Mark is a partner in the Dispute Resolution, Technology and Brand Protection teams. He advises on the myriad of contentious issues across the creative industries, as well as, ways in which clients can protect their intellectual property, enforce and control their IP rights, and mitigate risk. Mark provides strategic, commercial solutions that protect clients’ creativity, allowing their businesses to flourish.
Mark joined Lee & Thompson in 2006 and handles all types of contentious work across the creative industries, for both individuals and corporate clients.
He advises on the full spectrum of music industry disputes, from copyright infringement matters to breach of contract claims, acting for artists, labels, publishers, management companies and agents.
Mark has been involved in several high-profile Court actions. He was instructed by The Wailers in their well-publicised litigation against Island Records, acted for Lily Allen in a contractual claim brought by her former agent and has represented the members of One Direction in copyright infringement proceedings.
Mark represents several film and television clients, advising producers, distributors, financiers and agents on all types of contentious issues. Recent highlights include acting for a French film production company in a claim concerning Terry Gilliam’s ‘The Man Who Killed Don Quixote’ (which reached a successful conclusion in the Court of Appeal) and acting for the producers of feature documentary ‘Billion Dollar Game’ in their defence of High Court proceedings brought by the owners of the videogame franchise ‘Grand Theft Auto’.
He has a strong reputation for pre-broadcast copyright and libel clearance work, which he regularly undertakes for the producers of high-profile feature films and television series. Some recent highlights include the Netflix smash ‘Adolescence‘ (starring Stephen Graham), multi-award winning film ‘The Brutalist‘ (starring Adrien Brody and Guy Pierce), ‘Aftersun’ (starring Paul Mescal), ‘Hallow Road’ (starring Rosamund Pike), ‘The Killing Kind’ (Paramount+) and the BBC drama series ‘Reunion‘.
A member of the firm’s Digital & Technology Group, Mark provides advice on disputes arising from internet activity, including online infringement, digital piracy and social media issues, as well as on AI matters.
Mark also advises clients such as Justin Bieber, Ariane Grande and Demi Lovato on their brand protection and enforcement strategy, including anti-counterfeiting, trade mark registration and domain name disputes.
