'When Mark is instructed in a case he is wholly committed to it. He has excellent strategic skills and an ability to plan out the approach to be taken in each case with due cognisance of potential contingencies that might arise. He has a microscopic attention to detail and nothing is left to chance. Mark is an excellent advocate. His approach is perfectly balanced and nuanced and always effective.’
Legal 500 2024
Times Lawyer of the Week November 2025
Mark Mulholland K.C. S.C. has developed a unique practice working regularly between London, Dublin and Belfast working with US, UK and Irish law firms in cross jurisdictional proceedings, global investigations and bespoke advisory work. His 30 years of trial experience in both jury and non-jury trials in a variety of courts and jurisdictions sets him apart from most other Silks. He has a proven track record having appeared in some of the most notorious and high profile cases including most recently the successful defence of Soldier F, he has been lead Silk in several matters involving former members of special military units of the armed forces, he has had clients successfully acquitted in MI5 covert investigations spanning several jurisdictions in non jury trials and is presently acting for the lead defendant charged with the murder of the journalist Lyra McKee.
During this time he has also prosecuted and defended in several fraud cases (including vat carousel for HMRC & SFO investigations and related restraint proceedings) and regularly acted for companies and company directors in health and safety prosecutions, environmental prosecutions and related civil proceedings.
He has represented a number of high net worth individuals facing allegations of serious sexual offences securing acquittals in every case that has gone to trial since he has taken Silk. This has included such cases as R v McL (successful acquittal of business man on multiple charges of sexual offences after 2 week trial and R v Beggs in which he represented an individual charged with multiple counts of indecent assault and rape. The Beggs case having been successfully stopped by the trial judge at the conclusion of the prosecution case was then appealed to the Court of Appeal by the prosecution. Mr Mulholland successfully represented the client at those proceedings & all not guilty verdicts were upheld. More recently he has represented Conor McGregor in relation to allegations of sexual assault in civil proceedings and related issues and most recently has been retained in a high profile prosecution of a sports person relating to allegations of sexual assault outside of the British Isles.
In addition, he has advised on a variety of matters relating to media reporting, reputational and crisis management issues – very recently successfully representing a third party service provider regarding media reporting restrictions relating to the ongoing proceedings in R v Essa Suleiman (Golders Green attempted murder charges).
Having obtained a first in his thesis on Wrongful trading and Company Director Disqualification (LLM in Commercial Law UCD 1994) he has put it to good use in acting in a number of complex fraud and regulatory investigations including defending in CHC Capital fraud case in Dublin, successfully advising a multi-national law firm regarding an investigation under the Bribery Act, appearing in Commercial proceedings for a Russian Oligarch and acting on behalf of the Prosecution in complex criminal trials. He has also led internal investigations and advised US, UK and Irish companies relating to a variety of laws including, financial misconduct, bribery and advised in several instances from the early stages of pre charge investigation in matters involving a wide range of UK, US and International enforcement agencies, including the SFO, HMRC, FCA, NCA, SOCA, MI5, MOD and the US DOJ and the SEC.
He has advised law firms on regulatory and compliance issues, represented members of the legal profession when investigated or charged with criminal offences This background has given him a unique insight into the criminal and compliance regimes in the different jurisdictions which provides a unique skill set in advising clients in the most sensitive, complex and challenging issues. This has included acting for high net worth individuals and sporting personalities.
The broad remit of his work is further reflected in his appearances before the highest courts including the Supreme Court, the Divisional Court, the Court of Appeal, the Special Criminal Court Dublin and the Grand Chamber in the Cayman Islands. Some of the reported decisions in recent cases include
Whilst continuing to work in Ireland, Mark joined Cloth Fair chambers in 2024 to focus on his expertise in financial crime, fraud (both criminal and civil), and regulatory work alongside continuing to act for high net worth clients providing strategic advice and representation. Since joining he has worked on a number of matters with multi jurisdictional law firms in Europe, the US and the UAE ranging from issues concerning the FCA, SFO, ICAEW, and NCA in a range of cases from pre charge stage for both individuals and corporate entities relating to both ‘business crime’ and in general criminal investigations ranging from internal investigation advice, ‘failure to prevent’, insider dealing and advising pre charge relating to allegations of attempted murder and FCA related issues.
Mark has advised on the provisions of the Fraud Act 2006 and Bribery Act 2010 (and published) as well as conducting internal investigations and advising on remediation and compliance in several jurisdictions and spoken at events including IBA , World Bar Conference, IATC and also delivered lectures to governmental agencies and corporate entities on the Proceeds of Crime Act, Company Director Disqualification and Wrongful Trading, Deaths in the Workplace & Corporate Liability.
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