Overview

Mark is a partner in our Litigation, Insolvency & Restructuring Group where he specialises in insolvency, restructuring and investment fund litigation. Mark advises and appears in the Cayman Islands Courts on behalf of provisional and official liquidators, creditors, shareholders, directors, managers and other professional service providers in relation to a broad range of pre and post liquidation disputes. He has acted in litigation involving widely varying commercial contexts and structures, but his practice principally involves distressed and failed investment funds.

Mark is an accredited mediator and regularly publishes articles and speaks at seminars and conferences on issues relevant to insolvency, restructuring and investment fund litigation.

Expertise

Work Highlights

  • Acting for the JPLs of Luckin Coffee, Inc., a holding company for a Chinese coffee company and coffeehouse chain operating throughout the People’s Republic of China, in the restructuring of US$2.2 billion of liabilities.
  • Acting for the Receivers of Green Dragon Gas, the largest producer and distributor of Coal Bed Methane gas in the PRC, in a US$300 million bond enforcement claim.
  • Acting for a group of noteholders in the restructuring of Ocean Rig UDW Inc. in the largest restructuring by value in Cayman legal history, involving the restructuring of US$3.7 billion principal amount of debt;
  • Acting for the JPLs of LDK Solar Co., Ltd. in the first judicially approved restructuring of a China-based entity involving US$1.2 billion of offshore liabilities.

Qualifications and Admissions

  • Accredited Mediator, London School of Mediation, 2023
  • Solicitor British Virgin Islands, 2014
  • Attorney at Law Cayman Islands, 2008
  • Solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales, 2004 (non-practising)

Professional Associations

  • Law Society of England & Wales
  • Cayman Islands Law Society
  • INSOL
  • American Bankruptcy Institute
  • International Insolvency Institute

Recognition and Awards

  • Mark is ranked as a Band 1 Lawyer in Chambers and Partners. Sources described Mark as “a keen tactician who is very experienced and commercial in his approach,” adding that he is “very knowledgeable and experienced in all aspects of financial services” and “one of the brightest and most effective insolvency lawyers in Cayman,” adding “He is incredibly efficient and effective.” He has recognised strengths in advising on contentious restructuring and insolvency matters as well as liquidation proceedings.
  • Legal 500 ranked Mark as a ‘Leading Individual’ in Dispute Resolution, Cayman Islands 2023, stating that he is “very strategic and astute, and he understands clients’ business extremely well. He meets issues and strong personalities head on and holds his ground, and his advice is always pragmatic.”
  • Mark is recognised in Who’s Who Legal as a Global Elite Thought Leader for Restructuring & Insolvency.
  • Amongst various other awards and accolades, Mark was named as Who’s Who Legal Lawyer of the Year in November 2022, the Restructuring and Insolvency Specialists Association Lawyer of the Year in 2016 and 2019 and the Leaders in Law Restructuring & Insolvency Law Expert of the Year 2022.

Publications and News

Articles