Road.
Experience
Advised governments in CIS, Middle East, and Asia on smart contract use.
Developed DIFC Courts as the region’s most technologically advanced.
Established and operated the first Virtual Court in the Middle East with Microsoft.
Built frameworks for handling legal risks from Belt & Road projects.
Mark has led the creation and development of judicial and arbitral institutions, internal ethics frameworks, client training programmes, talent acquisition strategies, and people development initiatives.
Experience
Developed the DIFC Courts’ reputation through international memoranda and outreach.
Established the Courts of the Future Forum think-tank.
Created DIFC training academy and professional development programmes.
Introduced Codes of Conduct, pro-bono programmes, and small claims tribunals.
Oversaw talent acquisition, internal ethics, and people development initiatives.
Please note: The experience list above may include examples of work completed prior to joining Keystone Law.
Recognition
Nominated as The Law Society Gazette Legal Personality of the Year 2020
Twice named in the ‘Top 50 most influential Brits in the UAE’ by ArabianBusiness.com
Listed as one of the 100 most influential people in Dubai and by Forbes Middle East as one of the top 50 most influential expats in the UAE
Twice shortlisted by the Law Society of England and Wales as the UK’s Solicitor of the Year – In-House
Awarded The ACC Middle East Achievement Award for his work in developing Dubai’s judicial system
Member of the World Economic Forum’s Expert Network for the Justice sector and a legal commentator on China’s One Belt One Road Initiative
Member of the Advisory Committee to the Dubai Legal Innovation Programme established by the Government of Dubai
A member of the Commercial Dispute Resolution Taskforce, part of the UK Government’s ‘LawTech Delivery Panel’
A member of the advisory board to University of Oxford’s research project “Unlocking the Potential of AI for English Law”, funded by a GBP1.2m grant from the UK Government
Mark qualified as a solicitor in 1996. Prior to joining Keystone Law in 2018, he worked at the following firms:
