Mark Parkhouse

Job Title: Consultant Solicitor

Mark qualified in March 1992 at Dibb Lupton Broomhead on Fleet Street, working on fraud, insolvency and banking cases, which have been the mainstays of his practice ever since. Mark’s work includes investigations, regulation and dispute resolution. He also works on transactional matters, restructuring businesses and transferring assets including property leases. Mark has worked at various firms in the City including, Clifford Chance and Reed Smith. He has worked at the Civil Service, on the reform of insolvency practitioner regulation and various Home Office and other agencies’ enquiries.

Mark specialises in:

• Asset sales and recoveries; recently acting on the sale of multiple trading leases for a household name vehicle business
• Business rescues and debt restructuring, often through administrations
• Banking disputes, including personal guarantees and complex charges enforcement
• Investigations into alleged misconduct including breaches of professional duties and asset mismanagement
• Criminal defences to allegations of fraud, forgery, tax evasion and non co-operation with statutory bodies
• Civil claims for fraud and forgery claims including disposals of assets such as bank deposits, real property, artworks, racehorses, motor vehicles and aircraft
• Maritime and directors’ and officers’ insurance claims
• Property disputes particularly over non-rental breaches of covenant, boundary issues and disputes over use with local authorities and others
• Commercial (non-regulatory) construction and supply disputes in the oil industry, including over a joint venture for delivery of a platform, delayed sailaway of a refitted BP platform, seizure of a platform by Texan owners and non-payment for deliveries with extensive demurrage, and a recent High Court matter obtaining a multi-million judgement for a European re-supplier.

Mark aims to provide pragmatic and commercially effective legal advice and representation. Often working closely with other professionals, particularly accountants and insolvency practitioners, Mark aims to keep costs low and to deliver solutions as quickly as possible. Mark is an experienced evaluator of connected party asset disposals in administrations.

Mark has acted in a number of high profile insolvency cases including Asil Nadir, Kevin Maxwell and British Seafoods, Honda Racing, Facia Footwear.

Mark held an Insolvency practitioner's licence for over 20 year's, taking one appointment as joint liquidator of a firm of solicitors.

Mark was General Counsel to a US-owned international telecommunications business headquartered in Europe. This was built out of UK businesses and licences in a restructuring that he led through administration and company voluntary arrangements involving over 20,000 separate creditors.

Mark has written various articles on insolvency and related issues published in The Lawyer, In House Lawyer, Insolvency Intelligence, the Financial Times, the Guardian and the Daily Telegraph. Mark was on the editorial board of the insolvency industry's "Recovery" magazine and was listed as a Legal Expert in the insolvency field by Legal Business.

Mark was the first solicitor advocate to succeed against leading counsel at trial in the High Court (in Foster Wheel Wood Group v Chevron and others, against Robert (later Mr Justice) Akenhead instructed by Herbert Smith). Mark has acted in various white collar criminal cases. Mark is an assessor on the advocacy module for qualifying solicitors, SQE2. 

Mark has worked with the UK armed forces in Afghanistan and elsewhere.

Testimonials

“I worked with Mark on a contentious restructure, which involved complex joint venture arrangements, hedging finance and significant breakage obligations. The opposing parties were often intransigent. Mark was impressive in his direction of and contribution to meetings, drafting, correspondence and negotiations. Mark kept a firm grasp of the detail, progress and cost. He choreographed matters in a calm and effective manner when feelings were running high. I do not hesitate to recommend him highly.”

"We are a leading City-based financial services firm. I instructed Mark on a complex matter, involving regulatory, contentious and transactional issues - and an antique fighter aircraft... impressed by his commercial approach, his clear and decisive method and ability to work constructively with all parties."

"Mark has provided pro-bono legal advice for disabled service users. Mark has been diligent, compassionate and empathetic in working with people with a complex range of needs. He has a keen commitment to the ethics of inclusion. In every respect, I have been impressed by Mark’s level of assistance, humanity and selflessness."

"We both served in a high tempo, busy, stressful and dangerous environment. The ability to think clearly was essential, there was a requirement to make rapid decisions and his performance reflects his ability to deal well with difficult situations."

“Following an introduction by a mutual friend, we retained Mark Parkhouse at very short notice on a complicated property dispute with a major bank. He delivered a very significant result for us following a week's worth of intensive forensic, analytical and superlative legal advice based entirely on points of law, implemented in court by his brilliant choice of barrister from a prominent Chambers. I have already recommended Mark to others and would not hesitate to do so again.

“I am going to recommend Mark for being an exceptional lawyer and an exceptional human being.”

“One of the few litigators in London who: a) can expertly deal with troubled company and difficult disputes; b) is always focussed on commerciality and value; and c) is a great guy to work with.”

Mark is very pleased to be part of Setfords, providing a comprehensive and highly cost effective flexible service to clients, within the deep expertise of this highly regarded and growing brand.

Email: [email protected]

Practices: Corporate & Commercial, Insolvency