Sullivan
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Biography

Mark's practice covers project and export credit finance, asset finance, structured trade and commodity finance, debt restructurings, acquisition finance and corporate advisory work.

He represents financial institutions, export credit agencies, corporates, boards, and national and supranational sovereign organizations in relation to finance transactions throughout Western, Central and Eastern Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Mark has extensive sector experience in infrastructure financing across Africa including off-grid power, healthcare and transportation. He also advises on ESG financings including hospitals, clean energy and transportation.

Advising on sustainability, governance and compliance matters, Mark has extensive experience counseling corporate boards in connection with bribery, corruption, modern slavery, criminal finance and sanctions issues. He also advises financial institutions on the UK’s Capital Requirements Regulation and the EU’s equivalent capital requirements regimes.

Recognised as a Leading Partner in The Legal 500 UK, 2026 for Trade Finance, he has been noted as 'excelling' in structured export credit transactions. He is also ranked by Chambers UK, 2026 and included in Best Lawyers UK, 2025 for his work in banking and finance law.

In May 2022, he was re-elected Deputy Chair of the British Exporters Association (BExA). He sits on BExA’s Executive Committee as well as UK Finance’s Export Finance and Trade Committee.

Mark is based in the UK but has lived and practiced law in the Czech Republic, England, Germany and Russia.

Education
  • College of Law
    • Law Society Finals
  • College of Law
    • Common Professional Examination
  • London School of Economics and Political Science (LL.M.)
    • Banking Law and Financial Regulation
  • London School of Economics and Political Science (BSc)
    • Econ-Social Policy
Bar & Court Admissions
  • Solicitor, Senior Courts of England and Wales
Professional Qualifications
  • Member and expert Faciliator, The Chancery Lane Project
  • Deputy Co-Chair, British Exporters' Association Export (BExA), BExA Executive Committee, UK Finance Chair, Legal and Compliance Sub-Committee, British Exporters' Association Trustee, National Youth Agency

Awards & Honors
  • Chambers Global, Africa-wide Banking & Finance (Notable Practitioner, 2026; Leading Lawyer, 2024, 2025)
  • Best Lawyers in the United Kingdom, Banking and Finance Law (2023, 2025)
  • Chambers UKCommodities: Trade Finance (UK-wide) (2023-2026)
  • Recognised as a "Leading Partner" by The Legal 500 UK (2016-2026)
  • Global Trade Review - Winner, "Best Deals"
Community Engagement
  • Chair, People Development Committee, National Youth
Additional Publications
  • The Second Edition of A Practitioner's Guide to Trade and Commodity Finance, was published in 2021 by Sweet & Maxwell, a division of Thomson Reuters. Edited by Geoffrey Wynne, the guide covers all aspects of trade and commodity finance, from pre-export and structured trade finance to the rise of supply chain finance as part of the techniques involved in receivables finance. Mark Norris contributed a new chapter on export credit agency finance.
Viewpoints
All Viewpoints
Prudential Regulatory Authority delays UK implementation of Basel 3.1 to 2027
In response to global uncertainty the Bank of England’s Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) has further delayed the implementation of the Basel 3.1 standards in the UK to 1 January 2027. This delay comes just four months after the PRA announced a six-month delay to 1 January 2026 in the PRA’s near-final policy statement PS9/24 in September 2024. A PRA press release published today (17 January 2025) attributed the delay to “uncertainty around the implementation of the Basel 3.1 standards in the US” and “competitiveness and growth considerations.” The delay will mean that the Basel 3.1 standards in the UK will be in force two years after the EU, which implemented its amended CRR on 1 January 2025. It is unclear how significant the delayed implementation will be on the draft UK CRR, published as part of the PRA’s near-final policy statement PS9/24 in September 2024, or whether there will be positive news for trade finance during the extended monitoring period. What does appear clear is that the UK’s full implementation date for the Basel 3.1 standards remains 1 January 2030, therefore reducing the transitional period to a maximum of three years.
Sub-Saharan Africa Trade and Exports: Digitalisation and the Need to Improve Physical Infrastructure
Mark Norris authored the article, "Sub-Saharan Africa trade and exports: Digitalisation and the need to improve physical infrastructure," published by Berne Union's The BUlletin on September 6, 2022. 
Sullivan Advises Limak Construction on its Award-Winning ECA Financing
London – Sullivan & Worcester (Sullivan) has advised leading Turkish construction company Limak Construction on its award-winning export credit agency (ECA) financing arranged by Standard Chartered Bank and guaranteed by Swiss Export Risk Insurance SERV. This transaction won “Best ECA Syndicated Loan” at EMEA Finance's Achievement Awards in London. Sullivan continues to advise Limak Construction on its innovative ECA financings led out of London and Türkiye. The Sullivan team was led by partner Mark Norris, supported by partner Daniela Barrdear. About Sullivan Sullivan & Worcester (Sullivan) is a global law firm with lawyers in Boston, London, New York, Tel Aviv and Washington, D.C. Sullivan’s clients, including Fortune 500 companies, leading financial services firms and asset managers, boards of directors and emerging businesses, rely on Sullivan’s ability to navigate complex legal and operational landscapes, the judgment of its lawyers, and its commitment to best in class client service. For further information please visit the firm’s website or LinkedIn.
Sullivan Recognised by Chambers Global 2026 for its Africa-Wide Banking & Finance Work
London, UK – Sullivan & Worcester UK LLP (Sullivan) has been recognised by Chambers Global 2026 in its recently published Africa-wide Banking & Finance table. The firm is noted in the guide for “its strong trade and development finance practice, which is frequently engaged on mandates across Africa [including] several mandates originating in Ghana, with further work in Nigeria, Zimbabwe and Côte d'Ivoire.” The guide also notes that significant clients of the firm include “export credit agencies and development banks, as well as global investment banks and non-bank financial institutions.” Clients comment include “Sullivan & Worcester assists us very well. Their responsiveness and ability to meet deadlines is amazing. They are always available;” and with another saying that the firm “has very strong knowledge of the trade and export finance market, and of African economies.” In addition, partners Mark Norris and Simon Cook are included as notable practitioners in the Africa-wide Banking & Finance spotlight section. The guide notes that “London-based Mark Norris is a seasoned practitioner with many years' experience advising on Africa-related transactions in the fields of trade and commodity finance. He is highly praised by sources and regularly acts on behalf of export credit agencies.” One client is quoted as saying that “Mark Norris is a very accomplished finance lawyer in the African market. He has a wealth of experience in export finance.” Simon Cook is noted as “a leading trade and development finance partner. Based in London, he is well known within the market, frequently acting for development banks and multilateral financial institutions.” Further information is available here. Chambers Global ranks the top lawyers and law firms in over 200 jurisdictions across the world. Those recognised by Chambers Global have been recommended by in-house counsel, other third-party experts and private practice lawyers as part of a comprehensive research process. Since 1990, Chambers and Partners has identified and ranked the most outstanding law firms and lawyers in more than 180 jurisdictions worldwide. Chambers bases its listings solely on extensive research and outside evaluations of merit through a rigorous client and competitor interview process.

Mark Norris

Mark's practice covers project and export credit finance, asset finance, structured trade and commodity finance, debt restructurings, acquisition finance and corporate advisory work.

He represents financial institutions, export credit agencies, corporates, boards, and national and supranational sovereign organizations in relation to finance transactions throughout Western, Central and Eastern Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Mark has extensive sector experience in infrastructure financing across Africa including off-grid power, healthcare and transportation. He also advises on ESG financings including hospitals, clean energy and transportation.

Advising on sustainability, governance and compliance matters, Mark has extensive experience counseling corporate boards in connection with bribery, corruption, modern slavery, criminal finance and sanctions issues. He also advises financial institutions on the UK’s Capital Requirements Regulation and the EU’s equivalent capital requirements regimes.

Recognised as a Leading Partner in The Legal 500 UK, 2026 for Trade Finance, he has been noted as 'excelling' in structured export credit transactions. He is also ranked by Chambers UK, 2026 and included in Best Lawyers UK, 2025 for his work in banking and finance law.

In May 2022, he was re-elected Deputy Chair of the British Exporters Association (BExA). He sits on BExA’s Executive Committee as well as UK Finance’s Export Finance and Trade Committee.

Mark is based in the UK but has lived and practiced law in the Czech Republic, England, Germany and Russia.

Viewpoints
All Viewpoints
Prudential Regulatory Authority delays UK implementation of Basel 3.1 to 2027
In response to global uncertainty the Bank of England’s Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) has further delayed the implementation of the Basel 3.1 standards in the UK to 1 January 2027. This delay comes just four months after the PRA announced a six-month delay to 1 January 2026 in the PRA’s near-final policy statement PS9/24 in September 2024. A PRA press release published today (17 January 2025) attributed the delay to “uncertainty around the implementation of the Basel 3.1 standards in the US” and “competitiveness and growth considerations.” The delay will mean that the Basel 3.1 standards in the UK will be in force two years after the EU, which implemented its amended CRR on 1 January 2025. It is unclear how significant the delayed implementation will be on the draft UK CRR, published as part of the PRA’s near-final policy statement PS9/24 in September 2024, or whether there will be positive news for trade finance during the extended monitoring period. What does appear clear is that the UK’s full implementation date for the Basel 3.1 standards remains 1 January 2030, therefore reducing the transitional period to a maximum of three years.
Sub-Saharan Africa Trade and Exports: Digitalisation and the Need to Improve Physical Infrastructure
Mark Norris authored the article, "Sub-Saharan Africa trade and exports: Digitalisation and the need to improve physical infrastructure," published by Berne Union's The BUlletin on September 6, 2022. 
Sullivan Advises Limak Construction on its Award-Winning ECA Financing
London – Sullivan & Worcester (Sullivan) has advised leading Turkish construction company Limak Construction on its award-winning export credit agency (ECA) financing arranged by Standard Chartered Bank and guaranteed by Swiss Export Risk Insurance SERV. This transaction won “Best ECA Syndicated Loan” at EMEA Finance's Achievement Awards in London. Sullivan continues to advise Limak Construction on its innovative ECA financings led out of London and Türkiye. The Sullivan team was led by partner Mark Norris, supported by partner Daniela Barrdear. About Sullivan Sullivan & Worcester (Sullivan) is a global law firm with lawyers in Boston, London, New York, Tel Aviv and Washington, D.C. Sullivan’s clients, including Fortune 500 companies, leading financial services firms and asset managers, boards of directors and emerging businesses, rely on Sullivan’s ability to navigate complex legal and operational landscapes, the judgment of its lawyers, and its commitment to best in class client service. For further information please visit the firm’s website or LinkedIn.
Sullivan Recognised by Chambers Global 2026 for its Africa-Wide Banking & Finance Work
London, UK – Sullivan & Worcester UK LLP (Sullivan) has been recognised by Chambers Global 2026 in its recently published Africa-wide Banking & Finance table. The firm is noted in the guide for “its strong trade and development finance practice, which is frequently engaged on mandates across Africa [including] several mandates originating in Ghana, with further work in Nigeria, Zimbabwe and Côte d'Ivoire.” The guide also notes that significant clients of the firm include “export credit agencies and development banks, as well as global investment banks and non-bank financial institutions.” Clients comment include “Sullivan & Worcester assists us very well. Their responsiveness and ability to meet deadlines is amazing. They are always available;” and with another saying that the firm “has very strong knowledge of the trade and export finance market, and of African economies.” In addition, partners Mark Norris and Simon Cook are included as notable practitioners in the Africa-wide Banking & Finance spotlight section. The guide notes that “London-based Mark Norris is a seasoned practitioner with many years' experience advising on Africa-related transactions in the fields of trade and commodity finance. He is highly praised by sources and regularly acts on behalf of export credit agencies.” One client is quoted as saying that “Mark Norris is a very accomplished finance lawyer in the African market. He has a wealth of experience in export finance.” Simon Cook is noted as “a leading trade and development finance partner. Based in London, he is well known within the market, frequently acting for development banks and multilateral financial institutions.” Further information is available here. Chambers Global ranks the top lawyers and law firms in over 200 jurisdictions across the world. Those recognised by Chambers Global have been recommended by in-house counsel, other third-party experts and private practice lawyers as part of a comprehensive research process. Since 1990, Chambers and Partners has identified and ranked the most outstanding law firms and lawyers in more than 180 jurisdictions worldwide. Chambers bases its listings solely on extensive research and outside evaluations of merit through a rigorous client and competitor interview process.

Mark Norris