"...the very talented Mark George, who many a solicitor is 'happy to use as a leader in place of a silk'." (Chambers and Partners 2008)
"...enjoys a particularly privileged place in the region for 'the wealth of his experience and the regard he is held in'." (Chambers and Partners 2007)
"acclaimed by peers for always being 'at the top of his game' ..." (Chambers and Partners 2006)
Criminal defence
A senior criminal defence practitioner of more than 30 years experience who has a predominantly trial based practice covering all areas of serious crime including major drug importations, serious sexual offences including historic abuse cases, serious violence and homicide. He is an experienced leading junior who now leads in cases where a Q.C. would otherwise be employed. Mark has appeared in the Court of Appeal Criminal Division on many occasions as well as the Divisional Court and the House of Lords.
Mark recently appeared in the Court of Appeal in the case of R.v .Bakish Khan and others on the issue of police officer serving on juries. In January 2008 he appeared for a member of the SNLA charged with a terrorism offence as a result of sending noxious substances through the post in the cause of Scottish independence. Last year together with Ian Macdonald QC he represented one defendant in the first Middle Eastern terrorism case to be tried in the north of England. Mark also regularly appears on behalf of teachers and carers accused of serious sexual assaults. In 2006 he represented one of the defendants in the Staffordshire guinea pig farm case charged with conspiracy to blackmail following a campaign to close the farm.
Inquests
Mark represents families at inquests with a particular interest into deaths in custody. He has appeared in inquests which engage Article 2 arguments and also has experience of Judicial Review in this sphere. In 2006 he represented the family of a former school assistant at an inquest where the Coroner's verdict was highly critical of procedures at suspension meetings for the school staff (David Baines). Also In 2006 he also appeared in the inquest into the death of Louise Davies at HMP New Hall , where the jury returned a critical verdict questioning the appropriateness of prison for vulnerable women. In 2005 he was instructed in the Kingsway Hospital Inquests before the South Derbyshire Coroner (an inquest into the deaths of 11 patients on a psychiatric geriatric ward) on behalf of a former member of the hospital staff whose conduct was called into question. Mark currently represents the parents of Andrew Jones who was killed on night out in Liverpool in 2003; the inquest hearing will take place late 2008.
Prison law
Mark undertakes hearings before the Parole Board including lifer panels as well as Judicial Review work relating to prison and criminal law cases.
Judicial Review
Undertakes Judicial Review work relating to prison and criminal law cases.
The most notable case he has been involved in was the controversial case of R.v. Sultan Khan [1997] A.C. 558; [1996] 2 Cr. App. R. 440 in which the Crown sought to rely on evidence obtained from a covert listening device placed in a private home. He was involved in the case from the Crown Court through to the House of Lords. As a result of this case a number of legislative changes were made to put such activities on a statutory footing including the Police Act 1997 (Part III) and most importantly the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000.
Other recent notable cases include:
R.v. Bakish Khan and others [2008] EWCA Crim 531, The Times 07/04/08 (whether police officer who knows officers who are to give evidence can serve on juries) > news story / judgment
R.v. Robinson Manchester Crown Court 26.01.08 - guilty plea to offence under s.113 Anti-Terrorism, Crime & Security Act 2001 (sending noxious thing likely to cause harm or intimidate) by alleged member of the SNLA who had sent packages containing caustic soda to two people. Sentenced to 6 years imprisonment.
R v Omar Altimimi [2007] (offences under Terrorism Act; first trial in Manchester involving allegations of conduct linked to "Middle Eastern" terrorism) > news story
R v S (Andrew) [2007] 1 W.L.R. 63; [2006] 2 Cr. App. R. 437 (introducing evidence of the bad character of the complainant)
R v Ablewhite & ors [2006] Nottingham Crown Court (unreported, the Staffordshire guinea pig farm case) > news story
R v Holliday; R v Leboutillier [2005] 1 Cr.App.R(s).349 (70) (nuisance phone calls by animal rights activists)
R v AB [2005] (VHCC case)
R v James Carragher [2004] (VHCC case, leading counsel) (buggery and indecent assault)
A-G's Ref . Nos 58/66 of 2002 (R. v. Coudjoe and others) [2003] EWCA Crim 636 (on the levels of sentence for street gangs involved with firearms and drug supply)
R.v. Khan (Umer) sub nom. R.v. Dad and others [2002] EWCA Crim 945; [2003] Crim L.R. 684 (regarding hostile witnesses)
Leading Junior in Crime : Northern (2008) "...the very talented Mark George, who many a solicitor is 'happy to use as a leader in place of a silk'." Chambers and Partners 2008 more
Leading Junior in Crime : Northern (2007) "Garden Court North's Mark George enjoys a particularly privileged place in the region for 'the wealth of his experience and the regard he is held in.' He is best known for undertaking historical abuse cases and defending teachers. This year, however, he spent a good deal of his time involved in the Kingsway Hopsital Inquest into a number of deaths on the geriatric ward in the 1990s. He has also tackled a number of high-profile animal rights-related cases." Chambers & Partners 2007 more
Leading Junior in Crime : Northern (2006): "Representing Garden Court North is Mark George, acclaimed by peers for always being 'at the top of his game' and having cultivated an impressive serious crime practice." Chambers & Partners 2006. more
Mark is an opponent of the death penalty and has developed an interest in death penalty cases in the United States. In 1998 he worked pro bono in a capital murder trial in Texas where he assisted the local attorneys with the preparation of the case for trial. This involved being temporarily admitted as a member of the Texas Bar. Since that time he has been involved with Amicus , an organisation which trains young lawyers to undertake internships in the US assisting in death penalty trials and appeals. He regularly teaches at the Amicus training sessions in trial procedures in capital cases, jury selection and mitigation issues. He has also written a number of articles for the Amicus Journal on aspects of US death penalty law.
Member of Manchester Prison Law Practitioners Group (MPLPG)
Also a tenant at Garden Court Chambers , London.
Mark determined to become a lawyer after seeing TV footage in the mid 1960s of American police officers beating civil rights demonstrators. He wanted to represent people fighting for their rights against the power of the state. Despite this he did not study law at university. Instead he read medieval history at Cambridge in the early 1970s and in his third year he decided that the chance to study Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic history was too great to resist. He spent part of that final year writing a dissertation on the Book of Durrow and the Book of Kells, two of the great illuminated Gospel books of early Ireland. Even today he retains a very keen interest in this subject.
Having qualified as a lawyer he joined a small radical set of chambers then located at the top of Farrer's Building in the Temple in London. Many of his first cases involved defending protesters arrested after a large anti-Nazi demonstration against the National Front in South London in 1977. Subsequently he has represented many protesters from political groups as well as miners, print workers, environmentalists and animal rights activists. In 1981 the chambers moved and became 2 Garden Court and has since grown to over 100 tenants. Last year these chambers moved to Lincoln's Inn and are now known as Garden Court Chambers. Although Mark's work is now entirely in the north of England he remains a member of the chambers at Garden Court in London.
Mark is determined to provide each client with an excellent service. He will take time to explain all the options to the client including the perceived strengths and weaknesses of the case and will be concerned to make sure that the client understands what is happening in the preparation of his/her case. He has a strong empathy with his clients and whilst providing a thoroughly professional service will also make the client feel relaxed and able to discuss his/her concerns. Mark will provide as strong and resolute a defence as possible and will endeavour to obtain the best possible outcome for every client. He is known for the thoroughness of his preparation in all cases.