Mark's practice covers cross border syndicated lending, structured export credit finance, structured trade and commodity finance, debt restructurings and asset finance. Mark is recognized in The Legal 500 UK as "excelling" in structured export credit transactions and is praised for his "commercial and user-friendly approach." Mark also advises on financial crime, modern slavery, bribery and corruption issues in connection with trade and export finance. Mark led Sullivan’s response to the UK Government's consultation on UK Export Finance (UKEF)'s anti-bribery and corruption policy. Many of Mark’s recommendations were specifically accepted by the UK Government.
He has advised financial institutions, funds, corporate borrowers, agents and trustees, and national and supranational sovereign/quasi-sovereign organisations on award-winning finance transactions throughout Africa, Western, Central and Eastern Europe, Russia and the CIS and the Middle East.
Mark has extensive sector experience in infrastructure financing across Africa including off-grid power, health care, airports and roads.
Mark has lived and practised in the Czech Republic (Prague), England (London), Germany (Düsseldorf and Frankfurt) and Russia (Moscow).
Mark holds graduate and post-graduate degrees with honors from the London School of Economics.
Representative Client Work
- Advising on African Export-Import Bank supported project financings in Africa
- Advising on UK Export Finance supported project financings in Africa (including health care, airports and roads)
- Advising J.P. Morgan on landmark UK Export Finance loan facility with the Kurdistan Regional Government
- Advising on Export Credit Agency supported supply chain financings in Africa
- Advising on UK Export Finance supported power project financings in the Middle East
- Advising on UK Export Finance's direct lending facility
- Advising on UK Export Finance's bond support scheme
- Advising a number of international banks on the regulatory issues affecting Export Credit Agency Finance
- Advising a London-based international bank on metals finance transactions
- Advising a London-based international investment bank on UK and EU sanctions with regard to Russia
- Advising a London-based international investment bank on the structuring of its medium and long term structured trade finance transactions
- Advising a London-based international bank on short term export credit agency backed trade finance products
- Advising a London-based international investment bank on commodity trading both on exchange and OTC
- Advising a boutique investment bank on financings in Russia and Africa
- Advising a South Africa-based bank on financings in Russia and Africa
- Advising a London-based international bank as lead arranger on the financing of E.ON's €42.32 billion offer for Endesa – the world's largest syndicated loan (Euroweek)
- Advising a major brewing company on the financing of its acquisitions of brewers in Central and Eastern Europe, Germany and the United Kingdom
- Advising a Spanish mobile communications company on its £18.5 billion acquisition financing of O2 – Most Impressive Loan/Best Western European Loan (Euroweek)
Bar & Court Admissions
- Solicitor, Senior Courts of England and Wales
Education
- College of Law, Law Society Finals
- College of Law, Common Professional Examination
- London School of Economics and Political Science, LLM
- London School of Economics and Political Science, BSc (Economics)
Community Engagement
- Deputy Co-Chair, British Exporters' Association
- Export Finance and Trade Committee, UK Finance
- Chair, Legal and Compliance Sub-Committee, British Exporters' Association
- Trustee, National Youth Agency
- Chair, People Development Committee, National Youth Agency
Awards & Honors
- The Legal 500 UK, Trade Finance - London - "Leading Individual" (2016-2021)
- Global Trade Review - Winner, "Best Deals of 2016"
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Client AlertJanuary 15, 2021
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Press ReleaseOctober 1, 2020
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Global Trade Review (GTR)July 29, 2020
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September 27, 2019
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Sullivan Press ReleaseJune 28, 2019
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Sullivan Press ReleaseMay 17, 2019
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Sullivan Press ReleaseMay 3, 2019
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October 30, 2018
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Press ReleaseFebruary 15, 2018
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Press ReleaseNovember 27, 2017
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October 11, 2017
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Press ReleaseMay 24, 2017
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Press ReleaseDecember 21, 2016
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September 14, 2016
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African Law & BusinessAugust 16, 2016
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Global Banking & Finance review, QuotedAugust 11, 2016
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Press ReleaseAugust 10, 2016
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Trade and Forfaiting Review, QuotedJuly 27, 2016
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TXF News, QuotedJuly 21, 2016
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Press ReleaseFebruary 16, 2016
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Press ReleaseNovember 25, 2015
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S&W Client UpdateOctober 16, 2015
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September 16, 2015
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Press ReleaseJune 24, 2015
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October 1, 2014
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Global Trade ReviewSeptember 3, 2014
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Press ReleaseJune 16, 2014
Seminars & Presentations
- Some Issues to Look Forward to in 2021
Zoom virtual program (December 10, 2020) - Global Trade Review UK 2019
Global Trade Review (GTR) (May 8, 2019) - Trade, Export and Project Finance Compliance Refresher – Part Two
Trade Finance Breakfast Seminar (March 21, 2019) - Trade, Export and Project Finance Compliance Refresher
Trade Finance Breakfast Seminar (January 24, 2019) - Southern Africa Trade & Infrastructure Finance Conference
Global Trade Review (November 21, 2018) - Regulatory and Compliance Headwinds (and Crosswinds) for 2018
New Broad Street House, 35 New Broad Street, London EC2M 1NH (March 29, 2018) - The Equator Principles — A Refresher and an Update
Pinners Hall, 105-108 Old Broad Street, London EC2N 1EN (October 26, 2017) - Trade-Based Money Laundering & Trade Finance Compliance Forum
Grange Tower Bridge Hotel, London E1 8GP, UK (September 21, 2017) - Navigating Brexit
(September 14, 2017) - Energy Geopolitics, Union and Snowballing Insecurity
Global Energy Summit 2017, Coventry University, London (July 26, 2017) - Preparing for Brexit
Pinners Hall, 105-108 Old Broad Street, London EC2N 1EN (April 27, 2017) - Joining the Dots: Transport & Construction Infrastructure
Nairobi, Kenya (March 29, 2017) - Sub-Saharan Africa and the MENA Region: Navigating Through Stormy Weather
GTR Nordic Region Trade & Export Finance Conference 2016, Stockholm, Sweden (November 29, 2016) - GTR Africa Trade & Infrastructure Finance Conference 2016
London (October 5, 2016) - “Crisis, What Crisis?” – What has the industry worried and what should the industry be worried about?
Pinners Hall, 105-108 Old Broad Street, London EC2N 1EN (July 21, 2016) - GTR UK Trade & Export Finance Conference 2016
Liverpool, England (June 15, 2016) - Sullivan & Worcester’s Annual post-Budget Update
Pinners Hall, 105-108 Old Broad Street, London (March 31, 2016) - TXF Africa 2016: Export, Agency & Project Finance
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (February 26, 2016) - Sullivan & Worcester’s Annual Export Credit Agency Finance Update
Pinners Hall, 105-108 Old Broad Street, London (October 8, 2015) - Doing the Deal in Africa
Africa Tax, Law and Finance Hub, Washington, D.C. (May 28, 2015) - Russia & CIS Trade & Export Finance Conference
Global Trade Review, Moscow, Russia (February 17, 2015) - 6th Annual West Africa Trade & Export Finance Conference
Global Trade Review, Lagos, Nigeria (February 5, 2015)