Mark Rainsford KC KC > 33 Chancery Lane > London, England > Barrister Profile
33 Chancery Lane Offices
LONDON
WC2A 1EN
England
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Mark Rainsford KC KC
Position
An internationally pre-eminent silk and litigation strategy expert, specialising in business crime, anti-money laundering, Global Investigations – particularly banking and corporate; criminal defence, and criminal, civil and commercial fraud cases.
Mark is astute at the pre-charge investigation stage, with an impressive track record of deploying strategies to avoid prosecution. His early involvement often results in a non-prosecution outcome.
Clients include SMEs, FTSE 100 and Global Fortune 500 companies, directors, UHNW, HNW individuals; City law firms, accountancy, and private equity firms.
Mark represents corporate whistle-blowers and has unrivalled experience in successfully representing individuals and witnesses involved in SFO, US DoJ and SEC investigations. He represents witnesses in cases following parallel civil and criminal tracks.
Often Instructed for key actors in flag ship cases, including NMC Health plc; London Capital & Finance; 1MDB; ENRC plc; Société Générale v LIA; Rolls Royce; CWM Fx; BAe Systems; a well-known Russian Oligarch facing sanctions; Vincent Tchenguiz; and other billionaires pursuing pro-active litigation against law enforcement and investigation authorities.
A team player, Mark has a commanding vision honed from years’ experience as leading counsel, fighting hundreds of trials, and fulfilling complex overview roles.
Mark is also an expert in criminal restraint, AFOs, and the seizure and return of crypto currency/digital assets.
Career
UK: Call 1985; Silk 2006
Also Admitted to the Bar in the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court; British Virgin Islands Circuit; Grand Cayman (ad hoc.); Turks & Caicos Islands (ad hoc.) and Attorney-at Law of the Supreme Court of Seychelles 2020 (ad hoc).
Lawyer Rankings
London Bar > Proceeds of crime (POCA) and asset forfeiture
(Leading Silks)Ranked: Tier 2Mark Rainsford KC –33 Chancery Lane ‘Mark’s advice was sound.’
33 Chancery Lane remains a pre-eminent set for the full spectrum of POCA work, with the members’ busy workload extending to unexplained wealth and account freezing orders, civil recovery and confiscation under POCA, as well as advice on the intersection of POCA issues and sanctions law. Mark Rainsford KC acts in proceedings related to the biggest single recovery of cryptocurrency obtained under POCA by the NCA, whereas Kennedy Talbot KC was involved in securing an order restraining £75m assets in relation to the investigation into PPE Medpro, a company owned by the husband of Conservative peer Baroness Mone that was awarded large government personal protective equipment contracts during the Covid pandemic. Penelope Small is instructed in an enforcement case involving a child suffering from multiple learning difficulties living in a property purchased by the father from the proceeds of his criminal conduct. Christopher Convey is instructed by the SFO in ongoing confiscation proceedings against mortgage fraudster Achilleas Kallakis, including litigation related to the recovery of donations to the Francis Holland School, which named a theatre after him.
London Bar > Fraud: crime
(Leading Silks)Ranked: Tier 2Mark Rainsford KC – 33 Chancery Lane ‘Mark is an excellent advocate: measured, incisive and persuasive. He has a natural authority, which catches the court’s attention and makes his points land.’
London Bar > Business and regulatory crime (including global investigations)
(Leading Silks)Ranked: Tier 1Mark Rainsford KC – 33 Chancery Lane ‘Mark is an excellent advocate. His advocacy is measured, incisive and persuasive. He has a natural authority, which catches the court’s attention and makes his points land. His attractive and well-structured submissions reflect his meticulous preparation.’