Mark is from Clontarf in Dublin and was educated at Belvedere College S.J., University College Dublin and the Law Society of Ireland.
He trained and qualified as a solicitor in a leading Dublin law firm, where he specialised in the investment funds area and has over fifteen years related experience.
Prior to joining Clerkin Lynch LLP as Head of Asset Management and Funds Mark was a financial services partner in an international law firm. His expertise primarily involves advising on the structuring, establishment and operation of investment funds in Ireland, including UCITS and Alternative Investment Funds, for international distribution. He also advises on issues affecting clients throughout the financial sector, including with regard to AML, MiFID, crypto-currencies, emoney and payment systems, data protection (including GDPR), distance selling and internet-based products and investments. His international funds experience covers a number of key global fund centres and he has previously worked in the funds practice of a leading Cayman Islands firm as well as for a global custodian based in Luxembourg.
Mark was elected to the Global Board of the Alternative Investment Management Association (AIMA) in 2020 and successfully completed the Certified Investment Fund Director Programme in 2021, becoming a member of the CIFDI. Mark has a particular interest in ESG related issues and has completed a certificate in “Environmental Law and Climate Change” from the Law Society of Ireland.
A frequently published author and speaker with regard to issues relating to the financial services industry he is recommended as a leading investment funds lawyer by The Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners (Europe and Global). Previous editions of Chambers Global noted that “he garners significant praise for launching UCITS funds and ICAVs, as well as handling the relevant regulatory issues with clients describing him as “terrific: he is responsive, almost always available and knowledgeable.” And reported that clients stated “the amount of attention he gave us was outstanding,” praising his “knowledge of how to get the deal done, and his great end product.” He is recognised as a “notable practitioner” by IFLR1000, the guide to the world’s leading financial law firms. He was previously named as ‘Investment Fund Formation Lawyer of the Year in Ireland’ in the CIM Global Awards and Investment Management lawyer of the year in Ireland by the Lawyer International ‘s Legal 100 awards.
In addition to his Irish legal qualifications, Mark has also been admitted to the roll of solicitors in England and Wales and qualified as an attorney at law in the Cayman Islands. He currently only practices Irish law.