Team
Mark Bowen // Founding Partner
Mark Bowen // Founding Partner
Mark has represented individuals and corporate clients at every level of the criminal justice system throughout his career and has been instructed in many of the major cases of the past 25 years. He began his career in the 1990s with the prestigious West End criminal defence firm Offenbach and Co, before co-founding Shearman Bowen with Rick Shearman in 2001. He is consistently ranked in the legal directories as a leading individual in business crime and white-collar fraud, general crime and POCA.
Recent high-profile instructions include successfully representing the former President of OPEC and Nigerian Petroleum Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, in the UK’s largest ever bribery prosecution at Southwark Crown Court; defending a client in the UK’s first prosecution for breach of the Anti-Russia sanctions regulations; and acting for the principal defendant in Operation Afterburner, one of the largest arms trafficking cases ever brought. He has also developed a niche specialism in representing individuals and companies facing prosecution for planning breaches and contravention of planning enforcement notices.
Mark is regularly instructed at the pre-charge stage on behalf of both individuals and companies, and has an enviable record of preventing cases from being charged following the submission of written representations.
In addition, he is regularly instructed by clients under investigation for sexual offences, both at the pre-charge stage and at trial. He also defends clients charged with murder and other serious offences, and has a proven track record of securing acquittals for those facing such allegations.
Mark advises in proceedings arising under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, regularly acting for national and international clients on restraint proceedings, confiscation and associated ancillary matters. He also advises clients within the security industry, on both an individual and a corporate basis.
Mark brings a combination of energy, commitment and detailed knowledge to each and every one of his cases, and is dedicated to achieving the best possible result for his clients, whatever the circumstances.
In the directories
“A fearless litigator.” Chambers and Partners
“A very impressive solicitor with great judgement, who is excellent with clients and who dispenses pragmatic advice.” Chambers and Partners
“Meticulous in his preparation, realistic with clients and goes the extra mile no matter how difficult the case is. He is unflappable and unfazed.” Chambers and Partners
“Mark Bowen has great judgment and case sense.” Legal 500