Mark Mulholland KC and SC
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 utilised his LLM in Commercial Law to act 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 including Conor McGregor.
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:
- Public Prosecutions Office of the Athens Court of Appeal v O’Connor (Extradition) [2022] UKSC 4
- CAO v Secretary of Sate for the Home Dept. (Immigration) [2024] UKSC 32
- R v Soldier F [2025] NICC 30
- In the matter of an application by Gerry Duddy & Ors for Judicial review [2022] NIQB 23
- King v Paul Pius Duffy [2024] NICA 33
- King v Robert Beggs [2023] NICA 24
- M4 v CSNI [2022] NICA 6
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.
Cases include:
- Trafalgar Developments Ltd & Ors v Mazepin & Ors - represented a High Net Worth international client in relating to allegations of Raider attack on billion dollar corporate enterprise in Russia & ensuing criminal trial & convictions of directors in Russia
- Advising a US Fortune 100 Company on UK banking regulations and voluntary self-disclosure to the UK Financial Conduct Authority
- Representation of a law firm & solicitor before the Cooke Committee of Inquiry Dublin. This followed successful representation of the solicitor and law firm relating to a multi-jurisdictional DOJ /NCA investigation under Bribery Act
- R v McComb & Ors - instructed by PPS in the prosecution of 12 accused in cross jurisdictional VAT Carousel fraud in the sum of approximately £65,000,000 including two company directors
- Pre-charge advice following allegations of wrong-doing by an individual executive in relation to a Real Estate Investment Trust
- Advising on a £50 million claim against a law firm and its managing partner for the fraudulent misrepresentation / breach of contract relating to the acquisition of 1.2 billion NAMA portfolio
- DPP v Paul Lavery & Ors – representation of financial controller / compliance officer accused of conspiracy to defraud investors in Custom House Capital after investigation by Central Bank of Ireland
- Representation of Conor McGregor before Court of Appeal in Dublin relating to a civil claim for sexual assault
- R v Paul Doherty – representation for company director charged with the evasion of duty & related confiscation proceedings approximating £100 million.
- R v McFettridge & Ors Court of Appeal – successfully contested prosecution application under section 17 of the Domestic Violence Crime and Victims Act 2004 relating to a judge only trial (application for leave to appeal to UKSC by prosecution pending).
- R v Soldier F – Acquittal on 2 counts murder & 5 counts of attempted murder (following on from representation of approx. 10 former soldiers in JR proceedings relating to the relating to the events of Bloody Sunday before the Divisional Court).
- R v Soldier B – trial pending on charges of attempted murder relating to events connected with a specialist military unit in the 1970’s
- Health & Safety Executive v Maine Surface Finishing – representation of company relating to health & safety prosecution for serious personal injury from work place accident
- Retained to advise a high net worth individual in criminal investigation into allegation of attempted murder resulting in non prosecution decision & related FCA / UAE reporting obligations
- Miller v Miller, Dulling & Aviva –High Court fraud proceedings
- Presently advising international law firm in proceedings connected to an ongoing fraud trial into the sale of a property portfolio for £1.2 billion
- Leading Silk on behalf of a number of former members of a specialist military unit in judicial review proceedings connected to inquest proceedings & referral for prosecution
- Leading Silk in commercial proceedings on behalf of a US/UK entity in a substantial claim grounded upon allegations of fraud
- R v McIntyre & Ors – leading Silk retained to defend charge of murder relating to the death of journalist Lyra McKee
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.
