Band 3
Band 3
About
Provided by Mark Thomas
Practice Areas
Mark specialises in inquests, police law, and public/administrative law. His practice includes cases which are commercially or politically sensitive, often involving issues of public interest immunity or media coverage.
Mark acts for most police forces throughout England & Wales, a variety of other public bodies and a large number of commercial organisations, often in the technology and retail sectors.
He accepts Direct Public Access instructions.
Mark has acted in a wide variety of complex jury inquests including maritime search and rescue (Ivan Ignatov), missing person searches (Gaia Pope), police taser deaths (Marc Cole), ABD police restraints (Douglas Oak), police road traffic accidents (Suleyman Yalcin) and deaths in custody (Simeon Francis). He has also acted for numerous employers in employee death inquests.
Mark is currently instructed by a variety of police forces to defend judicial review claims and claims for false imprisonment, assault and malicious prosecution.
Mark read Philosophy, Politics and Economics at New College, Oxford. Prior to becoming a barrister, he worked for several international investment banks. This business experience enables him to bring clear commercial acumen to his advice and advocacy.
Mark has served as a judicial intern at the Federal Court of Australia to Justice Nicholson and Justice French, the former Chief Justice of Australia.
Mark is a regular contributor to 5 Essex Chambers' Police Law Update, Insight: Inquests and Inquiries. He lectures widely on issues relating to police law and inquests.
Please visit the 5 Essex Chambers website to view Mark's full profile.
Chambers Review
UK Bar
Mark Thomas enjoys a strong reputation at the Bar for his work in inquests, particularly those involving the police. He has substantial expertise in mental health-related matters.
Mark Thomas is a popular choice of barrister among several police forces, who instruct him in sensitive inquests as well as tort claims involving false imprisonment, human rights breaches or inadequate criminal investigations.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"Mark Thomas constructively analysed the evidence to maximise the position for the client. He was fair and respectful of his opponent's position."
"Mark is an excellent all-rounder - approachable, pragmatic, thorough in his advice and very commercially astute."
"When I instruct Mark, I breathe a sigh of relief knowing that our client is in the best hands. He is affable, hard-working, very intelligent, creative and committed."
"Mark is brilliant at balancing the needs of clients with the needs of the court. He is diligent and thorough."
"Mark is a very effective advocate. He argues his case well on paper and orally."
"Mark Thomas constructively analysed the evidence to maximise the position for the client. He was fair and respectful of his opponent's position."
"Mark is an excellent all-rounder - approachable, pragmatic, thorough in his advice and very commercially astute."
"When I instruct Mark, I breathe a sigh of relief knowing that our client is in the best hands. He is affable, hard-working, very intelligent, creative and committed."
"Mark is brilliant at balancing the needs of clients with the needs of the court. He is diligent and thorough."
"Mark is a very effective advocate. He argues his case well on paper and orally."
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